Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday ordered a probe into the collapse of a giant hoarding during a dust-storm that came crashing down on the vehicles at a fuel station, killing three and leaving 59 injured, an official said.

The mishap happened on the Eastern Express Highway in the Ghatkopar area on Monday afternoon when, amid gusty wind and heavy rains, a massive hoarding collapsed on the petrol pump where vehicles had queued up to fill their tanks and a few passersby who were standing there while waiting for the rain to stop.

CM Shinde, who visited the site of the collapse, has also asked the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner to undertake a structural audit of all hoardings across Greater Mumbai.

He has also directed the BMC Commissioner to take action against those hoardings that are unauthorised, and file cases in this regard.

“This incident is very unfortunate. As soon as I got the information about this incident, I immediately rushed to the venue and discussed it with the officials of the BMC’s Disaster Management Department. Rescue work is also underway,” said CM Shinde, adding that those injured in this mishap have been admitted to the hospital for treatment.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister said that the government will bear the expenses for the treatment of those injured in this incident and those who have died in this incident.

He also announced the financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

–IANS

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Gurugram, May 13 (IANS) The enforcement team of the Municipal Corporation Gurugram (MCG) is carrying out a drive to take action against illegal and unauthorised constructions in the district.

As part of the efforts, especially in the Zone-2 area, 65 illegal constructions have been demolished by the team in the past two months, officials said.

On Monday, the enforcement team of the Zone-2 area razed an unauthorised building in Mianwali Colony.

The team also took action in the Nobel Enclave and Satguru Farms, demolishing four illegal constructions in these areas.

Joint Commissioner-2 of the Municipal Corporation Gurugram, Naresh Kumar, reached the spot and gave necessary directions to the enforcement team.

“In the last two months, 65 illegal constructions have been demolished in the Zone-2 area. These include buildings under construction, DPC, boundary walls, and other constructions. Many times the action had to be postponed due to the non-availability of adequate police force, but as soon as the police force was made available, the teams reached the spots with earth movers to take action against illegal constructions,” said Hitesh Dahiya, in charge of the enforcement team.

–IANS

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Rewari (Haryana), May 13 (IANS) Two-time Haryana Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda on Monday questioned the BJP and its leaders as to why they rejected the demand for the formation of an Ahir Regiment in the Indian Army.

Hooda, who was campaigning here in support of the Congress candidate from Gurugram, actor-politician Raj Babbar, questioned the BJP leaders for not fulfilling this most important demand of the Ahirwals, and for not supporting the youth in the movement against the Agnipath scheme for recruitment into armed forces.

Accompanied by Congress OBC wing chief Ajay Singh Yadav, state unit President Chaudhary Udaibhan, legislator Chiranjeev Rao, and senior leaders, Hooda said the BJP has lost the right to seek votes from the Ahirwals because it has broken the hopes of the youth by implementing schemes like Agnipath.

“The BJP leaders have maintained a stoic silence on important issues. The Ahirwals are suffering the consequences of this. But this time, Raj Babbar will become a strong voice of the Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency and the Congress will fulfil all the demands of the Ahirwal youths,” he said.

Ajay Yadav said this time there is a direct contest between the Congress, which is fighting to save the Constitution, and the BJP, which intends to destroy it.

“In such a situation, people will vote for the Congress which protects the Constitution and democracy, and make Raj Babbar win by a huge majority,” he added.

Chaudhary Udaibhan said the difference between the BJP and the Congress can be clearly understood from their respective campaigns.

“On one hand, the Congress is talking about issues such as employment, education, health, inflation, and providing relief from crime, while the BJP is engaged in misleading the public with religious issues, far from the pressing issues faced by the common man,” he said.

Raj Babbar is pitted against sitting Gurugram MP and BJP candidate Rao Inderjit Singh. A five-time Member of Parliament (MP), Singh switched sides to the BJP after quitting the Congress in 2014.

Polling in the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will be held in the sixth phase on May 25.

–IANS

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New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Takhat Shri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib, while on a campaign trail in Patna on Monday, stands as a testament to his multifaceted engagement with the Sikh community and his profound respect for Sikh culture and traditions.

The significance of this visit goes beyond mere symbolism; it reflects a deeper connection between PM Modi and the Sikh ethos.

At the heart of PM Modi’s visit was his participation in various religious activities within the Gurdwara premises. By donning an orange turban, a colour closely associated with Sikhism symbolising sacrifice and courage, PM Modi not only paid homage to Sikh tradition but also signified his solidarity with the community.

Engaging himself in the preparation and serving of langar — the community meal open to all regardless of caste, creed, or social status — underscored PM Modi’s commitment to the core Sikh values of equality and ‘seva’ (selfless service).

His active involvement in these activities reflected a hands-on approach towards understanding and embracing Sikh customs, fostering a sense of inclusivity and mutual respect.

Furthermore, PM Modi’s participation in religious rituals such as the seva of Chaur Sahib and sitting in ‘Paath’ for the ‘Sarbat Da Bhala’ further demonstrated his reverence for Sikh spirituality and his willingness to immerse himself in the spiritual ambiance of the Gurdwara.

In addition to his participation in religious practices, PM Modi’s choice to pay for the “karah prasad” through the digital payment mode not only modernises the traditional offering process, but also emphasises transparency and inclusivity in financial transactions, aligning with the principles of Sikhism that advocate honesty and integrity in all aspects of life.

Moreover, the gesture of presenting PM Modi with the ‘Sanmaan Patra’ and a portrait of Mata Gujri Ji by the Gurdwara Committee reflected the mutual respect and appreciation between PM Modi and the Sikh community.

It acknowledged PM Modi’s efforts in fostering harmonious relations and understanding among different religious groups in the country.

PM Modi’s consistent visits to Gurdwaras across the country, coupled with his active participation in various Sikh rituals and traditions, highlight his genuine interest in embracing the diverse cultural tapestry of India.

These visits serve not only as a means of political outreach, but also as a platform for building bridges of understanding and harmony among the different religious communities.

In a country as diverse as India, where pluralism is celebrated as a strength, PM Modi’s outreach to the Sikh community through visits to Gurdwaras embodies his broader vision of unity in diversity.

It exemplifies his commitment to upholding the secular fabric of the nation and fostering an environment of mutual respect, coexistence, and unity among all its citizens, regardless of their religious affiliations.

The Prime Minister also took to X and shared snippets from his visit to Patna Sahib.

He wrote, “Sikhism is rooted in the principles of equality, justice, and compassion. Central to Sikhism is Seva. This morning in Patna, I had the honour of taking part in Seva as well. It was a very humbling and special experience.”

PM Modi’s statement reflects a deep appreciation and understanding of Sikh values and traditions, particularly emphasising the central tenet of Seva in Sikhism. By acknowledging the principles of equality, justice, and compassion that underpin the Sikh philosophy, PM Modi not only demonstrated his respect for the Sikh faith but also underscored the universal importance of these values in fostering a harmonious society.

The use of the term ‘honour’ to describe his participation in Seva highlights PM Modi’s recognition of the significance of this act within Sikhism. It suggests that he views engaging in Seva not merely as a routine activity, but as a privilege and a profound experience.

Furthermore, PM Modi’s characterisation of his participation in Seva as “humble” and “special” conveys a sense of humility and gratitude. It indicates that he approached the experience with reverence and appreciation, recognising the opportunity to connect with the Sikh community and contribute to a noble cause.

It goes without saying that PM Modi’s statement reflects his efforts to foster inclusivity, understanding, and mutual respect among different religious communities in India.

By actively engaging in Seva and expressing his admiration for Sikh values, he not only strengthens his bond with the Sikh community but also exemplifies the spirit of unity and cooperation that transcends religious boundaries.

–IANS

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Srinagar, May 13 (IANS) Polling in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Monday ended peacefully without any law & order incident and with all polling stations recording a good voter turnout, pegged provisionally at nearly 37 per cent – the highest since the 1996 elections, officials said.

This was the first general election in the valley after the abrogation of Article 370 and the enaction of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.

Addressing a press conference here, J&K’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P.K Pole said: “Voters have participated enthusiastically in today’s polling. Around 2 lakh young voters are registered in this constituency. Young voters also took part in large numbers.”

“For migrant voters, we had set up 26 special polling stations – 21 in Jammu, 1 in Udhampur, and 4 in Delhi. The polling percentage in these polling stations is almost the same as recorded in the rest of the Srinagar constituency. More than 6,000 migrants had exercised their voting rights till 7 p.m.”

As per an EC statement, the turnout in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, which spans districts of Srinagar, Ganderbal, and Pulwama, and parts of Budgam and Shopian districts partly, was 36.58 per cent, as of 8 p.m.

This was the highest since 1996, when a 40.94 per cent turnout was recorded, and much higher than 14.43 per cent in 2019 and 25.86 per cent in 2014.

The CEO put it at 36.73 per cent, adding that roughly speaking till the exact statistics are worked out, a 4 per cent increase is likely.

Polling took place in 2,135 polling stations across the constituency with live webcasting at all the polling stations. Voting started at 7 a.m. across the PC with long queues of enthusiastic voters waiting to cast their votes

Asked about reports of a candidate having been arrested, the CEO said: “This I am hearing for the first time from you. So far as the imposition of restrictions is concerned, all of you know the past history of J&K. We have to take preventive measures to ensure peaceful polls and to keep people with past criminal records under check.”

“Our first priority was to hold peaceful polls. There has been no stone pelting, no boycott and there is no polling station where the polling percentage is zero.”

He said the ECI received 234 complaints of violation of MCC and 11 FIRs have been registered after taking cognisance of these complaints. “We have issued notice in 80 complaints and enquiry has been ordered in 29 complaints. Seizures have taken place at 10 places,” he said.

The CEO said the EVM replacement had been merely 0.24 per cent, which is the lowest in J&K Lok Sabha polls so far.

–IANS

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