Dying Farmers, Dying Agriculture – Agrarian crisis hit poll front

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January 22, 2019

The agrarian crisis came to view ahead of 2019 polls and it is a good news for farmers. The Central government has four broad proposals to ease out the agrarian crisis. It is a right step in the right direction and better late than never. The upliftment of the status of farmers needs to be taken up in the best way possible. At last the government see light at the end of the tunnel and the farmer’s woes will be eased out.

Having faced a tight situation and facing the wrath of the government and the banks, there seems to be no end to the problems faced by the farmers in this country. No one is able to make or break the ticklish situation and now the government look for an ultimate solution to the pressing issue.

The Maharashtra government has reported 257 suicides by farmers in the State between January and March this year resulting from the agrarian crisis. As many as 114 cases of suicides were reported from the Aurangabad region, followed by Amravati (102), Nagpur (30) and Nashik (nine) the data showed. Recent cases of suicides were reported due to the recent untimely rains and hailstorm. Maharashtra State is taking necessary measures for development of the farm sector with the Central government supplementing the efforts through appropriate policy measures and budgetary support and still farmers face the heat. The Centre has taken several steps to revitalise the agriculture sector and improve the condition of the farming community on a sustainable basis by increasing investment, improving farm practices, rural infrastructure and delivery of credit, technology and other inputs, extension and marketing among others.

Famine is the major reason quoted for the farmer’s woes in debt-ridden areas of Maharashtra. Thus, the number of suicides by the debt-ridden farmers in Maharashtra has touched a new high. There are no concrete steps taken to arrest the suicides by the State Government as per the opposition parties. The situation is going from bad to worse. Most of the deaths are taking place in the drylands. There is no stopping of such cruel deaths. The farmers’ distress is bound to continue so long as the general approach to agriculture management remains flawed.

A Team of Bankers can camp areas like Vidarbha, Yavatmal, Amravati, Akola, Wardha and Washim to give confidence to the farmers living in suicidal death-prone areas. New Scheme to give an on the spot overdraft and boost the confidence of farmers and special measure are to be formulated to arrest such deaths. Farmers are the backbone of our country and so many deaths in a single state ring the alarm bell to act swiftly. Just like doctors camping in an earthquake hit area or a flood affected area, Bankers should be compelled to pump money to proceed in the matter in a positive way. It is time to call an emergency meeting to solve this sensitive issue. Nationalisation of rivers could be a solution to prevent famine and solve irrigation problem in these barren lands. It is now or never situation.

The drought situation is getting increasingly worse and we find a dry river bed all over the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions and the position is pathetic. Agrarian crisis ahead in 225 districts as monsoon is on way out and drought situation is threatening farmers. The Rabi crops in the villages were ruined in drought and the sad state of widowed women of this region due to the spurt of suicides sends a signal for the State Agricultural Minister to act swiftly with the help of the central government to make things move in a proper direction. The present status is really bad with 938 more villages were declared drought-hit and needs. This for the first time that such large villages have been affected by drought and the hope of getting further rains to appear a remote possibility. By providing a major exemption to the farmers in the affected areas, the farmers can be given a glimmer of hope. Loan waiver in the drought-hit areas is a must to avoid the death menace in the state. The drought effect has taken the country by storm in general and Marathwada and Vidharba in particular. It is time to adopt a scientific way to grow crops with the reduction in irrigating them as the position in the last 10 years showing signs of a depleted look. The future looks bleak as the rains recede in the state of Maharashtra.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

SC to take ‘in-chamber’ decision regarding Article 35-A

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Web Team

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January 22, 2019

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it would take an “in-chamber” decision on listing of a petition challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35-A, which provides special rights and privileges to permanent residents of Jammu and Kasahmir.

Advocate Bimal Roy Jad mentioned that the matter before the bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi which also comprise Justices L Nageswara Rao and Sanjiv Khanna. He sought urgent hearing of the petition, filed by ‘We The Citizens’, saying that the court had earlier ordered listing of the matter in the second week of January.

Article 35-A, which was incorporated in the Constitution by a 1954 Presidential Order, accords special rights and privileges to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and bars people from outside the state from acquiring any immovable property in the state.

In August, the apex court adjourned hearing on a batch of petitions challenging Article 35 A till January this year but after taking note of submissions of the Centre and the state government that there was a law and order problem in the state.

Letters to the Editor: January 22, 2019

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Web Team

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January 22, 2019

SC must extend 2-child norm policy to contest any elections

A three-member bench of Supreme Court on October 24, 2018, ruled that giving away a child as adopted one after the birth of the third child could not allow a person under two-child norm either to contest rural elections or continue holding a post. But much will be improved if two-child norm to contest any election including for Parliament, state-legislatures, civic-bodies, President and Vice President too. Such a system will tend to impose a check on corrupt practices in the legislature because of fewer needs for small families.

Time has come that two-child norm may also be there for government jobs and availing government facilities like benefits of reservation and subsidies. Such steps will check the population explosion and the government spent on subsidies for people with large families.

Madhu Agrawal

Why not replace political rallies with live TV debates!

It is indeed regretting that even Prime Minister and state Chief Ministers apart from ministers getting salaries through public exchequers have to waste their precious time in election rallies because of an unholy political culture of mega-budgeted and unproductive political rallies. India should adopt a healthy democratic culture of USA where live TV debates between prominent leaders and Prime Ministerial or Chief Ministerial candidates are usually featured. There are candidates who contest elections only for exhibiting their richness through competitive most expensive election rallies even though very well knowing that they are going to lose even security deposits. There is unnecessary diversification of public resources in security required for political rallies. There is burnt of precocious fuel coupled with usual allegations of collecting crowd misusing government resources by political rulers to exhibit successful rallies. There should be a complete ban on election rallies.

However, private TV channels and radio network apart from national electronic media can be directed to accept advertisements from recognised political parties at subsidised rates abolishing free radio and TV timings at Akashwani and Doordarshan to the recognised political parties.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

Why PM Modi not arrested for 2002 riots?

I wonder why India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi was not arrested when he killed thousands of Christians and Muslims during the Gujarat riots in the year 2002? Was it because of his political background? Or did he bribe the police, the Home Minister and the judge of the High Court? Only the police and the court will have an answer to this?

Nowadays money plays an important role in letting you go scot-free even if you’ve committed a thousand murders or have raped a hundred women.

Jubel D’Cruz

Prevention is better than cure in leprosy cases

Maharashtra state is facing a high risk of leprosy cases as over 5000 cases were detected in recent times. It shows 11 per cent increase as per the survey and the more chances of people getting the contagious disease. It is an alarming proportion considering the best medical treatment available in the city and suburbs. The greatest risk factor for developing leprosy in contact with another case of leprosy. Contacts of people with leprosy are five to eight times more likely to develop leprosy than members of the general population. Leprosy also occurs more commonly among those living in poverty. Other risk factors are poorly understood. However, conditions that reduce immune function, such as malnutrition, other illnesses, or host genetic differences, may increase the risk of developing leprosy. Hence, prevention is better than cure.

Ramaswamy Jayanthy

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

1984 riots: Delhi court issues production warrant against Sajjan Kumar

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Web Team

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January 22, 2019

A Delhi court on Tuesday issued production warrant for January 28 against former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

District Judge Poonam A Bamba issued production warrant against Kumar after Tihar Jail authorities, where he is lodged after conviction in another case related to the riots, could not produce him today.

In the case before the trial court, three persons — Kumar, Brahmanand Gupta and Ved Prakash — are facing trial on charges of murder and rioting pertaining to the killing of Surjit Singh in Sultanpuri.

The riots broke out after the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984.

Kohli becomes 1st cricketer to sweep ICC awards; also named player of the Year

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Web Team

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January 22, 2019

Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Tuesday became the first cricketer to make a clean-sweep of individual honours in the ICC annual awards, claiming the Test, ODI and overall Player of the Year trophies besides being named captain of the world body’s all-star teams.

Kohli has become the first player in history to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year, his second consecutive, the ICC Test and the ODI Player of the Year awards following an extraordinary 2018.

“Not only is Kohli the first player to win these three major ICC awards together but he has also been named the captain of the ICC Test and ODI teams of the year for a fabulous run in international cricket,” the ICC said in a statement.

Kohli scored 1,322 runs at an average of 55.08 in 13 Tests with five hundreds during the calendar year while in 14 ODIs he amassed 1202 runs at an astonishing average of 133.55 with six centuries. He also scored 211 runs in 10 T20Is.

“It’s a reward for all the hard work that you do throughout the calendar year. Having recognition at the global level from the ICC is something you feel proud of as a cricketer because you understand that there are many players playing the game,” Kohli was quoted as saying by the world body in a release.

“… obviously a very proud moment for me and something that gives you more motivation to keep repeating the same things because you have to keep the standard of cricket up and keep bringing in consistent performances,” he added.

Three players each from India and New Zealand feature in the ICC’s Test team of the year, while four each from India and England are part of the ODI side of the year 2018.

The Test team features Kohli’s compatriots, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, in just his breakthrough Test year, and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who is the only player apart from Kohli to feature in both the sides.

The ODI team has opener Rohit Sharma, spinner Kuldeep Yadav and Bumrah from India along with Kohli, while England are represented by Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes.

The 30-year-old, who first came into limelight when he led India to victory at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia in 2008, finished the year as the top-ranked batsman in Tests and ODIs.

The highest scorer in both forms of the game in 2018, he was one of only two batsmen to score more than 1,000 runs in Tests and only among three to do so in ODI cricket.

Kohli was the unanimous choice of the voting academy for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy with South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada coming in second to him for both this award and the Test Player of the Year honour.

Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan was runner up to Kohli for the ICC ODI Player of the Year award.

India won six Tests and lost seven during the voting period that ran from January 1 to December 31, 2018. In ODIs, Kohli led India to nine victories, with four losses and one tied match.

Kohli had won the Sir Garfield Trophy and ICC ODI Player of the Year awards last year and was also the ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2012.

ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year (in batting order): Tom Latham (New Zealand), Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka), Kane Williamson (New Zealand), Virat Kohli (India) (capt), Henry Nicholls (New Zealand), Rishabh Pant (India) (wk), Jason Holder (Windies), Kagiso Rabada (South Africa), Nathan Lyon (Australia), Jasprit Bumrah (India), Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan)

ICC Men’s ODI team of the year (in batting order): Rohit Sharma (India), Jonny Bairstow (England), Virat Kohli (India) (capt), Joe Root (England), Ross Taylor (New Zealand), Jos Buttler (England) (wk), Ben Stokes (England), Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), Kuldeep Yadav (India), Jasprit Bumrah (India).

Mystery Unveiled: Close aides blackmailed “stressed out” Bhaiyyuji to death

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Moumita Mukherjee

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January 21, 2019

Eight months after self-styled spiritual leader Bhaiyyuji Maharaj committed suicide by shooting himself in the head at his residence on June 12, 2018, the arrests of Vinayak Dhule, Sharad Deshmukh and a woman named Palak Puranik (25) for abetment of suicide by the Indore police has brought a tragic story behind Bhaiyyuji’s demise to light which has given a new direction to the investigations. A detailed chat between Afternoon Voice Editor and Amar Shedge, nephew of Bhaiyyuji Maharaj reveals the mystery behind the unfortunate occurrence in detail.

All three accused have been charged under Section 306 of the IPC which concerns abetment of suicide, Section 120B of IPC which deals with conspiracy and Section 384. The police have also revealed that he was being blackmailed by the arrested woman disciple with a rape complaint and the woman was putting pressure on him to tie the knot with her. She had threatened him to file a police complaint to defame him if he didn’t give in to her demand. The court has sent the all three accused to the judicial custody after they were produced before the Magistrate’s court on Friday.

As per the information received, while Palak Puranik used to work with Bhaiyyuji as his personal secretary, Vinayak Dudhade and Sharad Deshmukh were his close aides. Vinayak was also made the caretaker of Bhayyuji’s properties in his will, Sharad is a driver.

“Bhaiyyuji would write a lot whenever in stress. The diary which was seized by the police was very old and the suicide note is probably written much before his death,” Amar Shedge told to the Editor.

“In his last days, Bhaiyyuji was trying to maintain a distance from Vinayak. However, he was the one who was in charge of Bhaiyyuji’s phone and many other things. Vinayak used to look after Bhaiyyuji’s parents and he completely relied on Vinayak for the same. Bhaiyyuji wouldn’t leave his parents with anyone else except Vinayak,” Shedge added.

When asked about what hampered the relationship between Bhaiyyuji and Vinayak, Shedge asserted, “Vinayak and Ayushi Sharma (Bhaiyyuji Maharaj’s second wife) were not in good terms as Vinayak was never in favour of Bhaiyyuji’s second marriage. Palak had been recruited in Bhaiyyuji’s ashram with full-proof planning by Vinayak. Bhaiyyuji used to say that Palak resembles with Kuhu (Bhaiyyuji’s daughter from the first wife). Vinayak was in a relationship with Palak and she has now admitted that they used to give extra doses of sleeping pills or seductive medicines to Bhaiyyuji, who blindly trusted them and used to consume it. Following that, the accused have also admitted that they used to sedate him and made videos. Bhaiyyuji would hardly use the Mobile phone. Vinayak admitted that he used Bhaiyyuji’s cell phone and sent messages to Palak; later, he used to delete the messages from Bhaiyyuji’s phone, however, asked Palak to save those explicit messages.”

As per the Police department sources, the three accused had asked Bhaiyyuji to marry the woman by June 16 but the spiritual leader committed suicide on June 12. Police says the plan was made by the accused hoping to get a share in Bhaiyyuji’s properties. Moreover, Ayushi Sharma met senior police officials in Indore last week and handed some important documents associated with the case.

BJP MP Dr. Virendra Kumar stated, “Bhaiyyuji Maharaj was a great sant and everyone had huge respect for him. Those who have compelled him to commit suicide, a strict action must be taken against them. At such a young age, he had won many hearts with his works and his untimely death was saddening for the society.”

Bhaiyyuji’s nephew also threw light on how Vinayak tried to mislead the police by promoting clashes between Kuhu and Ayushi which according to the source was ‘very nominal’. He stated, “Vinayak and Palak never wanted Bhaiyyuji to marry Ayushi Sharma and they were plotting to force him to marry Palak to get a hold on the power and properties.”

Bhayyuji Maharaj was one of the five sants to whom the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan government in Madhya Pradesh had granted the status of Minister of State (MoS) in April 2018. However, Bhayyuji had refused to accept the post, saying it holds no importance for a sant like him.

Senior journalist and Social activist Abhijeet Rane expressed, “Bhaiyyuji Maharaj was one of my close friends and I believe he was trapped into this as the medicines given to him were harmful. He was a great sant and was also considered a role model for his personality. Usually, the close aides of such prominent personalities have all their personal information and often they start making traps to blackmail for their benefits. After gaining prominence, somewhere a person gets isolated from within. The government must take strict action and continue proper probe against all the accused.”

The 50-year-old had a huge list of followers that included top politicians and celebrities. The note found in Bhayyuji’s room after his death read him being “stressed out”. After the police started investigating the death, a lawyer associated with Bhaiyyuji Maharaj’s trust received a ransom call of Rs 5 crore. Following that the number was monitored and it led to Bhaiyyuji’s driver (appointed by Vinayak), who gave a new direction to this case with his information. Police on the basis of the driver’s statement questioned 125 people from different places and registered official statements of 28 people. These statements and digital evidence helped police arrest the three accused with charges of financial and psychological exploitation of the deceased. The police also claimed that in a few audio clips, Palak was heard plotting to eliminate Ayushi.

“Driver Patil was supposedly working for Vinayak. Probably when Patil didn’t get anything in return, he called up the advocate asking for extortion money. The advocate is a good person and was loyal to Bhaiyyuji. I don’t think there was any political connection with this case. Any malignity on his image was intolerable for him. Even though he tried to confide to his closed ones that he was in stress, Vinayak would never leave him alone,” Shedge unfolded.

Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Shinde said, “Bhaiyyuji Maharaj was a spiritual leader and whenever he used to visit Bombay, he used to meet me and guide me with his knowledge on many work aspects. He was associated with many political leaders and had good relations with all the political parties. The society suffered a huge loss with the death of Bhaiyyuji Maharaj. Whoever has blackmailed and provoked him to commit suicide should not be spared.”

Bhaiyyuji Maharaj was born as Uday Singh Deshmukh in a family of landowner agriculturists and worked in the past as a professional model. His first wife died in 2015 and he married Dr. Ayushi, who was also his disciple, in 2017, and with whom he has a daughter named Dhara.

Raytecha Raja Sanghatna President Shradhanand D Adav said, “Bhaiyyuji Maharaj was a spiritual leader and also had played a vital role in the various social cause for different caste and creed. People from various levels of the society followed him and he was a role model for the youth. The anti-social people always kill good people and our government should try to punish these cold-blooded murderers. The suicide of such a prominent personality is very harmful to the society especially, when that leader always tried to unite the society.”

Arrests of Bhaiyyuji’s close aides leave many questions behind!

By

Vaidehi Taman

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January 21, 2019

Bhaiyyuji Maharaj was born as Uday Singh Deshmukh in a family of landowner agriculturists and worked in the past as a professional model. He tried his hand on glamour to the God’s world. However, one fine day, he shot himself and people made many stories about his death. They called him with names because he got married for the second time. Some media houses even wrote that his second wife and his daughter from the first wife had frequent fights, Maharaj was under stress due to internal conflicts and that led him to commit suicide. His first wife died in 2015 and they have a daughter. In 2017, he married Ayushi Sharma; they also have an eight-month-old daughter named Dhara.

Bhaiyyuji was very close to his aides Vinayak Dudhade and Sharad Deshmukh. Vinayak earned his respect by serving Bhaiyyuji’s parents. In Maharaj’s absence, Vinayak was the one who used to take care of his parents at home. He used to look after many things on personal and professional fronts. Ayushi and Palak were the two girls, back then, working in his Ashram on different portfolios. After Bhaiyyuji’s first wife’s death, he first declared that he is going to take Sanyasa from family life, and on one fine morning, he decided to marry his aide Ayushi. With this news, his other aides got disturbed because Palak Puranik was recruited in ashram through Vinayak and Bhaiyyuji’s so-called closeness was misunderstood as an affair. Vinayak and Sharad Deshmukh wanted Palak to be Bhaiyyuji’s wife so that they can control everything through her. But in the meantime, Bhaiyyuji chose Ayushi as his wife and that has gone into the nerves of his aides. There began the vendetta, Bhaiyyuji was under medication for stress and depression after his father and first wife’s death, Maharaj was given overdose of medicines to keep him dozed off always. Even in such a situation when he managed to marry a woman of his choice, the blackmailing started.

Palak Puranik, 25, was threatening Bhaiyyuji by putting pressure on him to marry her. Some disciple has claimed that Maharaj was double dating the girls while one of them made some sex videos to use it to her advantage; some say that the videos are morphed. There are many theories about those videos but those videos were the reason behind the suicide. Police have arrested three people on the charges of abetting to suicide and for “secretly” giving Maharaj “high doses of medicines” to “control” him. Palak Puranik was Maharaj’s personal secretary while, Vinayak Dudhade (42) and Sharad Deshmukh (34), were personal aides and all three were arrested. This entire episode got exposed with one ransom call. Those calls gave a new direction to the investigations in the Bhaiyyuji Maharaj’s suicide case. During the investigation, a lawyer associated with Bhaiyyuji Maharaj’s trust received a ransom call of Rs 5 crore. Police started monitoring the number. Within a few days, the phone number led them to the driver of Bhaiyyuji Maharaj. The information he provided was totally different from the ongoing investigation in the suicide case. The driver revealed that days after Bhaiyyuji’s suicide, there was a clash between his family members and volunteers of his trust.

On the basis of the driver’s statement, the Indore Police questioned 125 people from different places and registered official statements of 28 people. Based on those statements and digital evidence (phone call records and old chats), police arrested Vinayak, Sharad, and Palak. Palak threatened Bhaiyyuji Maharaj of slapping police cases against him if he refused to obey her. Palak had some screenshot of some objectionable chats, which she used to blackmail Bhaiyyuji. Being personal secretary, the phones of Bhaiyyuji Maharaj were always with Vinayak and Palak, there is a possibility that these chats are exchanged with an intention to blackmail Godman. If the chats were not by Bhaiyyuji Maharaj, then why such strong man had to get blackmailed by his aide, he could have asked the police to take action against them. In April 2018, he was offered Minister of State (MoS) post by the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government along with four more spiritual leaders after being inducted as members of a committee set up for the conservation of the Narmada River. However, Bhaiyyuji declined the offer and stated that he has no inclination towards any particular party or community. Palak is not the only girl who alleged Bhaiyyuji Maharaj of having illicit relations. Maharaj came in controversy time and again and this time it went beyond his control. Vinayak is the same guy that Bhaiyyuji had mentioned about in his suicide note that he wanted him to be the caretaker of his property.

Palak joined the ashram as a disciple and Maharaj’s right-hand man Vinayak Dhule and driver Sharad Deshmukh were instrumental in her closeness with Maharaj. Soon after Palak joined the ashram as a disciple, she had grown close to the spiritual leader. The chats between Maharaj and the woman suggest some planning and presumably, it could be regarding marriage. However, the knotty case turned even murkier as the family and sevadars levelled allegations against each other.

Maharaj, who had celebrities including noted politicians among his followers, addressed as ‘Rashtrasant’, Uday Singh Deshmukh aka Bhaiyyuji Maharaj, was a native of Shujalpur in MP. He was famous for his luxurious lifestyle marked by branded watches, posh cars, and a plush residence. Besides his sprawling ashram, he ran various educational institutions and was involved in social endeavours in Maharashtra and MP. His death created ripples in every spare of his life, the Congress party then demanded a CBI probe into his death. Finally, the police reached to some conclusion but still, this investigation leaves many questions and that can be answered by only Bhaiyyuji Maharaj.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Mayawati should think about joining hands with BJP for Dalits: Athawale

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Web Team

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January 21, 2019

Pointing out that Mayawati had been victorious in previous elections with support of BJP, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Monday suggested BSP should ally with the BJP for the upcoming Assembly polls instead of partnering with the Samajwadi Party, if she really wanted to work for the Dalits.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) and BSP had formed an alliance earlier this month to jointly contest 38 seats each in Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections while leaving the other two seats to other parties.

“Mayawati became Chief Minister three times after receiving support from BJP. She did not see humanism and casteism then. When she wanted to be in power, she took help from BJP… If Mayawati really wants to work for Dalits, then she should think about joining hands with the BJP and Prime Minister Modi,” Athawale told agencies.

The Union Minister termed the SP-BSP alliance as opportunistic.

“BSP is forming an alliance because they did not win any seat in 2014. In Uttar Pradesh elections also, they thought Mayawati will become Chief Minister again but they were restricted to just 19 seats. That is why they have formed an alliance with their enemy (SP). Voters are not accepting this alliance because till now they have only raised voices against each other. SP-BSP alliance is only to get into power and defeat Prime Minister Modi,” he added.

Athawale said that both the SP and BSP feel that Congress is not a “strong party.”

“I think that the SP-BSP alliance on one side and Congress and others parties on other will only help BJP in Uttar Pradesh since votes will get divided. BJP can win over 60 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and NDA won’t face any problem in forming the government at Centre,” he said.

The minister also criticised Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his attacks on the Prime Minister and said that there was “no unity in the Opposition” today as seen in the recent TMC-led rally in Kolkata.

“Time and again Rahul Gandhi attacks Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This shows that the Prime Minister is moving ahead with ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’. He is the powerful leader in the country today. Despite Rahul’s attacks the people are with Prime Minister Modi. He will win the upcoming general election and become the Prime Minister again,” Athawale said.

“There have been talks over Rahul Gandhi versus Narendra Modi but now after conducting a big rally, Mamata Banerjee has challenged Rahul Gandhi making her a bigger leader than him. There is no unity in the Opposition,” he added.

When asked about the Ayodhya land dispute case, Athawale said, “It’s not fair to take the law in hands and construct Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The matter is currently in Supreme Court. We should wait for the court’s order”.

Earthquake hits Palghar twice within three hours

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Web Team

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January 21, 2019

An earthquake of magnitude 3.0 on the Richter scale hit Palghar region in Maharashtra.

This was the second tremor within three hours that struck the region but fortunately, there were no reports of casualties or damages.

The earthquake jolted the state on Sunday around 6:40 pm with magnitude 3.6 and second at 08:59 pm.

According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), it was located at latitude of 20.0 degrees North and longitude of 72.9 degrees East and occurred at a depth of 5 km.

Nepal’s Central bank bans Indian notes above Rs 100

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Web Team

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January 21, 2019

Nepal’s central bank has banned the use of Indian currency notes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations, a move that could affect Indian tourists visiting the Himalayan nation where Indian currency is widely used.

Nepal Rastra Bank on January 20 issued a circular prohibiting Nepali travellers, banks and financial institutions from holding or carrying and trading Indian bank notes higher than Rs 100, the Kathmandu Post reported.

The central bank said that in its circular letter that Indian currency of 200, 500 and 2,000 denominations cannot be carried and used for trading, it said,

Under the new regulation, Nepali citizens cannot carry these denominations to countries other than India. Similarly, Nepalis are also not allowed to bring such notes from other countries. Indian notes of 100 or below, however, are allowed for trading and conversion, the bank’s circular reads.

On December 13, the Cabinet had decided to publish the notification in the Nepal Gazette not to allow people to carry Indian currency notes above 100 denominations in Nepal.

The ban has been criticised by travel traders and entrepreneurs, saying that it would hurt the country’s burgeoning tourism at a time when the government has announced ‘Visit Nepal’ campaign with an objective to draw at least 2 million tourists in 2020.