Bhopal, July 8 (IANS) On the last day of the campaign for by-election in the Amarwara assembly seat of Chhindwara on Monday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav slammed the Congress, accusing it of running a narrative to “divide” the Hindu community for their vote bank policy.

Addressing a public gathering in Amarwara, the Chief Minister said that the Congress leaders sitting in Delhi compare Hindu community with “terrorists”. They also question why sadhu-sanyasi (priests) support the BJP’s ideology.

“Sadhu-Sanyasi gives blessings to the BJP because we respect them. Our culture is to respect priests like God and in return, we receive blessings from them. Congress leaders compare the Hindu community with terrorists, but their (Congress) plan to divide the people won’t be successful,” the Chief Minister said.

He also expressed confidence in winning the Amarwara by-election scheduled to take place on July 10. The Chief Minister said the BJP will win Amarwara like it won Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat recently. “The way people are responding to the BJP’s development works, I am sure that we will win Amarwara like Chhindwara Lok Sabha,” he added.

The by-poll in Amarwara was necessitated after Congress MLA Kamlesh Shah resigned from the Assembly and party’s primary membership and joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Shah has won the Amarwara seat for three consecutive terms, and the BJP has fielded him as its candidate for by-poll.

The Congress has fielded a new candidate – Dheernsha Invati to take on the BJP’s Kamlesh Shah. The Congress under the leadership of its new state head Jitu Patwari carried out an aggressive campaign in Amarwara.

The result of the by-election will be announced on July 13.

–IANS

pd/dan

New Delhi/Imphal, July 8 (IANS) BJP’s National Information and Technology Department in-charge Amit Malviya on Monday termed Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi’s Manipur visit as a “third time fail and his visit was for a photo-op and nothing more.”

Soon after LoP Rahul Gandhi’s day-long visit in Manipur, Malviya in a post on the X said: “Third Time Fail Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Manipur was for photo-op and nothing more. He abandoned the press conference and refused to answer the difficult questions.”

Malviya said: “But let me ask them on behalf of the people of Manipur… Why did Rahul Gandhi not visit Churachandpur in Manipur between 2015-17 to meet the victims of ethnic violence, that raged following Congress CM Okram Ibobi Singh Govt’s decision to pass three Bills – the Protection of Manipur People’s Bill, 2015, Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015, and Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015, which were seen by the people of Churachandpur district, comprising mostly of Paites and Kukis, as ‘anti-Tribal’, and a ‘conspiracy’ by the majority Meitei community to grab Tribal land?”

“Nine young men were shot dead and the protesting communities refused to cremate them for two long years. Why didn’t Rahul Gandhi visit Manipur then? He is no messiah of peace, just a political opportunist, who wants to keep the pot boiling. His visit to Manipur is not borne out of concern for people but his own selfish political agenda. There is a reason no one trusts either him or the Congress. The Manipur media rightly chased away Balak Buddhi !,” Malviya stated.

LoP Rahul Gandhi on Monday after visiting the relief camps in Jiribam and Churachandpur districts met Governor Anusuiya Uikey and then left for Imphal airport after his brief media briefing in the Congress Bhavan and he refused to take any question from the media.

–IANS

sc/dan

Patna, July 8 (IANS) At least 12 persons lost their lives due to lightning strikes across seven districts in Bihar on Monday.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and has also directed district officials to provide compensation of Rs 4 lakh to each of the affected families.

He assured the affected families of his support during this difficult time and urged the public to remain vigilant during adverse weather conditions.

On July 1, two people died in Aurangabad due to lightning strikes, one in Buxar, one in Bhojpur, one in Rohtas, one in Bhagalpur and another in Darbhanga.

On July 3, one person died in Bhagalpur due to lightning strikes, one in East Champaran, one in Darbhanga and one in Nawada.

On July 6, three people died in Jahanabad due to lightning strikes, two in Madhepura, one in East Champaran, one in Rohtas, one in Saran and one in Supaul.

On July 7, five persons died in Kaimur due to lightning strikes, three in Nawada, two in Rohtas, and one each in Aurangabad, Jamui and Saharsa districts.

–IANS

ajk/dan

Chandigarh, July 8 (IANS) The Amritsar Police Commissionerate has busted an interstate organised crime syndicate with the arrest of its kingpin and four members from a flat located in Kharar near here, Director General of Police, Punjab, Gaurav Yadav said here on Monday.

The kingpin of the syndicate has been identified as Jai Sharma, a resident of Amritsar, while four members have been identified as Nikhil Sharma, Moni, Arpit Thakur, and Karan Sharma.

Jai Sharma, alias Sukha Pistol, has a criminal history with seven cases pertaining to the Arms Act, snatching and theft have been registered against him.

The police have recovered two .32 bore pistols along with three magazines and eight cartridges from their possession.

DGP Yadav said following inputs that accused Sukha Pistol, along with his accomplices, had gone to Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa to procure illicit weapons, police, on their return, police pinpointed their location in Kharar.

“Acting swiftly, police teams under the supervision of ADCP Abhimanyu Rana have conducted a raid at a flat and successfully arrested all accused persons and recovered two pistols, along with ammunition, from their possession,” he added.

Sharing more details, Commissioner of Police of Amritsar Ranjit Singh Dhillon said this criminal syndicate was engaged in criminal acts including theft, snatching and arms trafficking.

–IANS

vg/vd

Jaipur, 8 July (IANS) Rajasthan Governor and Chancellor Kalraj Mishra on Monday said that Sardar Patel Police, Security and Criminal Justice University should use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for crime research.

He called upon the university to work as a ‘think-tank’ and work for excellent research in various disciplines related to criminology and effective police education.

“This university should also become a major centre of innovation in teaching criminology in India and abroad,” Governor Mishra said while addressing the 3rd convocation of Sardar Patel Police, Security and Criminal Justice University located in Jodhpur.

He said that education has a very deep relationship with the development of the individual and the society.

“We have to take forward the best structure and ideal values of education,” he said.

He said that India has been the world leader for centuries. And has illuminated the world with the light of knowledge. Nalanda and Takshila are living examples of this.

He said that this university has been named after the Iron Man Sardar Patel.

“He unified the princely states and joined the small and big princely states to make a united nation. Sardar Patel has played an important role in establishing a strong police system in the country,” he said.

He said that this university, following the ideal path shown by him, will provide personnel and officers to give India a strong police system as well as provide an excellent education in policing according to the times.

He added that the students of this university should also contribute to fulfil the resolution of ‘Developed India’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

–IANS

arc/dan