Odisha CM Announces Ex-Gratia Of Rs 4 Lakhs For Kin Of Boat Mishap

by Hemanta Pande

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased of boat mishap in the Mahanadi River in Odisha's Jharsuguda district.

Bhubaneswar, Apr 19: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh for the next of kin of the deceased of boat mishap in the Mahanadi River in Odisha's Jharsuguda district.

The Chief Minister has directed the district administration to provide proper treatment to all those rescued in the accident. He also wished for the speedy recovery of all the injured.

Two persons were killed and seven went missing after a boat carrying them capsized in the Mahanadi River near Sardha village in Jharsuguda on Friday.

The locals started rescue operations as soon as they learned about the tragedy.

Locals said, "Some people from Chattisgarh had visited Patharseni Temple, located on an island on the Mahanadi River. All were travelling by local motor boat. While returning, the boat capsized.

Some swam back to the river bank. Locals started a rescue operation with the help of fishermen. Seven people are said to be missing."

Jharsuguda District Magistrate Aboli Sunil Naravane said, "We mobilised all resources after receiving information on the same."

The local police, ODRAF team, Collector and SP paid a visit to the accident site.

More details on the matter are awaited. A rescue operation is underway. (ANI)

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'Shehzada' Fears Defeat In Wayanad, Now Finding Escape Route Via Raebareli: PM Modi

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Kolkata, May 3: Taking another dig at the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the "Shehzada" fears defeat in Wayanad which is why he has also been fielded from the Rae Bareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh which will act as an "escape route".

"I said it before that the 'Shehzada' (prince) will be defeated from Wayanad and soon after the elections at Wayanad will be over, he will go in search of a second seat. His followers were claiming that he will fight from Amethi. But, it seems that he is scared of Amethi too. So now the 'prince' is trying to find an escape route from Raebareli," PM Modi said while addressing a rally at Burdwan in West Bengal.

"I had already said in the Parliament that their (Congress) biggest leader will not dare to fight elections and she will run away. She ran away to Rajasthan and came to the Rajya Sabha.. Today, I am also telling them not to be scared. Do not escape," he added.

Prime Minister Modi launched a scathing attack against Congress and other allies of the opposition INDIA bloc, accusing them of speaking about "vote-jihad" during the ongoing elections.

"Previously they practised 'vote-jihad' silently. Now they are publicly announcing it. Their allies like Trinamool Congress and the Left parties are remaining silent in support," said PM Modi.

He said that the only aim of Congress is to introduce religion-based reservation in India.

"As per the Indian Constitution, religion-based reservation is not permissible. But Congress is exactly trying to do that. They are planning to do this by reducing the reservation quota for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. I challenged them to give it in writing that they are not in favour of religion- based reservation but they have remained silent," he said.

He also asserted that it seems that Congress is in the mood to punish people from SC, ST and OBC backgrounds since they have overwhelmingly supported BJP in the last few elections.

(IANS)

BJP Names Santosh Khatua As Assembly Candidate From Nilgiri seat

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Bhubaneswar, May 3: In its sixth phase of the Assembly candidates' list that came out today, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) named Santosh Khatua as its candidate for the Nilgir seat.

Notably, Santosh Khatua resigned from the Biju Janata Dal yesterday and joined the BJP this morning.

In his reaction, Khatua said he resigned from the BJD because the party neglected him. "I submitted people's grievances many times, but the party didn't heed them," said Khatua

He targeted the BJD for its functioning saying the real power of the party vests in VK Pandian.

He exuded confidence that the BJP would have a big victory in the ensuing 2024 elections and would form a double-engine government in Odisha and at the Centre. He thanked top leaders of the BJP for accepting him to the party and naming him as party candidate for the Nilgiri seat.

Odisha CM Announces Ex-Gratia Of Rs 4 Lakhs For Kin Of Boat Mishap

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