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50 people missing after cloudbursts in Mandi, Shimla, Kullu

The Indian Army has mobilised its resources in response to recent natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh….reports Asian Lite News

Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Thursday that cloudbursts occurred in Mandi, Shimla and Kullu districts today after which around 50 people are missing and two bodies have been recovered.

CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, “Cloudburst occurred today. Around 50 people are missing, 2 bodies have been recovered. NDRF, SDRF, DCs and officials are present at the spot. We have instructed the officials to make all arrangements. We have also sought help from the army. I appeal to people not to go near canals and rivers. The Air Force has been asked to be ready. I will also go to the spot as soon as the weather clears.”

He further stated that in the next 36 hours further rainfall is expected. He said that he has spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the latter has assured all possible help.

He further said, “The Union Home Minister has assured all possible help and said that 2 additional NDRF teams are being sent. BJP chief Nadda also called twice and said that Prime Minister Modi is also worried. I have also spoken to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and LoP Rahul Gandhi. I have said that the situation is under control, but roads and infrastructure have been damaged. Manali has lost connectivity.”

He said that the relief work is being conducted on a war footing.

Sources said that Prime Minster Narendra Modi has been closely monitoring the situation in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh in the wake of heavy rains and a cloudburst and has asked top officials to ensure all possible assistance is provided to the affected.

Additional Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh Onkar Chand Sharma said that an alert of heavy rain has been issued till August 2.

Onkar Chand Sharma said, “We issued an alert of 36 hours last evening which will continue till tomorrow. The first incident of cloudburst was reported in Kullu where 7 people are missing and 11 houses have been damaged. The second incident was reported in Mandi where we found 1 body and 9 people missing and 3 to 4 houses have been washed out. The third incident was reported in Shimla where 1 person died and 36 people are missing.”

He further said that overall 15 houses have been damaged in the three incidents and one national highway is also closed.

He further said, “Our teams of SDRF, NDRF and police have been deployed in the region. Our team is carrying out relief and rescue operations. We have issued an alert of heavy rain till tomorrow morning (August 2). But we will issue more alerts as per the data of IMD.”

He added that CM Sukhu conducted a meeting for two and half hours and was going to leave to assess the situation but due to bad weather his helicopter could not take off.

The Indian Army has mobilised its resources in response to recent natural disasters in Himachal Pradesh.

Following cloudbursts and small-scale landslides in various locations, the districts of Shimla and Mandi have been significantly affected.

The Indian Army has promptly mobilised its assets for rescue operations and the Indian Army’s three columns, with a total strength of 125 personnel, one Engineer Task Force and one Medical Team consisting of 20 personnel, have been deployed at the cloudburst site of Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh. (ANI)

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INDIA 2024 India News Politics

Nominations for Phase 7 of polls begins in Punjab, Himachal

The nominations can be filed from May 7 to May 14 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm every day…reports Asian Lite News

The filing of nominations for the Lok Sabha elections is slated to start in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh from May 7.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed general and police observers for 13 seats in Punjab to ensure peaceful, fair, and transparent elections. These officials will assume their responsibilities from May 14, a press release from the Punjab Information and Public Relations Department said.

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C said that 13 IAS officers from various states have been appointed as general observers, while seven IPS officers have been appointed as police observers. Their role is to ensure adherence to the rules and directives of the ECI during the elections, regarding the Model Code of Conduct.

Among the IAS officers, who have been appointed as general observers are K Mahesh (Batch 2009) for Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat, Siddharth Jain (2001) for Amritsar, Abhimanyu Kumar (2011) for Khadoor Sahib, J Meghanatha Reddy (2013) for Jalandhar, R Anandakumar (2003) for Hoshiarpur, Heera Lal (2010) for Anandpur Sahib, Divya Mittal (2013) for Ludhiana, Rakesh Shankar (2004) for Fatehgarh Sahib, Roohi Khan (2013) for Faridkot, Kapil Meena (2010) for Ferozepur, S Prabhakar (2009) for Bathinda, Shanavas S (2012) for Sangrur and Om Prakash Bakoria (2006) for Patiala Lok Sabha seat, the release said.

Similarly, police observers include IPS officers like Kushal Pal Singh (Batch 2014) for Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seats, Sweta Shrimali (2010) for Amritsar and Khadoor Sahib, Satish Kumar Gajbhiye (2002) for Jalandhar and Ludhiana, Sandeep Gajanan Diwan (2010) for Anandpur Sahib and Fatehgarh Sahib, B Shankar Jaiswal (2001) for Bathinda and Faridkot, AR Damodhar (2013) for Ferozepur and Amir Javed (2012) for Sangrur and Patiala Lok Sabha seats.

Notably, 15 serving IRS officers have already been appointed by ECI as Expenditure observers, the release mentioned.

In Punjab, voting for its 13 seats will take place in a single phase, with the seventh and final phase on June 1 seeing voting in Gurudaspur, Amritsar, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nandpur Sahib, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Firozpur, Bathinda, Sangrur, and Patiala constituencies.

Himachal Pradesh

The electoral body has issued notifications for ensuing Lok Sabha General Elections and six Assembly Constituency (AC) bye-elections in Himachal Pradesh.

A press release, dated May 7, 2024, informed that nominations can be filed from May 7 to May 14 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm every day, from May 7 to May 14, at the designated locations and before the designated ROs/AROs as mentioned in the notification.

It also mentioned the dates and timings for scrutiny and withdrawal. May 14, 2024, will be the last date for making nominations; May 15, 2024 (for the scrutiny of nominations); May 17, 2024 (the last date for the withdrawal of candidatures).

As per notification for four Parliamentary constituencies viz, Kangra, Mandi, Hamirpur, Shimla and six Assembly constituencies where bye-elections are to be held, voting will be held on June 1, 2024 (Saturday) from 07:00 am to 6:00 pm.

The press release also said that nominations will not be filed on May 11 and May 12, 2024 being public holidays.

The elections to the four Lok Sabha seats of Himachal Pradesh and by-polls to the six assembly constituencies that fell vacant with the disqualification of six rebel Congress MLAs and their eventual switch to the BJP will be held on June 1.

Six Congress legislators were disqualified from the State Legislative Assembly in February. They cross-voted in favour of the BJP in the Rajya Sabha election on February 27. The rebel Congress MLAs have approached the Supreme Court against their disqualification. The ground for their disqualification was their absence from the Assembly when the State Budget and the Finance Bill were being put to the vote, defying a party whip to vote in favour of the government.

In the 68-member Assembly, the majority figure is 35. The ruling Congress had 40 MLAs, but with the disqualification of six MLAs, the Congress’ number fell to 34. (ANI)

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India News Politics

Sukhu Stays Afloat

“We believe in forgiveness, not revenge”: CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu takes conciliatory tone amid turmoil…reports Asian Lite News

Amid the political turmoil in Himachal Pradesh after cross-voting by six Congress MLAs during polling for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from the state on Tuesday, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday said all fellow party leaders were like his younger siblings, adding, significantly, that his party believes in ‘forgiveness’, and not ‘revenge’.

Assuring that the Congress government will fulfil the mandate of the people and complete its tenure of five years, CM Sukhu told reporters, ” Hum toh sab ko maaf karne wale log hai, hum badle ki bhavna se kaam karne wale log nahi hain (We believe in forgiveness, not revenge.) All fellow members of my party are like my younger brothers and sisters. Our government will complete its full 5-year term.”

On state minister Vikramaditya Singh’s resignation, the chief minister said, “Vikramaditya Singh is my younger brother and I have spoken to him.”

“They (Congress MLAs who cross-voted for the BJP candidate during polling for the Rajya Sabha seat) should have shown more respect for the party. They may be upset with me but a person like Abhishek Singhvi should have been elected to the Rajya Sabha from Himachal Pradesh. However, they betrayed the whip and did not vote for him. This had never happened before in the history of Himachal politics,” CM Sukhu added.

As the Congress lurched into a fresh political crisis in Himachal Pradesh, fighting to stay afloat in the only heartland state it rules, the grand old party appointed observers who reached Shimla on Wednesday.

After meeting with party observers, CM Sukhu said, “Discussion was held regarding elections. Our government is safe.”

Meanwhile, senior party leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday said that he was hopeful that all differences and discord would be resolved soon.

“Our Rajya Sabha candidate from Himachal Pradesh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, could not win the elections as some of our MLAs cross-voted. The party high command has appointed observers. I hope the matter will be resolved soon,” Pilot said.

However, amid fears of a churn at the helm of Himachal a day after 6 Congress MLAs cross-voted for the BJP during polling for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Himachal, CM earlier in the day claimed that the conspiracy to bring down the Congress government in the state had failed.

“They conspired to topple our government in Himachal with the help of the CRPF and Haryana Police, and by sending choppers (to airlift Congress MLAs elsewhere). However, the plot to bring down our government has been defeated. They tried luring some our legislators through monetary inducements and bring them to their side. However, we have brought a disqualification motion against them (Congress MLAs who voted for the BJP candidate in the Rajya Sabha polls) and hearing on the same is underway,” Sukhu told reporters on Wednesday.

He claimed that one of the dissident MLAs, who cross-voted during the casting of votes for the Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday, prompting BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan to script a stunning win in a draw of lots, has apologised. “One of the MLAs (who cross-voted for the BJP candidate) has asked for forgiveness for betraying the party and the whip. I don’t want to take his name. He said he erred in his decision-making. The hearing on the disqualification case is underway,” CM Sukhu said. (ANI)

Assam’s Congress Chief Resigns, May Join BJP

Assam Congress working president Rana Goswami resigned from the party on Wednesday. He is set to join the BJP very soon.

In a letter addressed to K C Venugopal, General Secretary of All India Congress Committee, Goswami wrote that he has tendered his resignation from the post of working president and also from the active membership of the Congress party.

“I beg to state that I am tendering my resignation as the working president of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee and as active member of the Indian National Congress,” he said in the letter.

Speculations are rife that Goswami will join the BJP on March 4. He is expected to meet Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday.

Goswami was elected to Assam legislative assembly thrice on a Congress ticket. He won polls for the first time in 2006 from Jorhat seat.

Sarma earlier said that he would welcome Rana Goswami to the party fold if he decides to join the BJP.

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