Bhopal, June 26 (IANS) Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot said on Thursday that the country…

New Delhi, Jun 26 (IANS) Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s persistent demand that ECI should provide machine-readable digital copies of the voter lists for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and subsequent Vidhan Sabha elections appears to be legally untenable, said constitutional experts and sources on Thursday.

An earlier Supreme Court verdict has already settled the matter in favour of the Election Commission of India. They suggest that LoP Rahul Gandhi’s repeated attempts to rake up the demand for ‘machine-readable digital copies’ are nothing more than a publicity stunt, as the apex court has already ruled against such a demand. In 2018, Congress leader Kamal Nath, the then president of the Madhya Pradesh Congress, had petitioned the Supreme Court seeking direction to provide soft copies of the draft electoral rolls published in text format, along with several other prayers. The verdict delivered by a then Bench of Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan opined that the format in which the draft electoral roll is supplied to the petitioner fulfils the requirement contained in the Election Manual. “We find force in the submission of ECI. Clause 11.2.2.2 of the Election Manual uses the expression ‘text mode’. The draft electoral roll in that mode, i.e. text mode, has been supplied to the petitioner. The clause nowhere says that the draft electoral roll has to be put up on the Chief Electoral Officer’s website in a ‘searchable PDF’,” it added. The apex court said that if the petitioner so wants, he can always convert it into searchable mode at “his own efforts”. In its affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, the poll panel argued that it has taken a conscious decision not to give copies of the voter list to the political parties in scannable text mode, keeping in view the issue of privacy of voters. The Election Commission said that the recognised political parties are supplied, free of cost, two copies – one hard copy in pdf with image of electors and another in soft copy without image of electors – of the electoral roll of the constituencies at the time of draft publication and final publication under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. Even unrecognised registered political parties, NGOs or the public can obtain a soft copy of the electoral roll, without images of electors, in a CD in PDF format at a nominal price of Rs 100 only per CD, added the poll panel. Observing that “there is no doubt about the bona fides of the ECI”, the Supreme Court, in its judgment, had said that “people of the country, by and large, trust this institution for its impartial manner of discharging its functions.” Interpreting phrase “text mode” in the Election Manual, the apex court said that it meant that the draft electoral roll put up on the official website will only contain “text” of the elector’s details and not his/her “photographs/pictures/pictorial content” and the nowhere required that the draft electoral roll has to be uplaoded in a “searchable PDF”. It said, “The petitioner cannot claim, as a right, that the draft electoral roll should be placed on the website in a ‘searchable mode’. It has only to be in ‘text mode’ and it is so provided.” The Supreme Court said that the Election Manual did not entitle the petitioner to get the draft electoral roll in text mode, which is searchable as well, and it is for the ECI to decide about the format in which the draft electoral roll is to be published. It found force in the poll panel’s submission that the move is aimed at the prevention of voter profiling and data mining, and the ECI is duty-bound to take all precautionary measures to ensure of privacy of voters. Insiders in the Election Commission have shed light on the apex court judgment in the backdrop of LoP Rahul Gandhi’s allegation of “fixed election” in Maharashtra last November and the Election Commission’s invitation to him to sit for a doubt-clearing session, an offer which he has not accepted yet. “While it is factually correct that Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, has been demanding a machine-readable, digital copy of the electoral roll for the last seven months, such a demand by the Congress is not new,” said an official source. The demand, it seems, is part of a strategy by the Congress for well over eight years, a fact that appears to have been selectively obscured in the present representation, he said. “The position historically maintained by the Indian National Congress is not tenable within the contours of the prevailing legal framework. It may be recalled that this very issue has already been agitated by the Congress before none other than the highest constitutional court of the country,” he said. –IANS pds/dan

Kolkata, June 26 (IANS) Political circles in West Bengal are all set to witness a unique mass-outreach war on Friday involving the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari over the sacred Ratha Yatra festival.
On one hand, the Chief Minister will herself start the tradition of pulling the ‘Rathas’ (chariots) carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra of the newly-inaugurated Lord Jagannath Temple at Digha in East Midnapore district on Friday, for which she had reached the sea resort on Wednesday.Arrangements have been made to ensure that prasad of the temple reaches the doorsteps of all the citizens of the state through the state’s public distribution system. However, the prasad’s distribution has been marred with controversy on two grounds.The first is how the money from the state exchequer could be spent for facilitating the distribution of the fruits of religious practice. Secondly, controversies also shrouded over reports of contracts being given to non-Hindu sweets shops, mainly Muslims, to prepare the sweets to be distributed as prasad.While Chief Minister Banerjee will be busy throughout Friday at Digha, LoP Adhikari has an equally hectic schedule throughout the day over the same Ratha Yatra festival.LoP Adhikari will be participating in three Ratha Yatra festival programmes, one in Kolkata and the other two in his native district of East Midnapore. He had also arranged to bring mahaprasad from the iconic Lord Jagannath Dham Temple at Puri in Odisha, which will be distributed among people on Friday from Shree Gauranga Mahaprabhu Temple at Tamluk in East Midnapore district.Political slugfest between the BJP and Trinamool Congress has also surfaced over this mass-outreach war. On the one hand, Trinamool Congress leaders have claimed that while arranging the Ratha Yatra function at Digha, the Chief Minister had facilitated the participation of people from different religions, the programmes of the LoP Adhikari are intended for sheer “political competitiveness”.On the other hand, the state BJP leaders have claimed that the Chief Minister Banerjee’s emphasis on the Ratha Yatra festival this year is “politically motivated” to influence the Hindu voters before the crucial Assembly election in West Bengal next year.–IANSsrc/khz

Chennai, June 26 (IANS) Senior BJP leader and former MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy has written to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, seeking the immediate repatriation of 54 Indian citizens who have been left stranded in Milan, Italy, following multiple flight cancellations linked to the escalating geopolitical tensions between Israel and Iran.

In his letter, Reddy, who currently serves as the BJP National Co-Incharge for Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, highlighted that the stranded individuals include 21 persons from Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu and 33 others from various parts of the country. Most of the group comprises professors and their family members who had embarked on a European tour earlier this month. According to the letter, the group departed for France on June 13, 2025, via an Air India flight and was scheduled to return to India from Milan on June 23. However, their return flight was cancelled and later rescheduled for June 24, only to be cancelled again, reportedly due to the ongoing international aviation disruptions stemming from the Israel-Iran conflict. “At present, they are unable to find any available flights back to India and are in urgent need of assistance,” Reddy wrote. The BJP leader noted that the distress call was initially raised by the Virudhunagar unit of the party in Tamil Nadu, which had received messages from some of the stranded citizens. An official list of the individuals currently stranded in Milan has also been attached to the representation. Appealing for swift intervention, Reddy urged the Ministry of External Affairs to coordinate with the Indian Embassy in Rome and other relevant authorities to ensure the safe and immediate return of the group. “The situation is deeply distressing for the families back home. I request your esteemed office to take urgent steps to facilitate their repatriation at the earliest,” the letter concluded. The Ministry of External Affairs has not yet issued an official response, but sources indicate that Indian missions in Europe have been placed on alert amid rising disruptions in international flight services due to the unfolding Middle East crisis. –IANS aal/dan

Patna, June 26 (IANS) Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) National President and Bihar’s Minor Water Resources Minister, Santosh Suman, criticised RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday, accusing him of “abandoning” the ideals of the J.P. Movement for “political gain.”

Speaking on the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, Suman recalled the historic Bihar movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) against the Emergency, misrule, corruption, and inflation of the then Congress regime.He noted that Lalu Prasad Yadav had emerged as a prominent student leader from this movement, which eventually led to the imposition of an Emergency by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to quell dissent.“Lalu Prasad was once a revolutionary son of JP, who fought against the Emergency. But today, he chooses silence, not uttering a single word against that dark chapter of Indian democracy. Why? Because he fears upsetting his alliance partner, the Congress,” Suman alleged.Suman accused Lalu Prasad Yadav of betraying the JP movement’s legacy for personal political survival.“To save his chair, Lalu Prasad Yadav has not only abandoned the ideals of JP but also buried them. The same leader who once stood for justice is now aligning with the forces he fought against,” he said.Suman pointed out that Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was jailed under the MISA Act during the Emergency, even named his eldest daughter ‘Misa’ in memory of that struggle.“But today, for power, he has forgotten those days of torture and oppression. The entire RJD family avoids even mentioning the word ‘Emergency.’ What kind of political compulsions are these?” he asked.Suman also posed a question to the public, saying, “Can Bihar ever trust such a leader who changes colours for political gain and sacrifices principles for power? This is a question every voter must ask themselves before the upcoming elections.”Suman’s remarks come amid a broader political discourse as NDA leaders marked June 25 as ‘Black Day’, commemorating the declaration of Emergency in 1975 and criticising the Congress party’s legacy.–IANSajk/dan

Agartala, June 26 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Thursday that his government has given priority to education, health, communication, and the overall development of the tribals under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

While inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of various development projects in Sepahijala district, the Chief Minister said that seven new projects have been inaugurated in Bishalgarh sub-division, and the foundation stone of five projects has been laid. He said that the Prime Minister has said that there would be no talk without development. “PM Modi has given importance to all-around development. And we, the double-engine government, are also working in that direction. In just a few months from January to June 2025, I inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of more than Rs 638.65 crore worth of various projects in different places. There is no end to development,” he said. The Chief Minister said that besides undertaking developmental works, special emphasis has been given to the self-reliance of Tripura. Before the BJP government came to power in 2018, there were only four to four and a half thousand self-help groups (SHGs) in the state. Now, there are about 56,000 SHGs. The government has given these SHGs more than Rs 700 crore as revolving funds, Saha said, adding that funds are also being given from banks. Noting that the state government has given importance to women’s empowerment, the Chief Minister said 33 per cent of posts were reserved for women. “All fees have been waived for female students in all general degree colleges in the state. Pink toilets have been arranged at various places. Fifty per cent reservation has been made for women in the distribution of government stalls.” Saha, who also holds the home portfolio, said that for the safety of women, women-run police stations have been set up in all eight districts of the state. He said that the government has given serious importance to the more prosperous utilisation of the resources of the state. The Chief Minister said that the Prime Minister has given special importance to the development of the northeastern region, comprising eight states. “Development is possible where there is peace. Earlier, we saw murder, terrorism, rape, arson. Our double-engine government is showing that a government can be run apart from corruption,” he added. –IANS sc/dan

Kolkata, June 26 (IANS) The Trinamool Congress, on Thursday, slapped a show-cause notice on the…

Jaipur, June 26 (IANS) Six pilgrims from Rajasthan went missing while one was injured after a road accident occurred near Gholtir in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district when a vehicle carrying 20 pilgrims fell into the Alaknanda river after being hit from behind by a truck.

Officials said that the group was en route to Badrinath Dham after visiting Kedarnath as part of the Char Dham Yatra. Out of the 20 passengers, seven were from Rajasthan.The accident claimed three lives, two from Madhya Pradesh and one from Gujarat, while eight others were injured.The official said that six pilgrims from Rajasthan are still missing. The injured has been identified as Hemlata Soni, a resident of Gogunda in Udaipur, who is undergoing treatment.Preliminary reports indicate that the group included Lalit Soni, a jeweller from Surat originally from Udaipur, who was travelling with his wife, four children, and extended family members, including sisters, in-laws, and a cousin.Kundan Soni, a relative based in Udaipur, confirmed that Advocate Sanjay Soni, his wife Chetna, his mother, sister Bhavna, Hemlata, Lalit and other family members had left for the pilgrimage about 10 days ago.Some passengers were reportedly rescued after getting stuck on the hillside during the fall.Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma dialled Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to get an update about the road accident.He also expressed deep grief over the incident and extended condolences to the bereaved families.He said that Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has assured that relief and rescue operations are being conducted promptly and that the local administration has been instructed to ensure no lapses.Sharma said the Rajasthan government is in continuous contact with Uttarakhand authorities and is closely monitoring the situation.He prayed for the peace of the departed souls, the safe return of those missing, and the speedy recovery of the injured.–IANSarc/dan

Bhubaneswar, June 26 (IANS) The city of Puri in Odisha is bracing for the famous Ratha Yatra, as holy siblings — Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra — prepare to embark on their nine-day sojourn from their abode, the 12th-century shrine, to Gundicha Temple on June 27. Devotees, gripped with ecstasy, will pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra — Nandighosh, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalan respectively — for around 3 km to the Gundicha Temple, believed by some legends to be the birthplace of the Chaturddha Murti (Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Maa Subhadra, and Sudarshan). Various departments of the state government have made elaborate preparations to ensure a smooth and incident-free Rath Yatra on Friday. “We are fully prepared for tomorrow’s grand Rathayatra.” “All rituals and arrangements have been meticulously planned and will be carried out with equal dedication. I seek the blessings of Mahaprabhu and the cooperation of all devotees to ensure a smooth and sacred celebration,” said Sidharth Shankar Swain, Collector, Puri. The holy city of Puri has been placed under a five-tiered security blanket for the nine-day-long Rath Yatra festival beginning from Friday. As many as 200 platoons of police force and eight companies of the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, etc., have been deployed throughout the sacred coastal town for the Ratha Yatra. Similarly, around 10,000 personnel of Odisha police, Central Armed Police Force and home guard have been deployed in Puri and around the city during the Ratha Yatra this year. The police officers stationed at integrated command-and-control system, set up for the first time this year, and other sub-control rooms will keep a watch on traffic and crowd movements through live feeds from around 275 AI-enabled CCTVs installed from Uttara Square to Puri Town, in the town and from Puri to Konark. “The world-famous Ratha yatra is going to commence tomorrow (Friday). All the preparations for this have been completed. Police have made elaborate arrangements for the safety and security, traffic and law and order. A chatbot application has been launched this afternoon. I want to appeal to all the people to explore this application to get real-time updates about traffic movements on roads leading to the holy town and the availability of parking spots. I hope the Ratha Yatra will be successful with the cooperation of people,” said Y.B. Khurania, DGP, Odisha Police on Thursday. Meanwhile, the East Coast Railway has started 365 special trains to ensure hassle-free travel of devotees to the Puri from different parts of Odisha and other neighbouring states. Keeping in view onset of monsoon season, the Odisha Health department has deployed over 375 doctors and other medical staff to tackle any medical emergency. The department made arrangements for additional 265 additional beds at Puri District Headquarters hospital and other health facilities and set up around 69 fast aid centres in the holy city. After 14 days of isolation period in the ‘Anasara Gruha’ inside the Jagannath Temple following the ritual bath on Snana Yatra on June 11, the devotees on Thursday got the darshan of the holy triad on the occasion of ‘Netrotsav’ or ‘Nabajauvana Darshan’.–IANSgyan/pgh

Mumbai, June 26 (IANS) The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Thursday presented a revised and economically viable plan for the 55.12 km Uttan-Virar Sea Link (UVSL) project to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

During the review meeting, the Chief Minister directed that the proposed UVSL should be connected to the upcoming Vadhavan Port and the Samruddhi Mahamarg (Expressway), making it a crucial link connecting Mumbai to the ambitious Vadhavan Port project.He reviewed the UVSL project in a meeting in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee, Additional Commissioner Ashwin Mudgal, and other senior officials.The project will be directly connected to the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway through the Virar connector, significantly improving freight and passenger movement between the northern suburbs and the western coastal corridor.The Chief Minister emphasised that the project will not only create economic opportunities but also strengthen India’s port-led development vision, said the government release.“After detailed technical and engineering evaluations, MMRDA presented six cost variants ranging from Rs 87,427 crore to Rs 52,652 crore. CM Fadnavis and DCM Shinde selected the Rs 52,652 crore alternative as it was financially more viable, efficient, and environmentally friendly. The revised design has successfully brought down the cost from Rs 87,427.17 crore to Rs 52,652 crore,” said the government release.Earlier plans included 4+4 lanes with emergency lanes. The revised plan includes 3+3 lanes for the main carriageway and 2+2 lanes for connectors, significantly reducing civil and structural costs. Budgeting was done keeping in mind inflation and the current road network, avoiding unnecessary costs. Narrower lane widths and optimised alignment reduced the Right of Way (RoW), thereby lowering land acquisition and rehabilitation expenses, said the release.Earlier, double-pillar designs were replaced with single-pillar structures, making the construction more cost-effective and eco-friendly. Cuts in temporary expenses, consultant fees, and other initial costs helped bring down the total budget significantly.According to MMRDA, the Uttan-Virar Sea Link will be a key component of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s future transport network, directly linking Mumbai’s northern suburbs with Vadhavan Port and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. It is expected to unlock significant new economic and connectivity potential across the region.The Chief Minister also instructed the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the project’s implementation and called for fast-tracking the required approvals for the proposed alignment.–IANSsj/dan