New Delhi, Oct 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Delhi Police said on Sunday that the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been placed under preventive arrest.

According to CJP's legal affairs head, Ratna Singh, the three will appear before the Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station later in the day.

"Abhijeet, Ashutosh and Saurav will be produced before the Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt Police Station at 9 AM today. A Delhi police official informed me about this in the morning. As CJP's Legal Head, I will be at the police station along with other advocates representing us," Singh said in a post on X.

The three were detained earlier on Saturday at the Indira Gandhi International Airport as they arrived in the national capital to protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI). This came against the backdrop of the CJP's planned demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Meanwhile, Ratna Singh has denied that the party had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the release of its leaders and members detained ahead of its proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

She clarified that the petition circulating on social media was not filed by the CJP and that the party was not approaching the Supreme Court over the alleged detentions.

"Pls note - This petition is not filed by @Cockroachisback. We are not approaching the Supreme Court, and no habeas corpus petition has been approved by the CJP's legal team," Singh posted.

She also tagged a petition that had been shared by a legal news platform on X, asserting that the document was not filed by the party.

"The present Writ Petition is being instituted under Article 32 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of an appropriate writ, order or direction, such as habeas corpus, directing the Respondents to produce before this Hon'ble Court all persons allegedly detained in connection with the proposed demonstration of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on 10.10.2026, and to forthwith release all such persons whose custody is not authorised by law," the petition stated.

Additionally, CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde announced that the protesters will once again march towards Jantar Mantar on Sunday and will rest only after the resignation of the CEC.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Ratna Singh, legal affairs head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), on Sunday denied that the party had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the release of its leaders and members allegedly detained ahead of its proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

In a post on X, Singh clarified that the petition circulating on social media was not filed by the CJP and that the party was not approaching the Supreme Court over the alleged detentions.

“Pls note - This petition is not filed by @Cockroachisback. We are not approaching the Supreme Court, and no habeas corpus petition has been approved by the CJP’s legal team,” Singh posted.

She also tagged a petition that had been shared by a legal news platform on X, asserting that the document was not filed by the party.

“The present Writ Petition is being instituted under Article 32 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of an appropriate writ, order or direction, such as habeas corpus, directing the Respondents to produce before this Hon'ble Court all persons allegedly detained in connection with the proposed demonstration of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on 10.10.2026, and to forthwith release all such persons whose custody is not authorised by law,” the petition stated.

Singh's clarification came amid developments surrounding the CJP's planned demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Earlier on Saturday, over 3,000 anti-CEC protesters, including Abhijeet Dipke of CJP and politicians like Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, were detained in Delhi as law enforcers threw an unprecedented security ring around the national capital to prevent chaos at Jantar Mantar, forcing the proposed agitation to break into several small gatherings across the city.

CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained around 10.30 a.m. on Saturday by the police from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi while on their way to Jantar Mantar to stage a protest, demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde announced that the protesters will once again march to Jantar Mantar on Sunday and would rest only after the CEC's resignation.

The authorities had earlier denied permission for the demonstration, warning against unauthorised gatherings, imposing internet restrictions, roadblocks and traffic diversions to prevent a repeat of the CJP’s July protest at Jantar Mantar, which had turned violent.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, Oct 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Chennai on Sunday to inaugurate a new Metro rail stretch, launch development projects and attend events at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and a school celebrating its golden jubilee.

PM Modi is scheduled to arrive at Chennai airport from New Delhi at 11 a.m. and travel by road to Porur Metro station, where Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay and ministers will receive him.

The Prime Minister and the Chief Minister will then travel together from Porur to Poonamallee on the newly constructed Poonamallee-Vadapalani Metro corridor.

According to the programme details, the stretch has been developed at a cost of Rs 750 crore. During the Metro journey, PM Modi is expected to interact with students and workers.

The visit will be his first to Chennai since the Vijay government assumed office in Tamil Nadu.

After the Metro programme, the Prime Minister is scheduled to reach the IIT Madras campus at 12.15 p.m. He will visit the Jalakanteswarar temple on the campus and offer prayers before proceeding to the institute’s brain research centre.

At a function organised on campus, PM Modi will inaugurate completed development projects, dedicate them to the nation and lay foundation stones for new initiatives across Tamil Nadu. He will also address the gathering.

The programme includes the inauguration of a music training centre associated with composer Ilaiyaraaja that has been established on the IIT campus. Following his engagements at IIT Madras, PM Modi will travel to Nandambakkam to participate in the golden jubilee celebrations of Jaigopal Garodia Hindu Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School.

His address at the school function is scheduled for 3 p.m. He will subsequently return to Chennai airport by road and leave for New Delhi, concluding the visit.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the venues and along the routes connecting the airport, Porur Metro station, IIT Madras and Nandambakkam.

The Tamil Nadu BJP has arranged receptions along the Prime Minister’s travel routes, with party members expected to gather at designated locations to welcome him.

Preparations have also been made for roadshows at two points along the routes. Party representatives have separately organised a reception at Chennai airport.

The day’s itinerary combines transport infrastructure and development announcements with research, cultural and educational engagements, beginning with the Metro journey and ending with the school’s anniversary celebrations.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended greetings to citizens on the occasion of the first day of Navratri, praying for happiness, peace, prosperity and good health for all.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said (in Hindi), “Heartiest greetings to all fellow citizens on the great festival of Navratri dedicated to the practice of divine power.

May the grace of Maa Jagadamba bring happiness, peace, prosperity, and good health to everyone's life, strengthening the resolve for national unity and progress.”

In another post, PM Modi offered prayers to Maa Shailputri, the presiding deity of peace, on the commencement of Navratri.

“On the auspicious beginning of Navratri, countless salutations at the feet of Maa Shailputri, the goddess of peace. May her divine grace light the lamp of patience and self-confidence in everyone's heart. I pray that the blessings of the Mother always remain upon the people of the country,” he wrote.

The Prime Minister also shared a Youtube link to Karpoora Nayagiye, a Tamil devotional song dedicated dedicated to Goddess Amman (Mariamman / Shakti).

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also extended wishes on the first day of Navratri.

“Heartfelt greetings to all residents of Delhi on the sacred festival of Sharadiya Navratri, dedicated to the worship of Adi Shakti Maa Durga. May the auspicious arrival of Maa Bhagwati fill every home in Delhi with devotion, joy, and a blessed atmosphere,” CM Gupta wrote in a post on X.

“By the boundless grace of Mata Rani, may every family be blessed with happiness, peace, health, and prosperity. May all wishes be fulfilled—this is the prayer at the divine feet of Maa. Shubh Navratri,” she added.

Navratri is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga and her nine forms, with devotees across the country observing prayers, rituals and other religious practices during the period.

Sharadiya Navratri begins on the first day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin and is observed with devotion in several parts of India. The festival culminates with Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, which symbolises the victory of good over evil.

Goddess Shailaputri, whose name means ‘daughter of the mountain’, is regarded as the first form of Goddess Durga. Devotees worship her on the opening day of Navratri, seeking strength, well-being and divine blessings.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule on Saturday condemned the detention of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke ahead of the outfit's scheduled protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, calling it "against the Constitution".

Dipke, along with CJP co-conveners Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, was detained after Delhi Police personnel entered the aircraft at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, on which they travelled from Mumbai to Delhi.

Delhi Police had earlier denied permission for the protest.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Supriya Sule said: "I strongly condemn this. A struggle is taking place in this country to uphold constitutional principles within the framework of the Constitution. People were reaching Delhi peacefully... police boarded a plane to arrest them. Tell me, what was the need for that? What was their demand? They only wanted to peacefully go to Jantar Mantar, where thousands of people gather to protest. How many times have we been there? Whether in Opposition or in power, people sit there all the time. This right was given to all of us by Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar."

"So, the way police boarded a plane to detain them in an improper manner is wrong and against the Constitution. The Constitution is being murdered," she asserted.

Sule further said: "We can't raise our demands? This is injustice being done to the youth."

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up across the National Capital Region (NCR), including border areas, in view of the protests. Indian Railways has cancelled and rescheduled several trains that were set to arrive in New Delhi, while the DMRC has shut the entry and exit of 45 Metro stations amid measures taken to stop agitators from reaching the protest venue at Jantar Mantar.

Talking about the same, the NCP-SP leader said: "I feel scared—is there an undeclared Emergency in this country? We all read about the Emergency...that was a long time ago."

"Children are scared because of all this. This is a democracy and if students want to say something here, what's wrong with it?" she questioned.

Earlier in the day, several opposition leaders, including former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, AAP national convener and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, were detained by the police while attempting to join the protest, called by the CJP in the national capital.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra has condemned Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's remark against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and asked him to apologise to Prime Minister Narendra Modi or be prepared to face public backlash.

Malhotra quoted Kharge as having said, "They are scared, and a person who is afraid dies sooner or later."

The Delhi BJP President said that Congress President Kharge frequently uses intemperate language against the BJP government and PM Modi, whereas our leaders have always exercised restraint and refrained from using inappropriate words against him, respecting his age.

Malhotra added that Kharge, who accuses the BJP government of being afraid, should explain what the actions of Congress governments in the past amounted to.

"If preparing to handle a protest is a sign of fear, then what was the opening of fire on protesters during the cow slaughter protest in 1966? What was the imposition of the Emergency in the country? What was the opening of fire on farmers protesting at Rajpath in 1988? And what was the installation of barbed-wire barricades, the use of tear gas, and cane charges in 1990 and again in 1993 to prevent kar sevaks from proceeding towards Rajpath following the Vishva Hindu Parishad's call?" the Delhi BJP Chief asked.

He said that Kharge should explain that if the BJP government's arrangements to handle a protest on Saturday amount to fear, then the Congress government must have been frightened on countless occasions, as it even resorted to firing on protesters.

The Delhi BJP President said that it would be better for Kharge to apologise to the Prime Minister for his remarks or be prepared to face public backlash.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that public participation in CJP protest on Saturday was negligible, while the hypocrisy of CJP leaders and Aam Aadmi Party Convenor Arvind Kejriwal once again came to the fore.

The Delhi BJP spokesperson said that CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke had announced Saturday's protest two weeks in advance, but he himself did not take to the streets.

"Instead, he misled 500 to 700 young people and compelled them to court arrest."

Kapoor said Dipke deliberately boarded a flight from Mumbai only after arrests had begun in Delhi and, upon landing in Delhi, staged a "five-star arrest" after arriving by air.

"If Dipke and his associates were genuine protesters, they would have quietly come to Delhi and courted arrest along with their workers, rather than staging a "five-star arrest" drama after arriving by air," he added.

The Delhi BJP leader said that the protest had once again exposed Kejriwal's falsehoods.

"Yesterday, Kejriwal had said that he would reach Jantar Mantar with his family this morning. However, neither any member of his family nor any party worker turned up. He himself left home in the evening instead of the morning and did not reach Jantar Mantar," Kapoor added.

"Kejriwal, who once swore on his children that he would never support the Congress but later joined hands with the party, did not bring his own family to the protest but instead misled ordinary young people and sent them to face the police," he said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to postpone his proposed visit to Goa as the Opposition gears up for a series of coordinated demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, according to sources.

The possible rescheduling is being viewed as a strategic move aimed at ensuring his presence in the national capital in anticipation of a crucial phase of political mobilisation next week.

Sources indicate that senior leaders are closely monitoring developments on future protests with the possible participation of several leaders of opposition parties who were not present lately.

With demonstrations expected to intensify in the coming days, the Congress is believed to be prioritising national-level political engagement over regional programmes.

The Opposition has been attempting to present a united front on issues concerning alleged flaws in the electoral process and democratic accountability, making the protests politically significant.

Rahul Gandhi's Goa visit was expected to include interactions with party workers, public outreach programmes and organisational meetings aimed at strengthening the Congress unit in the state.

Leaders familiar with the planning process said a revised schedule could be announced once the current round of protests concludes.

Party insiders believe Rahul Gandhi's participation in the demonstrations could help reinforce Opposition unity at a time when coordination among anti-government parties is gaining momentum.

The Congress leaders have repeatedly emphasised the importance of collective action and have said that broad-based participation is necessary to amplify concerns being raised by the Opposition.

The Goa programme may be deferred to allow the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha to engage fully with the evolving political developments where the issue is being seen as a chance to establish his unconditional leadership.

Meanwhile, reports from Goa suggest a mixed reaction where on the one hand the State Congress leadership cite the ongoing protests by INDIA bloc parties over alleged "vote chori" as politically important at this juncture, while others see his visit as a major event in the Congress' yatra in the state ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

Source: IANS

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Dhaka, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam, whose party has allied with the radical Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami and one of whose leaders had reportedly threatened to capture India’s ‘Seven Sisters’ and the Siliguri Corridor, on Saturday weighed in on India’s internal affairs, backing the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests.

Nahid, whose party’s leaders were at the forefront of the violent unrest that led to the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024, issued a statement from Dhaka claiming solidarity with protesters in India over “electoral accountability”.

He went on to claim that “no society is truly democratic while minorities live in fear”, even as Bangladesh has witnessed repeated attacks on its Hindu minority.

In December 2025, Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu youth who worked in a garment factory in Bangladesh, was dragged into the streets, brutally thrashed to death by a frenzied mob, and then his lifeless body was set ablaze after being tied to a tree in Mymensingh.

He was accused of blasphemy by a coworker, following which the murderous mob, comprising radicals and extremist elements, barged into the factory, dragged him to the streets and killed him ruthlessly.

NCP leaders have also been accused of making anti-India remarks.

In December 2025, Youth Tipra Federation (YTF) President Suraj Debbarma, who led protests near the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, had said that NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah, Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government and other leaders of that country have been continuously making baseless and manufactured “anti-India” comments and encouraging activities hostile to India.

Debbarma had said that protests and demonstrations had been held in front of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and at other places in Bangladesh, where participants allegedly raised “anti-India” slogans.

“NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah earlier this week reportedly claimed that they would capture India’s ‘Seven Sisters’ and the Siliguri Corridor and make the region part of their country,” he had added.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Political tensions in Mumbai on Saturday reached a boiling point on Saturday following the detention of prominent activist and Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson, Tushar Gandhi, along with several other activists and opposition leaders.

The arrests preceded a planned protest at Mumbai's historic August Kranti Maidan, organised to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The developments have triggered fierce opposition backlash, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray slamming the government, declaring that the political climate has transformed into a direct battle between "BJP versus India." Tushar Gandhi was released after eight hours of detention.

Activists had called for widespread demonstrations at August Kranti Maidan. However, pre-emptive action by the Mumbai Police saw heavy deployment across the city and the detention of several youth leaders and protesters, including Abhijit and Saurabh. Around 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM, Tushar Gandhi was detained by police from the Bandra area and initially brought to the D N Nagar Police Station.

However, confusion and outrage ensued when leaders arrived to secure his release, only to be told he was no longer at the facility. The situation turned volatile as Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders—including MLA Aaditya Thackeray, MP Sanjay Raut, and MLC Anil Parab—rushed to the D N Nagar Police Station. Protesters gathered in large numbers outside the station, raising slogans such as "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod" ("Vote thief, leave the throne").

Police later clarified that Tushar Gandhi had been shifted to the Borivali Police Station. Officials eventually arranged a phone call between Aadhaar Thackeray and Tushar Gandhi to defuse tensions. After hours of detention, Tushar Gandhi was eventually released. The Borivali police later dropped Tushar Gandhi at his residence. He was released after being detained for a staggering 8 hours.

Addressing the media and rallying party workers, Aaditya Thackeray launched a scathing attack on the ruling dispensation, accusing them of trying to suppress the youth and peaceful dissent through authoritarian measures. "An emergency has been unofficially imposed. Why are they so afraid of the youth generation?" he asked. "Tushar Gandhi was planning a peaceful protest, but he was picked up beforehand. Patriotic citizens are being arrested. But change is inevitable."

Aaditya Thackeray announced a new strategy for the opposition alliance moving forward. "From today, our allied parties have decided that wherever someone is detained, we will go there. If even a single hair of our workers is touched, we will not sit quietly. Until the police released you, we vowed not to back down." Police presence remains heavy across key transit points and police stations in Mumbai as the situation continues to unfold.

Meanwhile, the repercussions of the protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi were witnessed across various districts in the state, including Solapur. On behalf of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), a torch rally was taken out in Solapur, where protesters raised vociferous slogans demanding the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar. The torch rally marched from the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue in Solapur up to the Zilla Parishad.

CPI(M) warned during the event, "A lathi charge is being carried out on Left party workers, and the CJP leadership is being arrested from an airplane; this is an undeclared emergency situation created in the country. Wherever the police try to stop us, protests will take place across the country." CPI(M) leader M A Shaikh also issued a warning, stating, "If Gyanesh Kumar is so dear to them, we will not rest without extracting the resignation of Modi and Shah as well."

Source: IANS

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Chandigarh, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) The newly constituted state team of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Kisan Morcha held a meeting here on Saturday with State party President Kewal Singh Dhillon, who said the party is promising to ensure minimum support price (MSP) for all crops in Punjab like the Haryana government.

While guiding the newly appointed office-bearers, Dhillon urged them to work with dedication and commitment for the party.

"The poor policies of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had pushed Punjab towards financial distress and the concerns of farmers are being neglected. Punjab's prosperity was possible only when its farmers were prosperous," he said.

Criticising the AAP government, Dhillon added that the party had promised before the elections that it would ensure the MSP for all crops within five minutes of coming to power.

However, the State BJP President said that over the past four-and-a-half years the AAP government had failed to deliver on its promises to farmers.

Dhillon said the Union government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is taking several steps for the welfare of farmers.

"The Centre is providing MSP for wheat and paddy to farmers in Punjab, while the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme is extending financial assistance to them. The subsidy is also being provided on urea fertiliser, and a bag costing around Rs 2,800 is being made available to farmers for Rs 266," he added.

Dhillon said that the BJP government in Haryana is providing MSP for all crops and that if the BJP formed the government in Punjab it would extend MSP coverage to all crops, including fruits and vegetables.

He added that the proposed policy will provide greater support to farmers and strengthen the agricultural sector in the state.

Urging the Kisan Morcha office-bearers to intensify their outreach, Dhillon asked them to take the farmer-friendly policies and initiatives of the Narendra Modi government to every village and household.

He stressed the need to inform farmers about the schemes and measures being undertaken for their welfare.

At the meeting, the Kisan Morcha state team, led by its state president Lakhwinder Singh, felicitated Dhillon and assured him that the organisation would work to strengthen the BJP at every level.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Delhi Police on Saturday evening cautioned people against misleading claims in a social media video about an alleged sacrilege by a Constable by entering the holy Gurdwara Bangla Sahib without removing his footwear.

In a message on social media platform X, New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sachin Sharma said, "Regarding the video circulated on social media, alleging entry by police staff in Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, wherein some police staff is shown wearing shoes... In the circulated video some police staff is shown walking in the common passage, used by all devotees to reach the point where shoes are taken off to enter the Gurdwara."

"The process is the same for all devotees coming to Gurdwara. The video showing the same is attached. The video has been circulated deliberately with malicious intent, to outrage the feelings of a respectable religious community and is prejudicial to the religious harmony. Legal action is being initiated," the DCP added.

Earlier on Saturday, the New Delhi DCP shared visuals of the deserted Jantar Mantar where the anti-Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) protesters had planned to gather on Saturday morning.

"Only for those, who desire peace in the city," the New Delhi DCP said on Saturday noon on X, attaching visuals of Jantar Mantar to convey the success of Delhi Police in preventing a lawless gathering in central Delhi like the one in July.

More than 3,000 anti-CEC protesters, including Abhijeet Dipke of the CJP and politicians like Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, were detained in Delhi on Saturday as law enforces threw an unprecedented security ring around the national capital to prevent chaos at Jantar Mantar, forcing the proposed agitation to break into several small gatherings across the city.

CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained around 10:30 a.m. by the police from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi while on their way to Jantar Mantar to stage a protest, demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The authorities had earlier denied permission for the demonstration and warned against unauthorised gatherings, imposing internet restrictions, road blocks and traffic diversions to prevent a repeat of the CJP's protest in July at Jantar Mantar that turned violent.

CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde announced that the protesters will once again march towards Jantar Mantar on Sunday and will rest only after the resignation of the CEC.

Source: IANS

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Kohima, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Nagaland Cabinet on Saturday appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s continued focus on the development of the Northeastern region through various initiatives, including the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE).

The Cabinet noted that these initiatives had helped address critical development gaps across the Northeastern states by improving connectivity and healthcare and education infrastructure, generating livelihood opportunities, and promoting inclusive economic growth.

The Scheme for Special Assistance for Capital Investment (SASCI) to provide long-term, interest-free loans to states to accelerate capital expenditure and development was appreciated which has led to creation and upgradation of roads, bridges, and other important public infrastructure across the country.

The state Cabinet noted and acknowledged the progress made by Nagaland in different spheres under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister, a statement of the Home Department said.

The Cabinet appreciated the vision of the Prime Minister for Viksit Bharat@2047, which provides an inspiring national roadmap towards a developed, prosperous and self-reliant India. The Cabinet, among others, made a special mention of the clarion call given by the Prime Minister for Swachh Bharat- a nationwide mission for cleanliness and sanitation as a people’s movement, with sustained emphasis on dignity, public health and environmental protection, the statement said.

It said that the Cabinet appreciated the Digital India campaign for the transformation of India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge-based economy, which has expanded digital infrastructure, widespread adoption of digital payments through UPI, digital identity and authentication and paperless service delivery that has transformed everyday transactions and strengthened financial inclusion.

The Cabinet appreciated the Prime Minister’s continued support in addressing the longstanding Naga political issue. The Framework Agreement of 2015 with the NSCN (IM) and the Agreed Position of 2017 with the Working Committee of the Naga National Political Groups marked important milestones in the pursuit of a negotiated and peaceful resolution.

The recent appointment of Ajit Lal as the interlocutor of the Government of India in the peace talks with the Naga groups and the decision to constitute a Talk Team headed/led by a Minister or a group of Ministers further demonstrates the clear and committed approach towards achieving an early, honourable and mutually acceptable solution of the long-pending Naga political issue under the leadership and vision of the Prime Minister.

To address the longstanding aspirations of the people of Eastern Nagaland, on February 5 (2026), a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed by the Government of India, the Government of Nagaland and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) for the constitution of the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA).

The Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill, 2026, was introduced in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on September 1, 2026 and unanimously passed on September 3, 2026. On June 11 (2026), a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Governments of India, Assam and Nagaland to facilitate exploration and production activities of oil and natural gas in the Disputed Area Belt (DAB) along the Nagaland-Assam border.

The MoU seeks to facilitate investment and unlock the hydrocarbon potential of the region and create opportunities for employment, revenue generation and economic development. The Cabinet expressed appreciation to the Prime Minister for implementation of the three critical projects of the state. The projects include establishment of the first-ever Medical College in the state, commissioning of the second railway station in Nagaland at Shokhuvi, after a gap of more than 100 years, and the ongoing extension of the railway line to Zubza and four-laning of Dimapur-Kohima National Highway.

Source: IANS

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Gandhinagar, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Voting will be held across Gujarat on Sunday for all 44 seats of the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation (GMC), elections to the Okha and Thara municipalities, and bypolls to seven vacant seats in other local bodies, with the results scheduled to be declared on October 13.

The contest in Gandhinagar, the state capital, will see 130 candidates vying for seats across 11 wards, with the BJP, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) among the main contenders.

In Okha municipality, elections will be held for 32 of the 36 seats spread across nine wards, as four seats have been won uncontested.

A total of 75 candidates are in the fray for the seats going to the polls. In Thara municipality in Banaskantha district, 59 candidates will contest 24 seats across six wards.

Bypolls will also be held for one seat each in the Kheralu, Chhota Udepur and Bayad municipalities, besides one seat each in the Devbhumi Dwarka district panchayat and the Paddhari, Satlasana and Harij taluka panchayats.

Polling will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Gujarat State Election Commission (SEC) said extensive police deployment and patrolling arrangements had been made, particularly at polling stations classified as sensitive and hyper-sensitive.

The commission said the administrative and police machinery had made comprehensive arrangements to ensure that polling was conducted in an orderly atmosphere.

It appealed to voters to cooperate with the authorities and expressed hope that the elections would be conducted in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

Counting of votes for the elections and bypolls will take place on October 13. The Gandhinagar contest will also be watched against the backdrop of the 2021 civic elections, when the BJP won 41 of the corporation's 44 seats.

The Congress secured two seats, and the AAP won one. Both Congress councillors subsequently resigned and joined the BJP, taking the ruling party's tally to 43.

The latest round of civic elections follows polls to 15 municipal corporations in Gujarat in April, excluding Gandhinagar and Junagadh.

The BJP won a majority of seats, while the Congress finished second and the AAP made limited gains.

Source: IANS

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Chennai, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday pledged support for young protesters and said the opposition would continue its campaign to defend the Constitution and defeat those he accused of attacking it.

In remarks shared on X during his Chennai visit for the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” student outreach programme, Gandhi challenged the Union government to arrest opposition leaders and young people, declaring that they would not retreat.

His comments came amid police action against people attempting to join a protest in Delhi demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the RSS of cowardice, saying more than a decade of confronting them had given him an understanding of their approach. “I’ve been fighting Narendra Modi and the RSS for over a decade now. I understand them like you would understand your opponent,” he said.

He targeted Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Kumar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, describing them as the “villains of this story”. Gandhi claimed that the space available to these figures was narrowing as their opponents intensified their efforts. “We are closing that space,” he said.

Challenging PM Modi over the deployment of police, Gandhi said the government could mobilise as many personnel as it wanted and arrest leaders, young people or the opposition. “We are surrounding you, and we are not going to back down,” he asserted.

Gandhi said the opposition possessed the information it needed, without elaborating on its nature. He pledged to protect the voice of the Indian people and prevent a repetition of what he alleged had happened to the country over the past 10 to 15 years. Expressing pride in India’s youth, he urged them to “keep protesting” and assured them of the opposition’s support. He posted a video of his remarks.

The Delhi protest was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar. Police said more than 3,000 people trying to reach the venue were detained, alongside over 600 people with criminal records held as a preventive measure.

According to Delhi Police, organisers had not received permission for the demonstration, and prohibitory orders were in force across the New Delhi area. Gandhi’s message to protesters was that his party would stand with them.

Source: IANS

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Guwahati, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devasish Sharma, who has won the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll has claimed that All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) Chief Badruddin Ajmal's campaign in the recent bypoll relied on communal appeals, claiming the approach was not acceptable to voters and may have contributed to his electoral victory.

Talking to reporters on Saturday, Sharma said he could not determine whether Ajmal's campaign directly helped him, given that the AIUDF Chief was his electoral rival.

However, the BJP leader added that the nature of Ajmal's appeal may have influenced voters' choices.

"I don't know whether Ajmal helped me or not, as he was contesting the election against me. But it helped me in the results because Ajmal approached voters in a communal manner with the agenda of getting votes, and it was never acceptable," Sharma said.

Predicting a decline in the AIUDF's political fortunes, the BJP leader said the party would eventually disappear, just as he believes the Congress would.

Sharma won the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll with a margin of 1,57,804 votes, defeating AIUDF candidate Badruddin Ajmal, according to the latest election figures.

Sharma secured 6,91,804 votes, while Ajmal received 5,34,000 votes, marking a decisive victory for the BJP in a Lok Sabha constituency with a substantial Muslim electorate.

Explaining his support among minority voters, Sharma attributed the bypoll result to his sustained engagement with constituents over the past four-and-a-half years.

He said his association with cancer patients and survivors had helped build personal relationships that translated into electoral support.

He also credited the BJP's vision and the guidance of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his success.

Responding to allegations that he had used his tenure as the Deputy Commissioner of Morigaon and Nagaon to prepare for a political career, Sharma said government officials were expected to work with the state government and implement its schemes.

He said that his entry into electoral politics had not been planned, although he had been interested in politics since his college days, when he studied political science.

"Some things are written in your stars, and it is my destiny," Sharma added.

Source: IANS

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Shimla, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, on Saturday approved the engagement of 4,090 para-workers, including Para Pump Operators, Para Fitters and Multipurpose Workers, in the Jal Shakti Vibhag.

It decided to affiliate 100 more schools with CBSE, for which a new scheme will be prepared. For these schools, 3,900 teaching and 900 non-teaching posts were also approved to be filled under the New Scheme Based Recruitment. The Cabinet also approved conducting an LDR (Limited Direct Recruitment) test for left-out SMC Teachers (including PGTs and TGTs).

The Cabinet gave its nod to fill the posts of Computer Teachers through LDR from amongst teachers who are already working in government schools on an outsourced basis. It gave its nod to fill 500 posts of Assistant Staff Nurse in the Health Department. It was decided to fill 320 posts of Assistant Professor (College Cadre) in the Department of Education in the backlog quota.

The Cabinet decided to fill 172 posts of Multi Task Worker in the Department of PWD. It gave its nod to fill 30 posts of radiologist, 13 posts of clinical psychologists and six posts of perfusionists in the Department of Medical Education. It approved the filling of 27 posts of various categories under the four per cent quota for persons with disabilities, along with 11 posts of Multi-Task Workers.

The Cabinet approved the filling of 24 posts of Medical officers (Specialists/ Super specialists) in Dr RPGMC Tanda. It also approved the filling of 116 posts of various categories in the Department of Animal Husbandry. It approved filling 40 posts of Horticulture Extension Officer and five posts of Senior Assistant in the Department of Horticulture.

The Cabinet decided to create and fill 26 posts of various categories for the Durgasharanya Kangra International Zoological Park. It was decided to fill 10 posts of radiographers for Adarsh Swasthya Sansthan in the Department of Health and to fill 18 posts of Assistant Treasury officers in the Department of Treasuries, Accounts and Lotteries.

Source: IANS

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Reykjavik, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, on Saturday visited Porsmork Forest in Iceland and planted a Rowan sapling as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative.

“Visited the Porsmork Forest in Iceland and witnessed the inspiring conservation efforts to restore and protect its unique ecosystem. Planted a Rowan sapling, a native Icelandic species, as part of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative,” MoS Singh stated on X.

“The Rowan tree is historically considered sacred in Icelandic folklore and often protected from harvesting,” he added.

On Friday, MoS Singh met Iceland’s Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate, Johann Pall Johannsson, in Reykjavik and discussed opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation in clean and renewable energy, climate action and sustainable development, the minister said on Friday.

“Pleased to meet H.E. Johann Pall Johannsson, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate of Iceland, in Reykjavik today, who had just returned from India after attending the 2nd India-EFTA Prosperity Summit. Had a productive exchange on opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation in clean/renewable energy, climate action and sustainable development,” Singh posted on X.

“Look forward to deepening our engagement in these important areas and advancing practical cooperation between our two countries,” he added.

The minister also visited the Hellisheioi Power Plant, one of the world’s leading geothermal energy facilities.

“Visited the Hellisheioi Power Plant in Iceland, one of the world’s leading geothermal energy facilities. An insightful visit showcasing Iceland’s innovative use of geothermal resources for clean and sustainable energy. Valuable lessons for strengthening India-Iceland cooperation in geothermal energy and the broader clean energy transition,” he said in another post.

MoS Singh also interacted with officials of the Embassy of India in Reykjavik and encouraged them to pursue diplomatic priorities with dedication and purpose, advancing PM Modi’s vision of the 3Ts—Trade, Technology and Tourism—and deepening India-Iceland engagement across key areas of cooperation.

–IANS

ksk/uk

Source: IANS

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Chennai, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) DMK leader M.K. Stalin on Saturday demanded the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and immediate release of political leaders and activists detained during protests.

In a strongly worded post on X, Stalin accused the BJP-led Union government of suppressing dissent and described the situation as an “undeclared Emergency”. He alleged that those defending democracy were being imprisoned while those undermining it enjoyed government protection.

Stalin said former chief ministers Pinarayi Vijayan, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee and Manik Sarkar, CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby and leaders of various student organisations had been detained while campaigning to protect people’s voting rights.

Contrasting their treatment with the security provided to Kumar, Stalin questioned why the Chief Election Commissioner continued to enjoy Z-plus protection. He also alleged that Kumar was facing proceedings relating to sedition, although his post did not provide details of the case.

The DMK leader maintained that the alleged political motives behind the SIR exercise had been exposed and could no longer be concealed. He accused the authorities of using restrictions to prevent opposition parties and young people from voicing their concerns.

Barricades and internet shutdowns in Delhi would not silence the protests, Stalin said, questioning how long the Union government could keep an entire country under siege.

His criticism also extended to the TVK government in Tamil Nadu, which he accused of seeking to please its “masters in Delhi” by acting against protesters opposing the electoral roll revision. Stalin alleged that CPI(M) state secretary Shanmugam and other party workers had been detained for protesting against SIR and demanding Kumar’s resignation.

He described the state government’s conduct as an attempt to demonstrate loyalty to the Union government. Calling for the immediate release of everyone taken into custody, Stalin reiterated that Kumar should be removed from office and the revision exercise abandoned.

He also demanded accountability from those he accused of betraying the people and compromising their democratic rights. The post linked the detentions in Delhi and Tamil Nadu to broader concerns over electoral rights, with Stalin presenting the protests as a campaign to defend democracy.

His central demands were the release of detainees, an end to SIR and action against those responsible for the alleged suppression of dissent across the country.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) To make Maharashtra's public healthcare system more efficient, high-quality, and people-centric, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar will launch a state-wide ‘Arogya Samvad Yatra’ (Health Dialogue Journey) from November 1 to December 5, 2026.

Through this campaign, the Health Minister will directly interact with citizens, review healthcare services across the state, and focus on addressing existing shortcomings.

The Yatra will evaluate the extent to which public health schemes reach citizens, the facilities available in health institutions, and the challenges faced in patient care. The ground reality of operations in five Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and two Rural Hospitals in each district will be reviewed. Additionally, services ranging from sub-centres to district, municipal, psychiatric, and specialised hospitals will be assessed, said the government release.

To increase public participation, meetings of health committees at the district, taluka, municipal, and village levels will be held in the presence of local representatives. During these meetings, feedback and suggestions will be invited regarding required facilities, manpower, drug supply, patient care issues, and gaps in scheme implementation.

Citizens will be informed about key healthcare services, including the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, free dialysis, MRI and CT scans, STEMI treatment, telemedicine, free blood tests, 102 & 108 ambulance services, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Maherghar, and mental health counselling. Concerned officials will answer questions from citizens and guide eligible patients on how to access available facilities.

Integrated with the ‘Majha Gaon, Arogyasampanna Gaon’ (My Village, Healthy Village) campaign, the Yatra will raise public awareness about public sanitation, clean water supply, nutrition, sewage management, disease control, and healthy lifestyles. Emphasis will also be placed on increasing village-level participation in preventive health measures, stated the release.

"The Arogya Samvad Yatra is not merely an information campaign; it is an effort to drive healthcare system reforms based on citizens' ground experiences. The focus will be on strengthening accountability by enhancing coordination among health committees, public representatives, healthcare staff, medical professionals, and the general public. By understanding public needs, identifying service gaps, and implementing improvements based on suggestions, the Arogya Samvad Yatra aims to play a crucial role in making Maharashtra's public healthcare system stronger and more responsive to the people," noted Minister Abitkar.

Secretaries, Commissioners, Directors, Joint Directors, Deputy Directors of the Public Health Department, along with District Health Officers (DHOs), Civil Surgeons, and heads of various health schemes will participate in the Yatra. A state-level review meeting will be held after December 5 to assess the feedback received, and a meeting of state-level health committee members is also planned in Mumbai in the presence of the Chief Minister.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) National Organisation In-charge Ajinkya Shinde said on Saturday that the protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar would continue until his resignation.

He urged party workers and demonstrators to march towards Jantar Mantar again on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference, Shinde alleged that Delhi Police had subjected detained protesters to harassment and demanded the immediate release of CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das, who were taken into custody at the Delhi airport.

Shinde said Dipke's grandmother had died on Saturday, but the police had allegedly not allowed him to speak to his lawyer or family members.

"Why was he detained on a flight? He came to Delhi by a regular flight. Anyone can travel by air. If he had violated any rules or staged a protest on the road, the police could have detained him," he added.

He alleged that the police were subjecting Dipke to "emotional torture" and claimed that the families and lawyers of the three detained individuals had not been informed about their whereabouts.

"Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have been detained at Delhi airport itself by this dictatorial Modi-Shah government. This government is once again afraid of the unity of the country," Shinde said.

Recalling an earlier protest, Shinde claimed that the Union government had restricted train and bus services and detained people to prevent them from reaching the protest venue.

"The fear of the government shows that we have already won half the battle. This is the beginning of a new fight," he said.

Explaining the protesters' demands, Shinde added, "We are asking that people whose voting rights have been stolen should get their rights back. We are demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, whom we accuse of vote theft. That is all we have asked for."

He also alleged that restrictions and barricades across Delhi reflected the Union government's fear of the protesters.

Appealing to people across the country to join the demonstration, Shinde urged them to march towards Jantar Mantar on Sunday.

He reiterated that the agitation would continue until CEC Gyanesh Kumar resigned, calling on supporters to remain determined despite the alleged police action.

Source: IANS

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Chandigarh, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Farmer organisations on Saturday resolved to launch a united struggle against alleged irregularities in crop procurement, sales below the minimum support price (MSP), and conditions imposed during the purchasing process in Haryana.

A decision in this regard was taken at a joint meeting of two major farmers’ organisations -- the Samyukt Kisan Morcha Haryana and the Haryana Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Morcha -- held in Narwana town to discuss issues affecting farmers across the state.

The meeting was jointly chaired by Rattan Mann, Lakhwinder Aulakh, Balbir Singh and Mandeep Nathwan. Representatives of 23 constituent organisations affiliated with the two farmers’ fronts participated.

The organisations announced that they would hold three-hour protests by locking down market committee offices in all districts on October 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The demonstrations will target alleged exploitation of farmers in mandis, the sale of crops below the declared MSP, what the organisations described as anti-farmer procurement conditions, and unauthorised deductions.

The leaders warned that if the government failed to address farmers’ demands despite the protests, they would announce important decisions on the next phase of a larger agitation that same day.

Briefing the media after the meeting, farmer leaders said cultivators were facing serious difficulties during the ongoing paddy procurement season. They cited per-acre limits on paddy and millet procurement, district-specific restrictions, repeated difficulties with the online portal, and alleged unauthorised deductions from crop payments.

According to the leaders, farmers are being forced to wait for long periods in mandis and navigate multiple obstacles to sell their produce. The two organisations also alleged that paddy and millet were being sold in Haryana’s mandis at prices below the declared MSP. They pointed out that the MSP for paddy is Rs 2,461 per quintal and for millet Rs 2,900 per quintal, and argued that the government must be held accountable if farmers are receiving less than these rates.

The leaders questioned who was responsible for ensuring that farmers received the prescribed prices for their crops and why the government was avoiding accountability when produce was allegedly being purchased below MSP.

Rattan Mann, state president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, said farmers worked day and night to produce food for the country but faced difficulties, unnecessary restrictions and low prices when it was time to sell their crops.

“Declaring an MSP has meaning only when farmers actually receive the prescribed price for their produce,” Mann said, adding the government must answer for below-MSP prices for paddy and millet and the restrictions imposed during procurement.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday came down heavily on the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, saying that it is a matter of "shame" that the latter has "no understanding" of his Constitutional duties.

Goyal's reaction came a day after LoP Gandhi said President Droupadi Murmu had asked the Opposition-led delegation to provide evidence to substantiate its allegations of 'vote chori (vote theft)' following a meeting over the controversy surrounding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

Earlier, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) questioned the veracity of the claims made by Rahul Gandhi following the INDIA bloc's meeting with President Murmu.

Speaking to reporters, Piyush Goyal said: "It is a matter of shame that the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, has no respect for any Constitutional authority. He has no understanding of the law or his Constitutional duties, both as a citizen of India and as the Leader of the Opposition."

"Rahul Gandhi has displayed arrogance, disrespectful behaviour, disregard for courtesies and, if I may add, ignorance of both the law and common sense," he remarked.

Piyush Goyal said that when the President Murmu graciously and immediately granted time for meeting, as requested by the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi should have carried evidence, if any, to support his "fake allegations".

"If Mr. Gandhi had any substance to his fake and false narrative and allegations, he would have the courtesy and in fact he was duty bound, to go along with some proofs, some evidence of whatever claims he was making," the Union Minister added.

"When he (Rahul Gandhi) hands over a representation, since it had no data, facts, figures or proofs attached to his fake allegations, because there are none to backup his fakery, the honourable President requested him to provide the necessary evidence," he said.

Earlier on Saturday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sambit Patra, addressing a press conference, said that LoP Gandhi tried to "drag the President of the country into a street protest".

"Never has anyone attempted to drag the President into a street protest. However, a 'nalayak neta' attempted to do that. The anarchist Rahul Gandhi tried to pull the President of India to the anarchism which he is trying his best to conduct on the streets of India," the BJP spokesperson alleged.

Source: IANS

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Kolkata, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) The West Bengal unit of Congress on Saturday announced that it will invite applications from party workers and local leaders aspiring to contest the forthcoming urban civic body elections in West Bengal. The party said it is doing so to make its candidate-selection process more democratic.

The election for urban civic bodies in West Bengal, including that of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and adjacent Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC), is expected to be held in the last week of November, and the results will be announced in the first week of December.

Speaking to media persons on Saturday afternoon, West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) President Suvankar Sarkar said that those party workers and local leaders interested in contesting the urban civic body polls, especially for the KMC and the HMC, will have to submit their applications to the state Congress leadership between October 11 and October 16.

“They can directly come to the state Congress headquarters of Bidhan Bhaban in Kolkata and submit their applications physically. Else, they can also submit their application online through email. The state leadership will vet each application and prepare the final list of candidates,” Sarkar said.

Meanwhile, a WBPCC leader said that this initiative is intended to strengthen the party’s organizational structure in the respective areas by encouraging local-level party workers, especially young faces, to participate in the electoral process.

Speaking to the media, Sarkar also launched a scathing attack against the Election Commission of India (ECI) for allegedly not taking any action on a single complaint over the electoral malpractices in the recently concluded bypolls for Nandigram Assembly Constituency in East Midnapore district and Rejinagar Assembly Constituencies in Murshidabad district in West Bengal.

“The winning margin of the BJP candidates both in Nandigram and Rejinagar had proved that such massive margins would not have been possible had there been free and fair polls. We had constantly flagged complaints about electoral malpractices since the beginning. But the ECI had not addressed a single complaint,” Sarkar said.

Source: IANS

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Mumbai, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a decisive move to combat mounting agrarian distress, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday issued stringent directions to state administrative machinery to expedite and ensure the uninterrupted supply of foodgrains to 265 drought-affected talukas across the state without delay.

The directive follows the state's Relief and Rehabilitation Department's formal notification enforcing 'Trigger-1' drought conditions across 265 talukas following rainfall deficits and related adversities witnessed during the June to September monsoon period.

With severe dry spells threatening the livelihoods of farmers, agricultural labourers, and vulnerable rural populations, the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection Department has issued a comprehensive Government Resolution (GR) to streamline immediate relief operations.

The state administration has been ordered to ensure that the distribution of free foodgrains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) is executed smoothly and immediately, eliminating bureaucratic hurdles.

Authorities have been instructed to rapidly evaluate and include eligible individuals from the affected talukas who are currently outside the NFSA net, ensuring they receive their entitled quota of foodgrains.

Eligible families will receive regular and timely benefits under the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme.

To address rural distress migration, migrant beneficiaries will be able to leverage portability facilities (such as 'One Nation, One Ration Card'), backed by expedited Aadhaar seeding.

Local administration and district officials have been placed on high alert, directed to exercise personal vigilance to guarantee that not a single eligible household or beneficiary is deprived of their rightful food security.

The state government has emphasised that rural communities heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture must be shielded from food shortages during this critical period.

District collectors and food supply authorities have been directed to maintain strict surveillance on the distribution network, curb leakages, and prioritise transparency at all fair-price shops across the 265 designated talukas.

By enforcing rigorous monitoring and prompt execution, the state aims to build a robust safety net for millions facing severe economic and agricultural strain, the government sources said.

Source: IANS

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Patna, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Rohini Acharya, and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) founder Mukesh Sahani have criticised the detention of protesters who gathered at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Saturday to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

According to reports, more than 500 protesters were detained during the demonstration.

Those reportedly detained included Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, Saurav Das and social media influencer Dhruv Rathee.

In a series of posts on social media platform X, Rohini Acharya criticised the action against the protesters and expressed solidarity with the demonstrators.

"Do not intimidate or threaten; the country has awakened now. The nation's youth have taken to the streets against dictatorship," she said.

In another post, Rohini Acharya noted, "Whenever you suppress a voice that speaks the truth, you will find many Dhruv Rathees and Sauravs in every corner of the country."

Acharya also questioned the reported detention of CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Dhruv Rathee, alleging that the action reflected growing high-handedness on the part of the Union government.

She raised concerns over reports that some young people travelling to Delhi to participate in the demonstration had been stopped at the airport or prevented from entering the national capital.

Referring to Article 19 of the Constitution, Acharya said that restricting peaceful protesters could infringe upon their fundamental rights.

She condemned the detentions and called for the protesters' release.

VIP founder and former Bihar Minister Mukesh Sahani also criticised the alleged use of derogatory terms such as "flies" and "cockroaches" to describe young people, raising questions about their rights and the Constitution.

Sahani said such remarks were unfortunate and insulting to democratic values.

He invoked the legacy of freedom fighters, including Jubba Sahani, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Rani Lakshmibai, who fought against injustice and oppression.

He said that young people raising concerns about employment, education, opportunities, rights and constitutional values should be heard rather than humiliated.

"The young men and women who ask questions are the strength of democracy, not 'flies' or 'cockroaches'," Sahani said, emphasising that those in positions of power should respond respectfully to the concerns of the younger generation.

He added that democracy extends beyond elections and includes citizens' rights to express their views and question those in power.

He urged the Union government to address the concerns raised by young people rather than suppressing their voices, saying that respectful dialogue was essential to upholding constitutional values and democratic principles.

The criticism from Acharya and Sahani adds to the political reactions surrounding the Jantar Mantar demonstration and the reported detention of protesters demanding the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation.

Source: IANS

Rohini Acharya, Mukesh Sahani condemn detentions of CJP protesters, raise questions over youth rights

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New Delhi, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Over 3,000 anti-CEC protesters, including Abhijeet Dipke of CJP and politicians like Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, were detained in Delhi on Saturday as law enforcers threw an unprecedented security ring around the national capital to prevent chaos at Jantar Mantar, forcing the proposed agitation to break into several small gatherings across the city.

CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained around 10.30 a.m. by the police from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi while on their way to Jantar Mantar to stage a protest, demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde announced that the protesters will once again march towards Jantar Mantar on Sunday and will rest only after the resignation of the CEC.

The authorities had earlier denied permission for the demonstration and warned against unauthorised gatherings, imposing internet restrictions, roadblocks and traffic diversions to prevent a repeat of the CJP’s July protest at Jantar Mantar that turned violent.

The detained protesters were taken to different destinations, including Chhatrasal Stadium and various police stations, before being released later in the evening, the police said.

Social media influencer Dhruv Rathee was also detained at his residence in Gurugram. According to a post on the X handle of the CJP, around 50 police personnel in plain clothes reached Rathee's residence in Gurugram at around 8 a.m. and took him into custody.

Minor clashes were reported from some parts of the city. Stones were pelted at a bus carrying detained individuals in New Delhi's Jhandewalan area when detained protesters were being taken away. Some protesters clashed with police near Akashwani Bhavan after breaking barricades, police said.

More than 30,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in the capital in view of the protest. Forty-five Metro stations around Jantar Mantar were closed, internet curbs were imposed in central Delhi, barricades were installed, and traffic restrictions were imposed on dozens of stretches in Central Delhi since 6 a.m., and schools, colleges and courts were forced to shift to online mode for the day.

Drone surveillance is being conducted at key locations, while several Metro stations, including Supreme Court and Mandi House, have been closed as part of the security measures. Vehicles were checked at Delhi's borders, while police personnel equipped with body cameras kept a close watch on demonstrators across the city.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is likely to hold a special sitting on Sunday to hear a contempt petition alleging that the blanket closure of Delhi Metro stations and train services in Delhi to prevent the gathering of anti-CEC protesters amounted to a violation of the Court's order.

A bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana is expected to hold the special hearing, said a lawyer representing petitioner Shailendra Mani Tripathi.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and the CJP for disrupting peace and security of capital residents for political interests, warning that they will not be allowed to hold the city hostage.

“Let it be known: Delhi will not be held hostage,” she said, vowing not to let anyone spread anarchy in the national capital.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday criticised the detention of young men and women exercising their right to protest, claiming that the security curbs for the CJP’s protest on SIR in Delhi show that the government is “terrified” that its “illegitimacy” is being exposed.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, in a post on social media platform X, said, "Our youth, students, lawyers, journalists, social activists, farm union leaders, YouTubers, content creators, everyone who is questioning this regime (BJP government) is being detained. Modi Govt has turned the 'Mother of Democracy' into a 'Muzzled Democracy'."

Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, said in a post on X, “The country's capital has been turned into a fortress. Armed security personnel are deployed everywhere. The PM-HM duo is badly rattled and unnerved by the peaceful protests of concerned youth over the systematic attempt to strip away the right to vote granted under Article 326 of the Constitution.”

Mamata Banerjee was detained along with several MPs of the All India Trinamool Congress (Mamata faction) from South Avenue in central Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal, whose residence had been surrounded by Delhi Police since morning, was also detained as soon as he tried to step out to join the protest.

Kejriwal said, “They want to suppress this issue of 'vote chori' and continue doing it. But the people of this country will not allow this to happen."

Source: IANS

CJP protest: Over 3,000 detained across Delhi, as police guard Jantar Mantar (Lead)

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Mumbai, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) In a swift administrative intervention, the Election Commission of India (ECI) team on Saturday successfully resolved age-related issues for around 2.7 lakh voters in Maharashtra.

The corrective measures were taken following a special request by the Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S. Chockalingam.

According to official updates, the discrepancies were addressed promptly before the conclusion of the claims and objections period.

"At the request of Maharashtra CEO, the ECI team resolved age-related issues of 2.7 lakh electors in time, that is, before the claims and objections period ended, thus avoiding the need of filling up Form-8 for age correction," the Office of Maharashtra CEO said on Saturday in a post on social media platform X.

This timely intervention has provided significant relief to voters, effectively eliminating the requirement for individuals to manually fill out Form-8 for age corrections in the electoral rolls.

The proactive resolution ensures greater accuracy in voter lists while streamlining the voter revision process ahead of upcoming electoral milestones.

Earlier, the ECI extended the deadline to file claims and objections for the SIR drive to October 12 in Maharashtra, while processing notices, claims, and objections will conclude by November 10.

The state's final voter list will officially be published on November 16.

Notices were issued to 1.22 crore voters flagged for logical errors or missing document matches.

To ease the process, citizens no longer need to visit Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) in person—they can respond directly by sending notices and required documents via WhatsApp.

Out of 1,51 crore voters whose names were omitted from the draft rolls, only 390,000 have resubmitted fresh registration forms over the past month.

In response, District Collectors have been instructed to conduct dedicated voter registration camps across all junior and senior colleges, with mandatory reporting on student voter enrollment numbers.

The Office of the Maharashtra CEO has launched targeted registration drives and door-to-door verification campaigns across the state.

Operating under the guidelines of the ECI, election authorities have committed to ensuring that no eligible citizen is left off the electoral roll and no ineligible entries remain.

Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are deployed at campus sites to assist eligible students with completing application forms and to resolve queries regarding the SIR workflow, the Office of Maharashtra CEO said in a statement.

BLOs are conducting home visits to identify eligible citizens missing from the Draft Electoral Roll and collect Form-6 following verification.

For residents unavailable during home visits, special voter registration camps will be held at all designated polling stations on October 10 and October 11.

Citizens whose names appear on the list of absent or migrated voters (compiled during house-to-house enumeration) can apply for re-enrolment or correction.

The official list of absent/shifted voters has been published online at ceoelection.maharashtra.gov.in for public verification.

The deadline to submit claims, objections, and new registration requests is October 12.

Citizens can apply via offline or online channels.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday issued a strong appeal to citizens across the state to make full use of the special voter registration camps organised on October 10 and 11, emphasising that completing the necessary enrollment processes before the October 12 deadline is vital for safeguarding democratic rights.

The special drive comes in the wake of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an exercise the Chief Minister recently defended as a necessary and long-standing mechanism to protect the integrity of India's democratic system.

"Designated polling stations across the state are hosting special camps this weekend to assist citizens who missed home visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Eligible citizens—particularly young or first-time voters whose names are missing from the draft electoral rolls—have been urged to fill out Form-6 for immediate registration. Voters who received formal notices during the ongoing SIR verification process can utilise these camps to submit alternative valid documents and clear discrepancies. All claims, objections, and documentation processes must be finalised and submitted strictly before the October 12 deadline," CM Fadnavis said.

Defending the current electoral roll revision, the Chief Minister noted that rapid urbanisation, frequent migration, and demographic updates necessitate periodic verification to keep voter lists accurate and reliable.

Highlighting that the current framework is a natural extension of India's decades-old electoral tradition, the state administration has streamlined these weekend camps to ensure no genuine, eligible voter is left disenfranchised.

Citizens are advised to visit their local polling booths immediately to verify their names on the electoral roll and complete pending formalities ahead of October 12 deadline, CM Fadnavis said.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi/Imphal, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday assured the Manipur government of all possible assistance in its efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the violence-hit state, officials said.

A senior official of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said that PM Modi gave the assurance when Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh called on him at his official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, in New Delhi.

“The Prime Minister further assured that every reasonable issue concerning Manipur would be addressed, keeping in mind the aspirations of the people,” the official said.

Khemchand Singh briefed the Prime Minister on the state government’s initiatives to bring peace and normalcy in Manipur. He highlighted the resumption of Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati bus services and ensuring the free flow of goods-laden trucks on the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37) and the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2).

The Chief Minister informed the Prime Minister about his government’s sincere efforts to remove the trust deficit among different communities.

Khemchand Singh urged PM Modi to approve the proposal for converting a few state highways to national highways. He then requested the upgradation of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal to the status of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

CM Khemchand Singh also invited the Prime Minister to visit the State. The Prime Minister acknowledged the state government’s efforts to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur. He felt that the situation in the state has improved.

The Manipur Chief Minister has been in the national capital since October 8. Khemchand Singh separately held meetings on October 8 with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, and Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi and discussed various issues of the state. Both the Home Minister and the other two Union Ministers told the Chief Minister that they would soon visit Manipur.

Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday (October 8) assured Chief Minister Khemchand Singh of the Centre's full support in restoring peace and ensuring progress in the state, as well as in fulfilling the aspirations of its people.

The CMO official in Imphal said that the Home Minister also appreciated the sustained efforts of the state government to bring peace and normalcy in Manipur.

Khemchand Singh, during the meeting, apprised HM Shah of the measures taken up by the state government for restoring peace and normalcy in the state. The Chief Minister told Home Minister Shah that the state government has succeeded in resuming the Imphal-Dimapur (Nagaland)-Guwahati bus service, which has brought much-needed relief to the common people.

In a significant development, inter-state passenger bus services between Manipur, Assam and Nagaland resumed on August 21 after a gap of more than three years.

Source: IANS

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Haridwar/Guwahati, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday asserted that the people of India continue to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi, dismissing the Opposition's attempts to target the Union government and questioning allegations that the ruling establishment was afraid.

Speaking to reporters in Haridwar, Assam CM Sarma cited the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s electoral successes in bypolls in Assam and West Bengal to say that the party continued to enjoy popular support despite criticism from opposition parties.

"We have won bypolls in West Bengal as well as Assam. The number of people who have come to support PM Modi is many times greater than those who came to Delhi," he said, referring to the mobilisation of supporters in favour of the Prime Minister.

He also referred to the BJP's performance in Assam, asserting that the party had secured a major electoral victory and would continue to perform strongly in the future.

The Assam Chief Minister alleged that a section of the Opposition was repeatedly attempting to attack the Union government but had failed to achieve its objectives.

"The people of India know everything, and they stand with PM Modi," he said.

Responding to the Opposition's suggestion that the Union government was afraid, Assam CM Sarma questioned the basis of such claims and said that electoral politics should be judged by the work done for the public.

"What does it mean to say that the government is afraid? What is the definition of fear? Elections are about working for the people," he said.

Assam Chief Minister Sarma also referred to the Opposition's efforts to seek access to constitutional authorities, including the President Droupadi Murmu, questioning what was exceptional about political leaders meeting the President or approaching the Supreme Court.

He said that President Murmu meets several people regularly and that thousands of people approach the Supreme Court every day, suggesting that such interactions should not automatically be portrayed as extraordinary political developments.

His remarks came amid continuing political exchanges between the BJP and opposition parties over the functioning of the government and the Opposition's efforts to raise concerns through institutional channels.

Assam Chief Minister Sarma's comments underscored the BJP's position that electoral support and its governance record, rather than allegations of political intimidation, should determine public assessments of the government.

The Assam Chief Minister said that the electorate remained firmly behind PM Modi, dismissing the Opposition's criticism as an unsuccessful attempt to undermine the government.

Source: IANS

BJP won bypolls, rejects Opposition's claim that govt is afraid: Assam CM Sarma

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Bengaluru, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Saturday urged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to visit villages instead of sitting on the streets of Delhi, criticising him for travelling to the national capital while farmers were struggling with crop losses amid drought conditions in the state.

“Come to the villages, not Delhi, Shiva, (CM Shivakumar)” Ashoka said in a statement, alleging that farmers were waiting for adequate compensation and support from the government while the Chief Minister was in Delhi to serve the interests of the Congress high command.

Ashoka alleged that the Congress government was diverting public attention from administrative failures, scandals and serious allegations by engaging in political drama.

Targeting the government over the situation in rural Karnataka, Ashoka listed the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, farmers migrating from their villages, distress sales of cattle and drinking water shortages among the issues requiring urgent attention.

“Despite all this, Congress leaders have rushed to Delhi to engage in politics and repay their debt to the high command. What we need now is not Delhi, but our villages. Farmers need leaders to visit them, listen to their distress and offer them support,” he said.

Ashoka also criticised Congress leaders for raising the issue of ‘vote chori’ while farmers were facing hardships. He alleged that the government had failed to fulfil its responsibilities towards farmers. He claimed that Congress leaders would soon lose power in Karnataka.

Commenting on CM Shivakumar claiming attempts were made to trap him through sting operation, Ashoka said that if anyone had conspired to tarnish the image of political leaders under the guise of a sting operation, the government should conduct a proper investigation and take action against those responsible. He questioned the need for political theatrics over the proposed release of documents.

“If there is evidence, release it and submit it for investigation. If you have done nothing wrong, why are you afraid?” he asked.

Ashoka said the public had several questions about allegations involving traps, honey traps, blackmail and sting operations that had surfaced in the past. He urged the government to answer the allegations against it and focus on transparent governance and impartial action rather than trading accusations.

“When the state police department and intelligence wing are under the government’s control, it should conduct a proper investigation if anyone has deliberately conspired to tarnish the image of political leaders in the name of a sting operation. Instead, staging political drama before the public by threatening to release documents is not appropriate,” he said.

Ashoka said those claiming to possess evidence should make it public and hand it over for investigation. “If there is evidence, release it and submit it for investigation. If you have done nothing wrong, why are you afraid?” he asked.

Source: IANS

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Rajkot, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Gujarat plans to establish women-run Amul milk parlours in 18,000 villages across the state under an initiative aimed at expanding rural women’s income opportunities through dairy-related businesses, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Saturday.

The initiative is being taken forward through a memorandum of understanding between the Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company (GLPC) and Amul.

The proposed parlours are intended to create opportunities for women associated with self-help groups to participate in the dairy value chain and develop independent sources of income.

Patel announced the initiative while launching a series of women-focused programmes in Rajkot ahead of Navratri.

"The state government wanted to strengthen women’s economic participation and help them become self-reliant through employment and entrepreneurship," he said.

The programme also included the distribution of Amul parlour allotment letters to beneficiaries, along with financial assistance for self-help groups.

Cash credit cheques worth Rs 45 lakh were distributed to various groups, of which dairy-related self-help groups received Rs 40 lakh. The remaining assistance included cheques totalling Rs 1,08,640 for other Sakhi Mandals under an e-commerce incentive scheme.

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Jitu Vaghani said coordination between the Cooperation and Animal Husbandry departments would help advance women’s economic empowerment.

"More than three lakh Sakhi Mandals are working across Gujarat to help women become financially independent," he said.

The milk parlour initiative forms part of a wider effort to connect women’s self-help groups with established markets and business opportunities.

Under the programme, the GLPC also signed memorandums of understanding with institutions, government departments, banks and organisations to support the marketing of products made by women’s groups.

Patel said institutions such as the National Institute of Fashion Technology and the Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad, would also guide women in developing digital entrepreneurship skills.

The wider initiative seeks to expand the reach of rural products and help women access new avenues for selling their goods.

The Chief Minister said, "More than 8.5 lakh women in Gujarat had already become Lakhpati Didis."

He referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s target of helping six crore women across the country to achieve this status by 2029.

The state government had provided Rs 800 crore in assistance last year for women’s economic empowerment, Patel said, adding that it was prepared to provide greater support in the coming years.

Rural Development Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya said 'Mission Mangalam' had helped rural women strengthen their livelihoods.

He cited sales of approximately Rs 40 crore generated by around 8,500 self-help groups at 236 Saras Melas across Gujarat over five years, highlighting the role of organised market access in supporting women-led enterprises.

The proposed network of women-run milk parlours is expected to add a dedicated retail avenue to these livelihood efforts.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Supreme Court is likely to hold a special sitting on Sunday to hear a contempt petition alleging the blanket closure of Delhi Metro stations and train services in Delhi to prevent the gathering of anti-Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) protesters amounted to violation of the Court's order.

A bench of Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana are expected to hold the special hearing, a lawyer said.

The petition, filed by advocate Shailendra Mani Tripathi, has sought initiation of contempt proceedings against the Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Chairperson D. Thara for allegedly failing to comply with the directions issued by the apex court.

The petitioner alleged that despite the Supreme Court's categorical direction against a complete prohibition on Metro services, entry and exit gates at several Metro stations remained closed and train services continued to be cancelled or curtailed, causing inconvenience to commuters and disrupting public life in Delhi.

According to the plea, the DMRC had announced the closure of entry and exit gates at 45 Metro stations in the national capital.

Tripathi claimed that he visited GTB Nagar and Vishwavidyalaya Metro stations at around 9:30 p.m. and found their entry gates shut.

He has also claimed to have recorded the locked Metro gates on video.

The petition alleged that authorities failed to adequately publicise revised travel arrangements and continued to impose restrictions on public transport despite the Supreme Court's directions.

Referring to his visit to Jantar Mantar at around 8:30 p.m., the petitioner claimed that only police and paramilitary personnel were present at the protest site and that no protesters were there at the time.

The plea contended that the alleged non-compliance with the apex court's directions had crippled public life in the national capital and sought immediate withdrawal of blanket restrictions on Metro and other railway services.

The contempt petition follows the Supreme Court's order passed on Friday, in which a Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana directed that there should be no complete stoppage of Metro train services ahead of the proposed protest.

Source: IANS

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Jaipur, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) The indefinite hunger strike led by Naresh Meena, chief of the Bhagat Singh Sena and a farmers’ leader, entered its ninth consecutive day on Saturday.

Meena has been demanding solutions to various farmers’ issues, including the shortage of fertilisers.

Amid concerns over his deteriorating health following the prolonged fast, officials from the Baran district administration and police took him to a hospital for treatment.

According to reports, medical examinations revealed that Meena’s blood sugar level had fallen below 60, raising concerns about his health.

Administrative and police officials reached his native village, Nayagaon Nanavta, on Saturday and arranged for his hospitalisation.

Despite his health concerns, Meena maintained that he would continue his indefinite hunger strike until the farmers’ demands were fulfilled.

As Meena was being taken to the hospital, villagers present there raised slogans in his support and demanded that the administration address the farmers’ grievances without delay.

Concern has grown among his supporters and villagers over his declining health. The focus is now on the administration’s response to the farmers’ demands and the steps it takes to resolve the issues that have led to the hunger strike.

His demands include ensuring an adequate supply of DAP and urea, ending the forced bundling of fertilizers with other products (tagging), and curbing fertilizer black-marketing. He has also demanded that water reach tail-end areas of the Chambal and Bisalpur canal systems.

Other key demands include 10 hours of daytime electricity for agricultural activities, the release of pending agricultural electricity connections, and crop-loss assessments to facilitate insurance claims and compensation for affected farmers.

He has also called for financial assistance to accident victims, subsidies on agricultural machinery, remunerative prices for agricultural produce, and the provision of free gravel (bajri), along with the withdrawal of cases related to its distribution.

In addition, he has highlighted the need to improve conditions in prisons and ensure inmates receive nutritious food.

Meena has urged the Baran district administration to address several local issues. These include curbing alleged arbitrary actions by the Forest Department in the Nahargarh–Jalbada region and ensuring employment opportunities and fair wages for local residents at the Kawai–Chauki plant.

He has also demanded repairs to the motors of the Ganeshganj Lift Canal to restore water supply, action against illegal liquor operations and their distribution networks, and the clearance of pending payments to milk producers.

Police and administrative officials are closely monitoring Naresh Meena’s hunger strike and are attempting to persuade him to call it off.

However, Meena remains firm on his demands. He has also appealed to his supporters not to pressure him to end the fast, maintaining that the issues he has raised must be addressed.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) After at least 124 former civil servants, with direct or indirect involvement earlier in India's electoral process, wrote an "open letter to the citizens of India" on Saturday, one of its signatories and former Indian diplomat Bhaswati Mukherjee said that the former civil servants wanted to make people understand that a "distorted narrative" was being spread against the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The Opposition as well as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have been staging protests, demanding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the SIR process.

Speaking exclusively to IANS, Mukherjee said: "We (former civil servants) were motivated by a desire to make the people of India understand that a distorted narrative was being spread—that India's democracy is in danger, that there has been 'vote chori', that we are not a democracy and are like a banana republic, that all elections of the last two years should be cancelled and that India's constitutional institutions are corrupt and faulty."

"We wanted to explain to the people of India that the entire exercise of revision of voter rolls by the Election Commission, which is a constitutional body, was intended to ensure that the voter list is updated. Many have unfortunately died, some have migrated and changed nationality, and many young and new voters have come and have to be enrolled," she added.

Highlighting the issue of illegal infiltration, Mukherjee said: "At the same time, in some states—particularly, for instance, in my home state of West Bengal—there are many illegal voters who have drifted in from Bangladesh, taken false Aadhaar cards, and pretend that they can vote. They should go back to their own country and vote. So, it was a perfectly legitimate exercise."

She added that people should help each other with technology during the SIR process since not everyone is tech-savvy.

"It is not good to either spread panic or give an erroneous impression that some irregularities are taking place," Mukherjee said, adding that it is possible to re-enroll oneself in the voter list even if a genuine voter gets left out.

The former diplomat said: "We are surrounded by countries which are with are either semi-democracies or democracy under the control of the military, but we are a thriving democracy. It's fine if people have differing opinions but we should not spread false narratives."

Mukherjee also added: "We (former civil servants) have no agenda, we just want to set the record of our country so that our reputation of a flourishing democracy does not get destroyed or distorted", while asserting that there is no sinister motive behind voter roll revision.

The former civil servants also condemned the use of "rigged" without evidence in the letter.

Bhaswati Mukherjee said: "I have said there is no voter rigging. We have an electoral system that is admired worldwide. We have Electronic Voting Machines which the US still does not."

She also added that India has provided technical assistance to many countries regarding the conduct of electoral process.

"I recall in my career, we have provided assistance to those who wanted to know how to set up an electoral commission, why is it supposed to be a Constitutional body, and also how to remove an Election Commissioner," she said.

The former diplomat added that according to the Constitution, the only way to remove an Election Commissioner is through impeachment in Parliament, "not through mobocracy or violence on the streets".

"This kind of politics is harmful for the country," Mukherjee cautioned.

Source: IANS

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New Delhi, Oct 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) BJP National General Secretary Smriti Irani on Saturday came in support of the open letter written by at least 124 former civil servants to "the citizens of India", saying that the veteran officers understand that the country's democratic framework "does not run on blind faith".

The former officers who wrote the letter in favour of the Election Commission’s ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters list, have been directly or indirectly involved earlier in India’s electoral process, and have condemned the use of "rigged" without evidence.

In a post on social media platform X, Smriti Irani asked: "Do you doubt the system, or do you only doubt the result?"

"In an unsparing open letter, 124 former IAS, IFS, and Allied Service officers have defended the Election Commission of India and statutory roll revisions like the Special Intensive Revision. Their message directly calls out the Opposition for its desperate attempts to undermine our constitutional pillars," she said.

The BJP leader added: "Having conducted elections across decades, these veteran officers understand that our democratic framework does not run on blind faith. It relies on verifiable checks, dual-party seals, and strict judicial oversight."

Smriti Irani said that the people of India see straight through the "Opposition's hollow narrative".

"You cannot celebrate the machinery when it hands you a victory and cry fraud the instant the ballot rejects you," the BJP leader said while hitting out at the Opposition.

Meanwhile, the letter by the former civil servants said: "We have conducted or studied India's elections all through our lives. We prepared the rolls, trained polling parties, sealed strong rooms and supervised counts. We belong to no party. We write because one word, 'rigged', is now thrown at our elections without evidence, and every repetition wounds democratic trust that belongs to all of us."

"If the system you call rigged is the same one that handed you your victories, ask yourself whether it is the system you doubt, or only the result," the letter added.

Names included former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal, former Secretaries of Ministries and departments of the Union government like R. D. Kapur, Samirendra Chatterjee, Gopal Krishna, Vivek Bhardwaj, Anand Kumar; former Ambassadors Shyamala B. Causik, Bhaswati Mukherjee, Yogesh K. Gupta, Prabhu Dayal, Anil Trigunayat, J. K. Tripathi, Deepak Vohra, among several ex-special secretaries, erstwhile Chief Secretaries of states, Director Generals of Police, and other senior officers.

Source: IANS

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