Madhya Pradesh polls 2018: Faulty EVMs, VVPAT machines cause glitches

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan voted with his family in Jait village under Bhudni constituency. He is contesting against Congress’ Arun Yadav

Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election 2018 : Polling is underway for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday. Several faulty EVMs and VVPAT machines have been replaced within the first hour, officials said.

In Ujjain, two faulty electronic voting machines (EVMs) and 11 Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines were replaced by the Election Commission officials.In Bhuranpur constituency, five VVPATs and two faulty EVMs were replaced by 9 a.m.

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Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan voted with his family in Jait village under Bhudni constituency. He is contesting against Congress’ Arun Yadav.State Congress chief Kamal Nath also casted his vote, after a temple visit along with his family, at a polling booth in Chhindwara.

Polling began at 7 am for three Maoist-affected constituencies in Balaghat district, while votes were cast in the remaining 227 assembly seats starting 8 a.m.Polling would end in the three constituencies — Baihar, Lanji and Paraswada — at 3 p.m, while it would continue till 5 p.m. in all the other constituencies.

India vs Australia: Rain plays spoilsport in warm-up match in Sydney

The play was impossible at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where the tourists are scheduled to play a non-first class tour match against an understrength representative side

The start of India’s only warm-up match for the test series against Australia was delayed by torrential rain on Wednesday, with the four-day clash against a Cricket Australia XI looking unlikely to get underway before Thursday.

Storms battered the New South Wales coast on Wednesday morning, flooding streets, railway stations and homes as the extreme weather caused commuter chaos, grounded flights and left hundreds of homes without electricity.|India vs Australia

The play was impossible at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where the tourists are scheduled to play a non-first class tour match against an understrength representative side featuring just one international, D’Arcy Short. The test series begins in Adelaide on Dec. 6, with further matches in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney over the following month.

Madhya Pradesh polls : Can Modi, Shah’s skill, MP CM’s image save BJP?

BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh and Congress-ruled Mizoram vote to decide on new state government. Track Assembly elections 2018 LIVE updates here

Voting for Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram Assembly elections is underway. Till 10 am, Mizoram had recorded 25 per cent voting. BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia were among early voters. Several EVMs and VVPAT machines were found to be faulty in Madhya Pradesh and had to be replaced. The Congress is trying to wrest Madhya Pradesh from the three-term holder Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while in Mizoram, the BJP is hoping to break the ground and play the kingmaker, if not the king, by supporting regional parties in today’s election. The battle of ballots in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram is just months ahead of the Lok Sabha polls slated in the first half of 2019. Results of the Assembly polls 2018 will be declared on December 11.

Key candidates and constituencies in Madhya Pradesh Assembly Election 2018

MP is voting to elect a 230-member Assembly, for which as many as 2,899 candidates, including 1,094 independents, are in the fray. BJP is contesting all the 230 seats, while the Congress has fielded 229 candidates, leaving one seat, Jatara in Tikamgarh district, for its ally — Sharad Yadav’s Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD). Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in office since 2005, is seeking re-election from Budhni in Sehore district. The BSP has fielded 227 candidates, while the SP is contesting on 52 seats. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), contesting the Madhya Pradesh elections for the first time, has fielded 208 candidates.

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Hockey World Cup 2018: Bhubaneswar gears up for gala opening ceremony

Tickets for the Hockey World Cup 2018 opening ceremony and India matches have been sold out

Sports : Hockey fever has gripped Bhubaneswar city and the nation at large as 16 hockey playing nations will lock horns for World Cup glory starting November 28. The fever has reached the nook and corner of the country through ‘My Heart Beats for Hockey ‘campaign’.

Not just matches, the global event will witness a star-studded opening ceremony with Bollywood icons Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit and music maestro AR Rahman set to rock the stage. The opening ceremoby will start at 5:30 pm on Tuesday evening. Elaborate security arrangement has been made to avoid untoward incidents. Tickets for the opening ceremony and India matches have been sold out.

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The anticipation and excitement is palpable among hockey aficionados in the country and across the globe and Odisha government is also leaving no stones unturned to use the opportunity to boost tourist footfall in the state.

The 14th edition of the mega event will witness 36 matches between 28 November and 16 December with World No 1 Australia as defending champions. The opening match of the tournament will see World No 3 Belgium taking on World No 11 Canada on November 28, 2018, while host nation India will open their campaign on the same day against South Africa.

Read More : Hockey World Cup 2018

KTM Duke 125cc with ABS launched in India at Rs 118,000: All details here

While baby duke is the most affordable offering from KTM’s stable, it is also the most powerful as well as the most expensive 125cc in the Indian market

Automobile News: The Austrian bike-maker KTM has finally unveiled the 125cc Duke in India at a price of Rs 118,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi), making it the most expensive offering in the the 125cc segment. Already popluar in the international market, the KTM 125 will be available at all the 450 KTM showrooms across India. However, unlike the international edition which takes design cues from Duke 390, the Indian version of KTM Duke 125 shares its styling with the KTM Duke 200. The only visual difference between the 125cc and 200c Duke is the redesigned graphics while majority of the design stays the same.

The street-naked bike is powered by a 124.7cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC engine that produces a max power of 14.5hp at 9,250rpm and 12Nm of torque at 8,000rpm. The powertrain is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox but misses out on a slipper clutch. The new motorcycle also comes equipped with a single-channel ABS unit similar to the 200 Duke, making it the first 125cc motorcycle in India to feature ABS (a safety feature mandatory for all two-wheelers above 125cc capacity from April 1,2019).|KTM Duke 125

The bike also borrows a trellis frame, 43mm USD fork and an adjustable monoshock from the 200cc Duke. All these features are available as standard and is a segment-first feature in the Indian market. The seat stands at a height of 818mm and the bike has a kerb weight of 148kg.

Interestingly the bike is more powerful than the Bajaj Pulsar 150. Bajaj Auto, which owns 49 per cent stake in KTM, is placing the product as an introductory bike to the world of racing. Speaking on the occasion Amit Nandi, President, Probiking at Bajaj Auto Ltd. said “KTMs are always about high performance, edgy design and a thrilling ride. The 125 Duke will be the new stepping stone into the KTM brand for riders starting out in the world of racing”

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Asset sale to Jio at risk from govt’s Rs 29-bn demand, RCom tells SC

Govt refuses to approve RCom’s spectrum sale to Jio until a bank guarantee is given by either firm

BS | Billionaire Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communications (RCom) told Supreme Court on Monday that its asset sale to Reliance Jio Infocomm may not go through if approvals aren’t in place by mid-December, putting at risk planned debt repayments by the distressed company.

The government, however, reiterated its stand in the Supreme Court that it could not grant an approval to RCom for spectrum sale to Jio until a bank guarantee of Rs 29.4 billion was given to it by either company toward spectrum usage charges.|Rcom Asset Sale

RCom, on the other hand, said that it was not in a position to furnish the said bank guarantee and that it had already given land worth nearly Rs 14 billion as security for the government’s dues. But the government refused to use the land given to it as security by RCom and said it would prefer a bank guarantee.

“If the spectrum sale is not approved, banks will also not get anything,” Kapil Sibal, a lawyer representing RCom, said in court said on Monday.

The top court was hearing a plea moved by the department of telecommunications (DoT) on Monday. In its petition, DoT told the Supreme Court that the Centre was looking for some kind of security from the company before it could allow the spectrum sale.

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Asset sale to Jio at risk from govt’s Rs 29-bn demand, RCom tells SC

Govt refuses to approve RCom’s spectrum sale to Jio until a bank guarantee is given by either firm

BS | Billionaire Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communications (RCom) told Supreme Court on Monday that its asset sale to Reliance Jio Infocomm may not go through if approvals aren’t in place by mid-December, putting at risk planned debt repayments by the distressed company.

The government, however, reiterated its stand in the Supreme Court that it could not grant an approval to RCom for spectrum sale to Jio until a bank guarantee of Rs 29.4 billion was given to it by either company toward spectrum usage charges.|Rcom Asset Sale

RCom, on the other hand, said that it was not in a position to furnish the said bank guarantee and that it had already given land worth nearly Rs 14 billion as security for the government’s dues. But the government refused to use the land given to it as security by RCom and said it would prefer a bank guarantee.

“If the spectrum sale is not approved, banks will also not get anything,” Kapil Sibal, a lawyer representing RCom, said in court said on Monday.

The top court was hearing a plea moved by the department of telecommunications (DoT) on Monday. In its petition, DoT told the Supreme Court that the Centre was looking for some kind of security from the company before it could allow the spectrum sale.

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Asset sale to Jio at risk from govt’s Rs 29-bn demand, RCom tells SC

Govt refuses to approve RCom’s spectrum sale to Jio until a bank guarantee is given by either firm

BS | Billionaire Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communications (RCom) told Supreme Court on Monday that its asset sale to Reliance Jio Infocomm may not go through if approvals aren’t in place by mid-December, putting at risk planned debt repayments by the distressed company.

The government, however, reiterated its stand in the Supreme Court that it could not grant an approval to RCom for spectrum sale to Jio until a bank guarantee of Rs 29.4 billion was given to it by either company toward spectrum usage charges.|Rcom Asset Sale

RCom, on the other hand, said that it was not in a position to furnish the said bank guarantee and that it had already given land worth nearly Rs 14 billion as security for the government’s dues. But the government refused to use the land given to it as security by RCom and said it would prefer a bank guarantee.

“If the spectrum sale is not approved, banks will also not get anything,” Kapil Sibal, a lawyer representing RCom, said in court said on Monday.

The top court was hearing a plea moved by the department of telecommunications (DoT) on Monday. In its petition, DoT told the Supreme Court that the Centre was looking for some kind of security from the company before it could allow the spectrum sale.

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‘Demonetisation was Modi govt’s failed national improvement scheme’

The new India being forged through the pain of demonetisation makes a clear distinction between the ‘us’ and the ‘other’

Latest News: The year 2016 was one of surgical strikes. Just when we were recovering from the patriotic adrenaline rush of being in a state of semi-battle with Pakistan, we witnessed ‘a surgical strike ‘on black money, terror funding and drug money’. Two years on, we continue to reel under the effects of demonetisation. With the benefit of hindsight, this is a good time to ask: what on earth was it about?

Demonetisation as neoliberal yet participatory development An obvious reading aligns with the Narendra Modi government’s agenda of neo-liberal development. The current regime, like its predecessor UPA, has embraced globalised, business-friendly development. Here, the market is expected to deliver economic growth. However, the market is not a level playing field. The government tends to ally with specific businesses interests. In this partisan state-business alliance, the population at large needs to be brought on board. It has to be somewhat enthused about the unfolding economic story, and participate in this as labour, aspirational consumers, or even investors.

Viewed from this perspective, demonetisation was a vast exercise in increasing cash flow to banks, to strengthen their position as lenders to business. How do the rest of us come on board? We come aboard as ‘active participants in the benefits of economic progress’. We are feted as ‘honest citizens… fight(ing) against corruption, black money, benami property, terrorism and counterfeiting…’ in the words of the PM during his ‘Demonetisation Day’ speech. We become fighters standing in queue to exchange our old money for a newer version of the cash, as also ourselves.

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Jack Ma, China’s richest man, confirmed as member of ‘Communist’ Party

The lines between business and politics have become increasingly hazy in China

International News: Jack Ma, co-founder of China’s most valuable company, was officially confirmed as a member of the Communist Party in a state-backed newspaper recognizing business leaders for their contributions to the country’s development.

Ma, co-founder and chairman of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., is one of 100 people the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee will honor as part of a celebration marking 40 years since the country’s economic reform and opening up. The honorees also include Tencent Holdings Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Pony Ma, Baidu Inc. CEO Robin Li, basketball star Yao Ming and volleyball coach Lang Ping.

Jack Ma 

The lines between business and politics have become increasingly hazy in China as President Xi Jinping has led a campaign to ensure the Communist Party plays a leading role across all aspects of society. That has at time created tensions when the interests of private business people and the state have conflicted.

“We’re seeing an increasingly close relationship between China’s leading internet companies and government because government sees them as one of the most effective ways to realize its policy initiatives,” said Mark Natkin managing director of Beijing-based Marbridge Consulting. “Being a party member is essentially tipping your hat to the legitimacy of the party and it doesn’t necessarily denote any particularly high level of political activity.”

Why are we still so fat?

Obesity’s genetic connection was conclusively demonstrated in the 1980s in a series of papers showing that body weight is strongly inherited, almost as strongly as height

Whenever I see a photo from the 1960s or 1970s, I am startled. It’s not the clothes. It’s not the hair. It’s the bodies. So many people were skinny.

In 1976, 15 percent of American adults were obese. Now the it’s nearly 40 per cent. Scientists do a lot of hand-waving about our “obesogenic environment” and point to favourite culprits: the abundance of cheap fast foods and snacks; food companies making products so tasty they are addictive; larger serving sizes; the tendency to graze all day.|Obesity

Everyone — from doctors to drug companies, from public health officials to overweight people themselves — would love to see a cure, a treatment that brings weight to normal and keeps it there. Why hasn’t anyone discovered one? It’s not for lack of trying. There is just one almost uniformly effective treatment, and it is woefully underused: only about 1 per cent of the 24 million American adults who are eligible get the procedure.

That treatment is bariatric surgery, a drastic operation that turns the stomach into a tiny pouch and, in one version, also reroutes the intestines. Their health usually improves anyway. Many with diabetes no longer need insulin. Cholesterol and blood pressure levels tend to fall. Sleep apnea disappears. Backs, hips and knees stop aching. There are not nearly enough surgeons or facilities to operate on all the obese people who might be helped by bariatric surgery, noted Randy Seeley, director of the nutrition research center at the University of Michigan.

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Here’s what causes asthma in kids with obesity

Weight might be the cause for one-fourth of asthma cases in kids with obesity, a recent study suggests.

Business Standard|The research, which studied health data from more than 500,000 children in the United States, suggested that about 10 percent of all kids aged between 2 to 17 with asthma, might have avoided the illness by maintaining a healthy weight. The findings are published in the Journal of Pediatrics.

“Asthma is the number one chronic disease in children and some of the causes such as genetics and viral infections during childhood are things we can’t prevent. Obesity may be the only risk factor for childhood asthma that could be preventable. This is another piece of evidence that keeping kids active and at a healthy weight is important,” said Jason E. Lang, lead author of the study.

Also Read :Screening for colorectal cancer may benefit male patients

For the retrospective study, researchers analyzed data for 507,496 children from more than 19 million doctor’s visits at six major children’s health centers.

Those classified as having asthma had been diagnosed at two or more doctor’s appointments and had also received a prescription, such as an inhaler. Tests of their lung function also confirmed they had the disease.

Children classified as obese (those with a body-mass index (BMI) in the 95th percentile or above for their age and sex) had a 30-percent increased risk of developing asthma than peers of a healthy weight…Read More

GM to shut 65-yr-old Canadian factory in Oshawa; 3,000 jobs at risk: Report

The plans stand to affect 50,000 employees across the US, Canada and Mexico

International News : General Motors is expected to announce on Monday the closure of a factory in the Canadian city of Oshawa, putting almost 3,000 jobs at risk, Canadian channel CTV reported.

The decision is linked to the American automaker’s plans for a comprehensive global restructuring, the channel reported Sunday, citing multiple anonymous sources.

The plant in Oshawa, about 60 kilometres (40 miles) northeast of Toronto, was built in 1953, according to the manufacturer’s website. It currently employs approximately 2,800 people and assembles Chevrolet and GMC pickups as well as Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac XTS sedans.

“I’m hoping it’s just a rumour,” Oshawa Mayor John Henry said. “Until we hear something, we don’t know.” GM has three other sites in the province of Ontario. It is unclear whether they will also be affected.

Last month, the company announced plans to reduce its workforce across North America to save money through voluntary redundancies, and did not rule out the possibility of layoffs. The plans stand to affect 50,000 employees across the US, Canada and Mexico. About 18,000 of them, or 36 per cent of the workforce, are eligible for voluntary redundancy.|Business Standard 

IndiGo and SpiceJet make web check-in paid service, flyers tweet protest

Low cost airlines IndiGo and SpiceJet have announced they will charge fees for their online check-in service, looking for ways to make up for higher costs but drawing protests from flyers.

Latest News : Low cost airlines IndiGo and SpiceJet have announced they will charge fees for their online check-in service, looking for ways to make up for higher costs but drawing protests from flyers.

Check-ins at airports will be free. IndiGo’s lowest seat fee is Rs 100 and SpiceJet’s Rs 99. Passengers earlier paid exra fees only for select seats, like along the aisle, window-facing or with additional legroom, if they checked in online.

Mumbai-based low cost carrier Go Air is still offering some seats for free. Full service airlines like Jet Airways, Vistara said they don’t charge for seat selection. IndiGo and SpiceJet’s decision comes at a time when airlines are struggling with rising costs but can’t afford to raise ticket fares due to competition.|Indigo-Spicejet Tweet Protest

Such charges will help to boost ancillary revenue of the airlines. Ancillary revenue consists of charges like baggage fees, seat selection fees, cancellation charges.”Based on our customer preference we have made some changes in pricing for advance selection of seats. This is a usual practice followed by airlines globally and across India,” IndiGo said in a statement.

Experts said that airlines were free to charge for the online check-in service as aviation regulator DGCA has allowed unbundling of services. “Airlines are not in violation of law. According to rules, they can charge of such services,” said Lalita Bhasin, partner at law firm Bhasin & Co.

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26/11: Trump admin announces $5-mn reward for details on 2008 Mumbai attack

Today’s announcement marks the third RFJ reward offer seeking information on the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack

Latest News : The United States Monday announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired, aided or abetted the 2008 Mumbai attack.

The Trump Administration announced this major reward (of more than Rs 35 crores) on the 10th anniversary of the terror attack in which 10-Pakistan based LeT terrorist went on a shooting rampage in India’s financial hub killing 166 people, including six Americans.

The move comes less than a fortnight after Vice President Mike Pence had a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Singapore, during which he is believed to have himself raised this issue and rued that even 10 years after the Mumbai terrorist attack its perpetrators have not been brought to justice.|Mumbai Terror Attack

State Department’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) Program Monday said it is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of any individual who committed, conspired to commit, or aided or abetted the execution of the 2008 Mumbai attack.

From November 26 to 29, 2008, 10 terrorist associated with the LeT carried out a series of coordinated assaults against multiple targets in Mumbai, it said. “The United States is committed to working with our international partners to identify and bring to justice those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attack,” it said.|Business Standard 

30 killed, 40 injured in market blast in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Officials said that most of the victims were minority Shia Muslims, who in the past were also targeted in the area

A powerful bomb blast ripped through a busy market outside a religious seminary in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, killing at least 30 people and injuring over 40 others, officials said.The explosive material was planted in a bike in the Friday Market (Juma Bazar) near an imambargah, a Shia religious place, in Orakzai tribal district’s Kalaya area.

People were buying warm clothes when the bomb went off, officials said.At least 30 people were killed while more than 40 others injured, Geo news quoted district administration officials as saying.

Officials said that most of the victims were minority Shia Muslims, who in the past were also targeted in the area.“Three children were among those killed. The remote-controlled bomb was attached to a motorcycle,” officials said.

The area has been cordoned off and investigation into the incident is under way.An emergency has been declared in the region’s hospitals to handle the situation.Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari blamed the US failure in Afghanistan for the attack and warned Pakistan to be prepared for more such incidents….Read More

Also Read : Karachi female cop foils terror attack on Chinese Consulate in Pakistan

30 killed, 40 injured in market blast in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Officials said that most of the victims were minority Shia Muslims, who in the past were also targeted in the area

A powerful bomb blast ripped through a busy market outside a religious seminary in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, killing at least 30 people and injuring over 40 others, officials said.The explosive material was planted in a bike in the Friday Market (Juma Bazar) near an imambargah, a Shia religious place, in Orakzai tribal district’s Kalaya area.

People were buying warm clothes when the bomb went off, officials said.At least 30 people were killed while more than 40 others injured, Geo news quoted district administration officials as saying.

Officials said that most of the victims were minority Shia Muslims, who in the past were also targeted in the area.“Three children were among those killed. The remote-controlled bomb was attached to a motorcycle,” officials said.

The area has been cordoned off and investigation into the incident is under way.An emergency has been declared in the region’s hospitals to handle the situation.Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari blamed the US failure in Afghanistan for the attack and warned Pakistan to be prepared for more such incidents….Read More

Also Read : Karachi female cop foils terror attack on Chinese Consulate in Pakistan

30 killed, 40 injured in market blast in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Officials said that most of the victims were minority Shia Muslims, who in the past were also targeted in the area

A powerful bomb blast ripped through a busy market outside a religious seminary in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, killing at least 30 people and injuring over 40 others, officials said.The explosive material was planted in a bike in the Friday Market (Juma Bazar) near an imambargah, a Shia religious place, in Orakzai tribal district’s Kalaya area.

People were buying warm clothes when the bomb went off, officials said.At least 30 people were killed while more than 40 others injured, Geo news quoted district administration officials as saying.

Officials said that most of the victims were minority Shia Muslims, who in the past were also targeted in the area.“Three children were among those killed. The remote-controlled bomb was attached to a motorcycle,” officials said.

The area has been cordoned off and investigation into the incident is under way.An emergency has been declared in the region’s hospitals to handle the situation.Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari blamed the US failure in Afghanistan for the attack and warned Pakistan to be prepared for more such incidents….Read More

Also Read : Karachi female cop foils terror attack on Chinese Consulate in Pakistan

India lodges protest with Pak over harassment of officials in Islamabad

There were reports that pro-Khalistani banners were shown to the Indian pilgrims in Pakistan

Latest News : India Friday lodged a strong protest with Pakistan over the alleged harassment of Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad and the denial of access to Indian Sikh pilgrims visiting that country.

The Ministry of External Affairs said consular officials of the Indian High Commission were “harassed and denied access” to meet Indian pilgrims at Gurudwara Nankana Sahib and Gurudwara Sacha Sauda on November 21 and 22.

It said the access was denied despite the Pakistan Foreign Ministry granting them prior travel permission.In a statement, the MEA said India has also expressed grave concern at the reports of attempts being made during the ongoing visit of the Indian pilgrims to Pakistan, “to incite communal disharmony and intolerance and promote secessionist tendencies with the objective of undermining India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

There were reports that pro-Khalistani banners were shown to the Indian pilgrims in Pakistan.It said Pakistan has been called upon to take all measures to not allow its territory to be used for any “hostile propaganda” and support for “secessionist tendencies” against India.

Poaching of Congress’ MLAs by BJP is my only concern: Mizoram CM Thanhawla

Only the political parties are seeing anti-incumbency working against my govt and the party; it is not there among the people, says CM Lal Thanhawla

The longest-serving chief minister of Mizoram, Lal Thanhawla, is facing a tough re-election after a decade. Aside from the likelihood of anti-incumbency sentiment, there is an extra edge to the battle. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s attempts at toppling his applecart by either poaching the winning MLA candidates of his party or trying to weaken his base among minority communities, are undoubtedly factors to consider.

While BJP president Amit Shah has addressed election rallies only in the state’s minority areas, party leader Himanta Biswa Sarma campaigned in the Chakma refugee camps in north Tripura. All in the hopes of pocketing the five minority-dominated seats in order to be a factor in government formation if neither of the two major contenders – the Congress and the Mizo National Front – manage to reach a simple majority after December 11.|Mizoram

In an interview with The Wire, Lal Thanhawla, the president of the state Pradesh Congress Committee – under whose leadership the party formed five governments in the northeastern state – downplayed the role of the BJP in the ensuing polls in Mizoram. He said he was confident that the saffron party wouldn’t be able to conquer the last Congress bastion in the northeast.

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