India

So far 288 people have died in the train accident that took place on the evening of Friday, June 2, 2023, in Balasore district of the Indian state of Odisha. About 1000 people have been injured in the accident. The condition of many of the injured is critical.

The accident occurred when the Shalimar-Madras Coromandel Express hit a goods train parked at Bahanga station from behind. At the time of the accident, the Shalimar-Madras Coromandel Express was running at a speed of around 128 kmph, while the Yesvantpur-Howrah Express was running at around 125 kmph. The speed of trains on this route was increased to 130 km per hour 15 days back.

In the technical language of railways, it is called head on collision. Such accidents are usually seen very rarely.

In this accident, 12 coaches of the Shalimar-Madras Coromandel Express derailed. Some of these coaches moved to another track. Yesvantpur-Howrah Express coming from Bengaluru was passing on the other track at the same time.

After the derailment, the coaches of the Shalimar-Madras Coromandel Express, which had crossed the other track, collided with the passing Yesvantpur-Howrah Express. Along with this, this horrific accident happened.

The accident took place on the broad gauge network in the Kharagpur division of the South Eastern Zone of the Railways.

What happened during this accident on the night of Friday, June 2, 2023?

Train No. 12841 Shalimar - Madras Coromandel Express departed at its scheduled time from Shalimar Railway Station near Howrah on Friday, 2 June 2023.

This train of 23 coaches was to reach Chennai via Balasore, Cuttack, Bhubaneshwar, Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada on the up line.

This train started its journey at 3.20 pm and it first halted at Santragachi railway station and then reached Kharagpur station with a delay of just 3 minutes.

The train started running from Kharagpur station at 5.05 pm. The train was moving towards Bahanaga Bazar railway station near Balasore at 7 pm.

This train was supposed to go straight ahead without stopping at Bahanga station, but instead of the main line at the station, it went to the loop line. At this station, a goods train was standing on the loop line and the speeding Coromandel Express hit the goods train from behind.

According to the BBC, Shiv Gopal Mishra, General Secretary of the All India Railway Men's Federation, said that due to some technical fault, the green signal was given to the Coromandel Express or due to a technical glitch, the train left the main line and went on the loop line, due to which the accident occurred. Has happened.

The Coromandel Express hit the goods train from behind, due to which 12 coaches of the train got derailed. Some of its coaches fell and reached the down line on the other side and collided with the Yesvantpur-Howrah Express coming on it.

At the same time, 12864 Yesvantpur Howrah Express train coming from Yesvantpur towards Howrah was crossing the accident spot. This train of 22 coaches was running late by about 4 hours and most of the train had passed beyond the accident site.

That's when the Coromandel Express train met with an accident and some of its coaches, rolling after falling, collided with the rear of the Yesvantpur-Howrah Express. Due to this collision, 3 coaches of Yesvantpur-Howrah Express also got derailed.

Amitabh Sharma, spokesperson of the Ministry of Railways of India, said in a statement on the night of Friday, June 2, 2023, that the incident took place on Friday, June 2, 2023, at around seven o'clock in the evening, and a total of 15 coaches of both the trains were derailed in the incident. .

According to the BBC, Sriprakash, former member (traffic) of the Railway Board, said that the kind of information coming in, it seems that this accident happened due to huge human error.

According to Sriprakash, "If a train is standing on a track, the points are reversed to prevent another train from coming on that track so that the train stays on the other track. If this is not possible due to some technical fault, then red light signal is given immediately so that whatever train is coming, it stops."

According to Shiv Gopal Mishra, the speed of trains on this route was increased about 15 days ago to the maximum speed of 130 kilometers per hour.

According to him, the speed of the Coromandel Express at the time of the accident was around 128 km per hour, while the Yesvantpur-Howrah Express was also running at a speed of around 125 km per hour.

Because of this speed, the Coromandel Express suffered more damage. On the other hand, due to speed, most part of the Yesvantpur-Howrah Express train had crossed the accident site and only its rear part was the victim of the accident.

The special thing is that both the trains that were victims of the accident were of LHB coaches. 'Linke Hoffmann Busch' coaches are German designed coaches and are considered safer in terms of accidents.

Unlike the old ICF design coaches of the Railways, LHB coaches do not roll over each other in an accident, thus reducing the risk of any coach being trapped and reducing the risk of loss of lives to passengers.

Images from the Odisha accident show that the engine of the Coromandel Express train ran over the goods train. While several coaches behind the engine were buried after colliding with each other.

South Eastern Railway has issued several helpline numbers to help the people affected by the accident.

Also, on Saturday, June 3, 2023, South Eastern Railway is running a special train from Howrah to Balasore through which relatives can reach the accident site.

This train will stop at Santragachi, Uluberia, Bagnan, Mecheda, Panskura, Balichak, Kharagpur, Hijli, Belda and Jaleshwar.

The BJP government in the Indian state of Karnataka, just before the announcement of the assembly elections, canceled the 4% reservation for Muslims and divided it 2-2% between the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities of Karnataka.

BJP says that giving reservation on the basis of religion is against the constitution, so this reservation was removed.

In March 2023, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said after this decision, "There is no provision for religious reservation in the Constitution. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar himself had said that reservation should be decided on the basis of caste."

In Karnataka, in 1994, under the recommendations of the Mandal Commission, certain castes of Muslims were included as a sub-category in the category of Other Backward Castes (OBCs).

Under this, it was talked about giving four percent reservation to Muslims on the basis of 'social and educational backwardness'.

The Chinappa Reddy Commission was constituted by the Government of Karnataka in the year 1986. This commission was given the task to prepare a list of castes and communities eligible for reservation in the state.

It was on the advice of the Chinappa Reddy Commission that it was decided to give four percent reservation to Muslims out of the 32 percent quota for OBCs.

In the OBC category itself, provision was made to give 4% and 5% reservation to Vokkaligas and Lingayats respectively. Vokkaligas and Lingayats are very influential communities in Karnataka.

Now in the changed system of reservation in Karnataka, the 4% reservation given to Muslims has ended. However, till May 9, 2023, the Supreme Court of India has restored the status quo.

BJP is raising the issue of Muslim reservation loudly in Karnataka assembly elections to polarize Hindu votes. How successful the BJP is in this will be known only after the results of the Karnataka assembly elections are out!

Reporters Without Borders has placed India at number 161 and Afghanistan at number 152 on the Press Freedom Index in the year 2023.

In the year 2022, India was at 150th position in this list. India has fallen 11 places in a year.

According to the Press Freedom Index, now India has fallen behind even Pakistan. Pakistan has reached the 150th position.

The index is based on five categories, in which the performance of a country is assessed, such as political system, economic conditions, legal framework, socio-cultural standards and protection of journalists.

The report published on 3 May 2023 states that the freedom of the press is in danger in India, the world's largest democracy.

Speaking on the foreign policy of the Modi government in Mysore, Karnataka, India, India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar criticized the press, saying that the press in India is the most uncontrolled.

S Jaishankar was asked about India's poor ranking in the Press Freedom Index, to which he replied, "Can you imagine that Afghanistan is more free than us?"

He described the Press Freedom Index as a mind game. S Jaishankar said that these are ways of playing mind games which is like reducing the rank of the country which you do not like.

Amritpal Singh, the head of the 'Waris Punjab De' organization and a Khalistan supporter, who is absconding since March 18, 2023, has been arrested by the Punjab Police.

After his arrest, the Punjab Police took Amritpal Singh to the Air Force Station in Bathinda, from where he was sent to Dibrugarh Jail in Assam.

Addressing a press conference, Inspector General of Punjab Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said, "Amritpal Singh has been arrested from Rode village in Moga district of Punjab."

Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was also a resident of Rode village. Amritpal Singh was made the head of the 'Waris Punjab De' organization in this village.

Before the arrest, Amritpal Singh took five kakars (hair, saber, comb, kada and briefs) from the Granthi of the Gurdwara and addressed the people.

In his address, Amritpal Singh said that false cases were registered against him. A video of this has also been posted on social media.

After the completion of his address, the Punjab Police arrested him from outside the Gurdwara.

Jasbir Singh Rode, former Jathedar of Akal Takht and nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, has spoken to BBC after the arrest of Amritpal Singh. Jasbir Singh Rode said that on the night of Saturday, April 22, 2023, the police informed him that Khalistan sympathizer Amritpal Singh Rode wanted to be arrested from the village.

Jasbir Singh Rode told that for this reason he himself had reached Rode village.

Regarding the arrest of Amritpal Singh, Jasbir Singh Rode said, "Amritpal Singh first recited 'Nitnem'. After that, briefly addressed the gathering and then went outside the Gurdwara Sahib, where he was arrested.''

Jasbir Singh also claimed that Amritpal Singh was not in touch with him earlier.

On March 18, 2023, the police tried to arrest Amritpal Singh and his associates on the Shahkot-Malsian road in Jalandhar in connection with the 'Gherao of Ajnala police station', but they escaped by breaking the naka.

Punjab Police has told that Amritpal Singh was arrested on Sunday, 23 April 2023 at around 6.45 am.

In a press conference, Inspector General of Punjab Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill said that Amritpal Singh has been sent to Dibrugarh Jail in Assam.

He told that the police had completely cordoned off Rode village, when Amritpal Singh was inside the Gurdwara Sahib.

Sukhchain Singh Gill said, "The respect of Gurdwara Sahib is above all and by maintaining it, a message was sent to them that they are surrounded from all sides and now they have no way to escape."

According to Sukhchain Singh Gill, all warrants issued under NSA against Amritpal Singh were executed on the morning of Sunday, 23 April 2023.

According to Sukhchain Singh Gill, it was a joint operation by the Punjab Police and the Intelligence Branch of the Punjab Police.

IG Sukhchain Singh Gill has thanked the people of the state for maintaining peace in Punjab during this period and has also warned those who vitiate the atmosphere of Punjab.

Although 8 people of Amritpal Singh are still lodged in Dibrugarh Jail in Assam. NSA has been imposed on these people. Amritpal Singh also has 16 cases registered against him including NSA.

Cases have been registered against Amritpal Singh and his associates for creating enmity in the society, attempt to murder, assault on policemen and obstructing the work of government employees.

While absconding, pictures and videos of Amritpal Singh roaming around several cities allegedly in disguise had come to the fore through the media.

However, the police never officially confirmed these videos or photographs.

A few days ago, Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh spoke about the creation of a Hindu nation.

This statement was being discussed on social media.

Dhirendra Shastri had said, "You support us, we will make a Hindu nation."

Now in the program of a private news channel, the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath has given his reaction to this statement.

Yogi has said that India was, is and will continue to be a Hindu nation.

Yogi Adityanath said, ''The first thing is what do we mean by Hindu nation. Hindu is not a creed, religion, sect. This is a cultural vocabulary, which fits every citizen of India.''

Yogi Adityanath said, ''If a person from India is going to perform Haj, no one there knows him as Haji, no one considers him as Islam… there he is addressed by the name of Hindu. Then no one would have trouble there.''

Yogi Adityanath said that if seen in that perspective then India is a Hindu nation because every citizen of India is a Hindu. This is not a caste indicator, vote indicator word.

Yogi Adityanath said that it is our cultural unity that the people born within the vast territory from the Himalayas to the sea are called Hindus in themselves. If we take it in that form, then no one should be afraid of the Hindu nation.

Yogi Adityanath said that if you are associating it with faith, sect or religion, it means, then we are making a mistake in understanding Hindu.

According to the report of Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), BJP has received maximum donations in 2021-22.

The ADR report says that in 2021-22, BJP has received Rs 614 crore and Congress has received Rs 95 crore in donations.

BJP and Congress themselves have told about this.

BJP told that it got this amount from 4957 donations. On the other hand, the Congress told that it got this amount from 1255 donations.

According to the news agency PTI, ADR has told in its report that the donations received by BJP are three times more than the donations received by Congress, NCP, CPI, CPI(M), NPEP and AITC.

Mayawati's BSP told that in 2021-22 it has not received more than 20 thousand rupees donation.

Donation received by national parties has increased by 31% to reach 187 crores in 2021-22.

The President of India Draupadi Murmu addressed the nation on the eve of the Republic Day of India. This was the first address of President Murmu on the occasion of Republic Day.

Key points of the address:

- We are all one, and we are all Indians. So many creeds and so many languages have not divided us but united us. That's why we have succeeded as a democratic republic. This is the essence of India.

- We can feel proud of our achievements in the field of science and technology. In the field of space technology, India has been one of the few leading countries.

India has moved from being a poor and illiterate nation to a confident nation on the world stage. This progress would not have been possible without the guidance from the collective wisdom of the framers of the Constitution.

Last year India became the fifth largest economy in the world. This achievement has been achieved against a global backdrop of economic uncertainty. With the help of able leadership and effective struggle, we soon came out of the recession, and resumed our journey of development.

Women empowerment and equality between men and women are no more mere slogans. I have no doubt in my mind that women will make the maximum contribution in shaping the India of tomorrow.

People from tribal communities can teach in many areas, from protecting the environment to making society more cohesive.

This year India is presiding over the group of G-20 countries. In line with our ideal of universal brotherhood, we stand for peace and prosperity for all. The chairmanship of the G-20 gives India a very important role in contributing to building a better world.

I appreciate the roles of farmers, labourers, scientists and engineers whose collective strength enables our country to move forward in the spirit of "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan".

I appreciate each and every citizen who has contributed towards the progress of the country.

I especially appreciate the brave soldiers who guard our borders and are always ready for any sacrifice and sacrifice. I also appreciate the brave soldiers of all the para-military forces and police forces who provide internal security to the countrymen.

I heartily bless all the lovely children for their bright future.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has won 156 out of 182 seats in the Legislative Assembly elections in the Indian state of Gujarat. Congress has suffered the most in Gujarat. The Congress has been reduced to 17 seats.

Aam Aadmi Party has opened its account in Gujarat. Its vote share has increased and it has won five seats.

In the last assembly elections in Gujarat in 2017, the Bharatiya Janata Party got 99 seats, the Congress won 77 seats.

Congress has emerged as a major party in Himachal Pradesh assembly elections. It has won 40 out of 68 seats. On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party has won 25 seats and other candidates on three seats.

For the last three decades, the history of Himachal Pradesh has been that no single party gets power here for the second time in a row. However, there was not much impact on the vote share of Bharatiya Janata Party in Himachal Pradesh. The Bharatiya Janata Party's vote percentage was 43 percent, while the Congress's vote percentage was slightly higher at 43.9 percent.

Aam Aadmi Party defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was in power for 15 years, in the municipal elections held in Delhi a few days ago. The Aam Aadmi Party won 134 out of 250 wards, while the Bharatiya Janata Party won 104 and the Congress only nine.

The results for all the 68 assembly seats in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh are out.

Congress has secured majority by winning 40 out of these 68 assembly seats.

Whereas BJP has won 25 seats.

Three independent candidates have won in these elections. Aam Aadmi Party's account is not open.

If we talk about vote percentage, then Congress got 43.90 percent votes, BJP got 43 percent votes, while Aam Aadmi Party got 1.10 percent votes.

The Aam Aadmi Party has got a majority in the counting of votes held on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, in the Delhi Municipal Corporation elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party had control over the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for 15 years.

But it is being said that there is not a big difference in the number of councilors of Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party, so the situation is still not clear about who will be the mayor.

Out of total 250 wards of Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party has won 134. BJP has won in 104 wards and Congress in 9. Independent candidates have won in three wards.

But Bharatiya Janata Party's National Head of Information Technology Department Amit Malviya has tweeted, "Who will be the Mayor in Delhi will depend on the voting of the councillors, how they vote." For example, Chandigarh has a BJP mayor.

In the year 2021, the Aam Aadmi Party won the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, but the mayor was made of BJP. This happened because of the rebellion of the Congress councilors and the votes of some Aam Aadmi Party councilors being declared invalid.

Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta has said, "They may have gone ahead of me in the neck-to-neck fight, but only time will tell who will be the mayor." In the election of mayor, the councilors cast their votes on the basis of their conscience.

A mayor and deputy mayor are elected annually, with the first year reserved for women and the third year reserved for scheduled castes.

Sources in the Aam Aadmi Party have told the English newspaper Telegraph, “We will need at least 150 councilors to neutralize even the defections. Only then can we retain our mayor. But a large number of Muslims switched to the Congress and the division of votes in some areas has benefited the BJP.

We feel that around three councilors of Congress and two independents will go with BJP. All our leaders are in touch with the corporators so that they stay with us. We are aware that some of our potential mayoral candidates may be targeted by the BJP.

If an attempt is made to buy our corporators, then we will also try to bring BJP corporators to our side.

The 2020 Delhi riots affected Muslim-majority areas of North-East Delhi. Apart from this, protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill were organized in Okhla and Shaheen Bagh.

People have voted for Congress in these areas. The Aam Aadmi Party government was seen as a bystander during the riots. Delhi assembly elections were held in 2020 itself, just after the riots. In the beginning of the year 2022, even when communal tension spread in Jahangirpuri area of Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party was accused of remaining silent.

The Telegraph wrote that the Aam Aadmi Party blamed Bangladeshis and Rohingyas for the communal violence in Jahangirpuri, but found no concrete evidence. The Aam Aadmi Party has won the Muslim ward of Old Delhi.

After the victory, Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal addressed his supporters and his tone was conciliatory.

Kejriwal was not aggressive at all. Kejriwal said he would work together with the Congress and the BJP for the betterment of Delhi. He said that the central government has an important role in improving Delhi and he expects cooperation. Kejriwal said that he wants the blessings of the central government and Prime Minister Modi so that Delhi can be taken forward together.

The vote share of the Congress in the Delhi Municipal Corporation elections this time was 11.7 percent. The vote share of the Congress in the 2017 Municipal Corporation of Delhi election was 21.1 percent. But compared to the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, the vote share of the Congress is 4.3% more in this municipal election.

The Aam Aadmi Party has promised to remove three mountains of garbage in Delhi. On the other hand, Congress and BJP were seen besieging the Delhi government in the matter of corruption.

The BJP has traditionally been strong in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. This remained so even when the BJP kept losing the Delhi assembly elections. Recently, the Modi government had passed an amendment in the Parliament which increased the control of the Center over the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Earlier, the Delhi government had the authority over the financial matters of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

This is the first election after the merger of the three municipal corporations of Delhi. In 2012, the BJP had won all the three corporations. In 2012 itself, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was divided into three parts. The elections in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi were to be held in April 2022 only.

But the Central Government had reduced the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to one instead of three, along with it delimitation was also done and instead of 272 wards, 250 wards were made.