PM Modi, HM Shah encourage Haryana voters to exercise franchise

PM Modi, HM Shah Encourage Haryana Voters To Exercise Franchise

by Utkalika Mohanty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

As polling for the 90-member legislative Assembly in the BJP-ruled Haryana began on Saturday with a 2.03 crore electorate slated to decide the fate of 1,031 candidates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to vote in record numbers.

New Delhi, Oct 5: As polling for the 90-member legislative Assembly in the BJP-ruled Haryana began on Saturday with a 2.03 crore electorate slated to decide the fate of 1,031 candidates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to vote in record numbers.

“Voting is taking place today for the Haryana Assembly elections. I appeal to all voters to be a part of this holy festival of democracy and set a new record of voting. On this occasion, my special best wishes to all the young friends of the state who are going to vote for the first time,” he wrote on X.

First vote, then have breakfast, appealed Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who campaigned aggressively to ensure the record third straight win of the BJP in the state.

“Your one vote will work to keep Haryana free from ‘kharchi, parchi’ (the alleged system of favouritism and corruption for recruitment under Congress governments)… I urge all my sisters and brothers to vote to maintain the pace of development… Only a government with a track record of development and good governance, and not one making false promises, can bring welfare to Haryana,” he added.

A total of 20,632 booths have been set up across the state for the election and the polling will continue till 6 P.M. amid tight security arrangements, officials said, adding that there has been no report of any delay in starting the poll process.

In rural areas of the state, electors were seen reaching polling stations even before voting started at 7 A.M.

The contest is likely to be a bipolar one between traditional arch-rivals -- the state's ruling BJP, which is banking on a third-successive stint with its "double-engine" government despite internal rebellions, and the principal Opposition Congress, which is eyeing to dethrone it, citing "existing resentment" among crucial sections like farmers, government employees, unemployed youth, and wrestlers.

While both the BJP and the Congress are contesting on 89 seats, political observers told IANS that the presence of candidates of the Aam Aadmi Party, the state's once-prominent Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) which is contesting in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party, and the INLD’s breakaway faction Jannayak Janta Party, which is in the fray with the Azad Samaj Party, besides some BJP rebels who are fighting as Independents, have made the contest triangular or multi-corned on a few seats.

Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal said every vote counts and people should actively participate in this festival of democracy by exercising their franchise.

He said 2.03 crore voters, including 1.07 crore men, 95,77,926 women and 467 third-gender voters would cast votes.

--IANS

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PM Accuses Cong Of Keeping Dalits, Poor, Tribals Away From Mainstream

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Washim, Oct 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed the Congress party saying that it does not consider Dalits, tribals, poor and backward people as its own and keeps them away from the mainstream.

“The Congress wants to keep Dalits as Dalits, the poor as poor. So beware of the Congress. Urban Naxals are running the Congress. The party wants to divide the country. So it is trying to divide us. So be one and united to foil the Congress party’s plot. This is the time to be together,” he said at the public rally.

The Prime Minister referred to the recent seizure of drugs worth thousands of crores in Delhi saying that the main accused turned out to be a Congress leader.

“The Congress is pushing the youth to consume drugs. They want to contest elections from the money earned through drug business,” he alleged.

He called upon the youth and the people in general to be aware of the Congress party’s tactics and unitedly fight against it.

“The Congress gave prominence to a particular family which wanted to rule the country. The Congress party always took a duplicitous stance towards the Banjara community. Our Banjara community has played a major role in the formation of India and in the social life of India. Great men of this society have done everything in art, culture, Defence and trade,” said PM Modi.

“It was the responsibility of the Indian government to restore the name and pride of the Banjara community after Independence. However, the Congress governments alienated Banjaras from the mainstream communities,” claimed the Prime Minister.

“The Banjara community has played a significant role in enriching the cultural heritage of India. In every sector, be it art, tradition, spirituality, trade and commerce, people from the Banjara community have made immense contributions,” he said.

“However, those who are being neglected, Modi worships them. The BJP-led government at the Centre took a slew of decisions for the development of the Banjara community,” said PM Modi.

He further added that Devendra Fadnavis during his Chief Ministership had launched the Banjara Virasat Museum but it was blocked by the Congress and Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

However, he noted that it was further revived and completed by the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government at an expenditure of Rs 700 crore,” said the Prime Minister.

PM Modi said polling is underway in Haryana, adding that the people of Haryana should vote in large numbers to push the state’s development.

Earlier, the Prime Minister performed Darshan at Jagdamba Mata Temple, Poharadevi. He paid tribute to the Samadhis of Sant Sevalal Maharaj and Sant Ramrao Maharaj in Washim.

He inaugurated the five floor Banjara Virasat Museum, celebrating the rich heritage of the Banjara community.

Poharadevi is one of the important and well-known pilgrimages of Maharashtra.

The PM also launched a slew of initiatives for the agricultural and animal husbandry sector worth around Rs 23,300 crore.

In line with his commitment to empower farmers, the Prime Minister disbursed the 18th instalment of the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi worth about Rs 20,000 crore to around 9.4 crore farmers.

With the 18th instalment release, the total funds released to farmers under PM-KISAN will be around Rs 3.45 lakh crore.

Further, he launched the 5th instalment of NaMo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana disbursing about Rs 2,000 crore.

The PM showered praises on the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra for providing additional Rs 6,000 to farmers annually under the Namo Krishi Samman Nidhi.

He criticised the Congress and Maha Vikas Aghadi government for blocking several irrigation schemes.

He claimed that while the Centre was sending funds to the state for farmers’ welfare, the Congress and Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders were allegedly involved in corruption.

The Prime Minister dedicated to the nation more than 7,500 projects under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), worth over Rs 1,920 crore.

The major projects include custom hiring centres, primary processing units, warehouses, sorting and grading units, cold storage projects, post-harvest management projects among others.

The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation 9,200 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) with a combined turnover of around Rs 1,300 crore.

Further, he launched the Unified Genomic Chip for cattle and indigenous sex-sorted semen technology.

He also dedicated five solar parks with a total capacity of 19 MW across Maharashtra under Mukhyamantri Saur Krushi Vahini Yojana – 2.0.

During the programme, he will also honour beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.

He also distributed cheques to some women beneficiaries under the scheme.

--IANS

I Like Virat More Than Babar, Says Ex-Pakistan Captain Sidra Nawaz

by Utkalika Mohanty

New Delhi, Oct 5: Former Pakistan skipper Sidra Nawaz was asked to weigh in on the age-old debate between the fans of the two cricketing nations as to who she thinks is the better player, Virat Kohli or Babar Azam.

“I like them both but personally I choose Virat Kohli,” Sidra told IANS.

Virat Kohli has solidified his legacy as perhaps one of the greatest batters in the history of the game. The 35-year old, who is also the ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year 2023, has had a stellar career which has seen him play more than 500 games across the three formats. Kohli’s most successful format has been ODI’s as he has scored 13,906 runs in 295 games.

Kohli had spent 1258 days as the number one ranked ODI batsman in the world before he was dethroned by Babar Azam in April 2021. The Pakistan batter, who recently stepped down from white ball captaincy, was overtaken by Shubman Gill in 2023 but regained his position in December 2023 and still sits at the top of the leaderboards.

With the Women’s T20 WC now in full flow, India will be hoping to bounce back after a 58-run crushing defeat by the hands of New Zealand. Their next opponents on the other hand, Pakistan, are coming off an impressive 31 run victory over Sri Lanka in their opening encounter.

Sidra Nawaz believes that even though India has historically dominated the fixture, Pakistan’s momentum can put India under pressure in their match-up.

“If we take a look at the past meetings then majority of the times India has won but in this World Cup Pakistan started off strong with a solid win over Sri Lanka and India was unable to win against NZ and were bundled out early. Pakistan might have the better approach heading into the game and hopefully will put India under pressure in the game,” Sidra further added during an interaction set up by 1xbat cricket predicta.

Nawaz participated in domestic cricket for the likes of Lahore, Punjab, Federal Capital, Higher Education Commission, Omar Associates, Saif Sports Saga, and State Bank of Pakistan.

Nawaz took to the international stage in 2014, debuting against Australia in August, 2014. Nawaz went on to partake in numerous ODI and T20 World Cups, spanning from 2014 to 2023. Nawaz was nominated as the captain of the Pakistan A team in 2021, taking on West Indies in an T20I. Sidra was considered as a true leader and great of her national side.

The veteran further stated that India and Pakistan should begin playing bi-lateral series as well and claimed that India should travel to Pakistan in 2025 for the Champions Trophy.

“Yes definitely (On whether India and Pakistan should play more often), I think we lack because we can’t play bilateral series between each other. I can’t comment on this because it's the decision of the governments but as a player I believe we should play at least one series a year.

“India should definitely come to Pakistan, Pakistan went to their country to play the 2023 ODI WC as well. A lot of countries are traveling to Pakistan, England and Pak will begin a test series in two days (October 7). India have played on all the pitches around the world, it’s time they experience our pitches as well,”she concluded.

--IANS

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Divanshi Wins Second Gold As India Sweep Women's 25m Standard Pistol At Lima Junior Worlds

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

New Delhi, Oct 5: Pistol shooter Divanshi bagged a second individual gold in the women’s 25m standard pistol, leading an Indian clean sweep in the event as the Colts added five more medals to their tally including two more golds, at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Championship Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun, currently underway in Lima.

Suraj Sharma also won the junior men’s standard pistol gold as Mukesh Nelavalli, who already has four golds in the competition, settled for bronze in this one.

Divanshi tallied 564 out of 600 in the junior women’s standard pistol, to finish ahead of teammate Parisha Gupta, who shot 559. Manvi Jain’s 557, ensured the Indian clean sweep in the event- a first in the competition.

India also bagged the fourth place as Shikha Chaudhary’s 554, put her a point ahead of Marja Kirss of Estonia.

In the corresponding men’s event, Suraj Sharma shot 571, to finish ahead of Poland’s Ivan Rakistski, who shot 568 for his silver. Mukesh also shot 568 but on bronze on countback.

Harsimar Singh Rattha (565), Raajwardan Singh Patil (562) and Pradhyumn Singh (562) finished seventh, eighth and ninth respectively.

In the junior women’s 50m rifle prone event, Melvina Joel Gladson (617.5) was the best Indian on show with a 14th place finish.

Further back was Prachi Gaikwad (616.7), Khushi (615.1) and Aadhya Agrawal (614.2) and Anoushka Thokur (611.9), in 19th, 26th, 27th and 35th spots respectively. Melvina, Prachi and Anoushka’s combined tally of 1846.1, gave them sixth spot in the team competition in prone.

(IANS)

PM Modi, HM Shah encourage Haryana voters to exercise franchise

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