Indian PM presents Japanese counterpart with unique traditional products from Gujarat, UP & Rajasthan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls and dhurries specially crafted on the occasion of his visit to Japan for India-Japan annual summit on October 28.

Made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone sourced from Rajasthan, the bowls were crafted by master artisan Shabbirhusen Ibrahimbhai Shaikh of Khambhat region of Gujarat, that has been known for its practice of stone craft since generations and is also a leading hub for exports of stone products from India.

The uniqueness of this craft lies in the fact that the form of the product is scooped out from a block of stone, and then shaped and refined using basic hand tools generally without any lathe machines.

Hand-woven by the master weavers of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, the dhurrie designs show the diversity of possibilities available; from a symmetrical repeating geometric tessellation in one, to stylistic floral motifs arranged around the classical medallion pattern in another. The dhurries use two distinctive Indian colour palettes; while one uses Indigo blues, reds and sprinkles of turmeric yellows, the identifying colours that have marked Indian textiles for centuries, the other uses the muted earthy tones of the Indian landscape.

These stone bowls and dhurries were made under the design supervision of India’s premier design institute, the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Further, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, is working towards the upliftment of the stone craft cluster of Khambhat by bringing in design and technological interventions.

In addition, a Jodhpuri wooden chest from Rajasthan with traditional work was also presented.

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AAP declares manifesto for upcoming Rajasthan elections

HIGHLIGHTS

AAP declared its manifesto today in Jaipur
The rally was held at Ramlila Maidan
The manifesto was announced in the presence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) declared its manifesto for the upcoming Rajasthan elections at a rally in Jaipur today.

The party had sought and received permission to hold the rally at the Ramlila Maidan.

The manifesto was announced in the presence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who held his first election rally in Rajasthan.

The Aam Aadmi Party has already announced that it will contest on all 200 assembly seats during the upcoming polls in Rajasthan.

Media in-charge for AAP Gopal Sharma had earlier said, “Arvind Kejriwal will hold his election rally at the Ramleela Maidan in Jaipur on October 28. He will hold seven-eight rallies in Rajasthan in the run-up to the polls.”

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, apart from other known members, will be campaigning in Rajasthan.

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7-Party Front, Loktantrik Morcha To Contest All Rajasthan Assembly Seats

The front was launched last month by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and consists of CPI, CPI (M), CPI (ML), MCPI (United), Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal and Janata Dal (Secular).

The Loktantrik Morcha, a seven-party alliance in Rajasthan, on Saturday announced that it will contest on all 200 seats in the upcoming state assembly and CPI(M) leader Amra Ram will be its chief ministerial candidate.

The front was launched last month by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and consists of CPI, CPI (M), CPI (ML), MCPI (United), Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal and Janata Dal (Secular).

“We will contest on all 200 seats and Amra Ram will be the Morcha’s CM candidate,” a spokesperson of the alliance said.

“The alliance has been formed to give a new alternative to the people of Rajasthan,” he added.

All like-minded parties and leaders are welcome to join us, the spokesperson said.

He said a 15-member core committee, which will have representation of all the seven parties, will be formed to decide on the seat-sharing arrangement.

The Loktantrik Morcha members have a small presence in Rajasthan and have no member in the current legislative assembly.

In 2013 assembly elections, CPI(M) and CPI contested on 38 and 23 seats respectively. JD(S), CPI(ML), SP and RLD contested on 6, 5, 56 and 8 seats respectively.

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Braille-enabled EVMs, voter slips for the first time in Rajasthan

For the first time in Rajasthan, at all the polling stations across the state, braille-enabled Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used for visually impaired people. Voter slips in braille script too would be provided to all the visually impaired voters during the upcoming assembly election.

“EVM machines with in-built braille script will be used for the first time in the election this time in Rajasthan. All the new M3 EVM machines are enabled with braille. Such machines will be in all the booths,” said state chief electoral officer Anand Kumar.

There are 51,796 polling stations and 4,36,125 persons with disabilities (PwD) voters in the state. Around 72,694 voters are visually impaired.

Braille is a system of raised dots that can be read with the fingers by people who are blind or who have low vision. It is a tactile reading and writing system used by blind and visually impaired people who cannot access print material.

“The visually impaired persons can either go to polling stations with a companion or they can go on their own. If they go on their own, they are provided Braille-enabled voting facility. The ballot paper is attached to the ballot unit and in the same sequence ballot sheets in Braille script are also made available in the polling stations,” said deputy chief electoral officer Vinod Pareek.

“The braille sheets are given to the visually impaired persons when they arrive at the polling stations. From those sheets they can identify which serial number to press. After that they can go to the polling chamber, where they can feel the sheet which is attached to the unit and press the button they wish to. The new ballot units have these numberings in-built or inscribed,” he explained. There are about 76,000 such ballot units, he added.

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Rajasthan Polls 2018: Conflicting ECI & IT norms may land candidates in legal trouble

Candidates appearing for Rajasthan assembly election may face legal troubles in future as election expenditure norms set by the Election Commission of India (ECI) contradicts the latest updatation of Income Tax department. A delegation of Congress leaders has spotted the change and submitted memorandum to the state election department which has decided to look into the matter.

The commission in its ‘Compendium of Instructions on Election Expenditure Monitoring’ has detailed the dos and don’ts pertaining to election expenditures that the candidates appearing for the polls can incur. In 247 pages of the compendium, the commission has stated that candidate shall have to make payments exceeding Rs 20,000 through account payee cheque/draft only. The commission has referred section 40A (3) of Income Tax Act, 1961 in order to regulate this for the candidates. It further adds, “If a party is incurring any expenditure, it shall ensure that no payment in excess of Rs 20,000 is made in a day to any person or company or entity in cash, except where (a) the payment is made in a village or town, which is not served by a bank; or (b) the payment is made to any employee or party functionary towards salary, pension or for reimbursement of his expenses.”

Strangely, the cash payment limit of Rs 20,000 is not in sync with the cash limit imposed by the Income Tax department. The department has reduced the limit of cash through a notification dated April 4, 2017 and kept it between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000. With the latest notification, the candidates are in the state of confusion whether they should file the expenditure details accordingly to the election body or the income tax department. Their major worry is that they may be in legal trouble for flouting both rules, which are contradictory to each other.

Vijay Garg, who heads the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee Chartered Cell (CA), has detected the contradictory provision and intimated to the chief electoral office (CEO) Anand Kumar about the same. When contacted the CEO Kumar assured that the department has taken cognizance of the issue and it is being examined by the ECI to which it has been already forwarded.

ECI Should Come With A Corrigendum

“After the candidates file the expenditure details, the ECI forward it to the income tax department. Now as the income tax has set Rs 10,000 ceiling for cash payment, it would disallow payment exceeding the limit and add in the income of assesee. The ECI should come with a corrigendum and ratify income tax fresh cash limit,” said Vijay Garg.

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Rajasthan Polls: Candidates flocking to astrologers for advice

If polls are round the corner, Nathulal Vyas must be extremely busy. A well-known astrologer in Karoi village of Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district who shot to fame when Union minister Smriti Irani paid a visit to his home after joining the cabinet in 2014, he is seldom short of visitors. But ahead of elections, he has to contend with a string of ticket-seekers and candidates who want to know what lies in fate for them.

A large number of politicians from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are coming to seek his advice, Vyas told ET. “It’s election time. People are coming. I advise them only when I see ‘raj yog (ruler’s destiny)’ in the kundali (horoscope). If stars are not favourable I straightaway ask them to switch to another profession,” he said.

Several ministers in the existing cabinet benefited from his advice in the past, he said. “I won’t name them. But people know that (former president) Pratibha Patil, Smriti Irani, (politician) Amar Singh and Yashodhara Raje, minister in Madhya Pradesh government and sister of chief minister Vasundhara Raje, have come for celestial pointers,” said Vyas.

In the run-up to the December 7 election, both BJP and Congress are grappling with an unprecedented number of ticket-seekers. The uncertainty over tickets has led to a surge in nervousness among politicians and prompted many of them to turn to Vyas and other astrologers for advice and ‘upaye’ (remedy).

“Every day politicians are coming for puja at my place. In every election, they come to seek blessings of Shakambari Mata before the polls,” said high-profile astrologer Kedar Sharma, whose list of patrons includes the Ambanis, Kumar Mangalam Birla, LN Mittal, Gautam Adani, Kapil Sibbal and Pratibha Patil.

Sharma is best known for having given astrological advice to then US President Bill Clinton, who had invited him to visit White House at the time. “I offer puja only for those who have it in their horoscope to win elections. It’s not good to give anyone false hopes,” he said.

Pandit Suresh Siddha, another astrologer who has poll aspirants queuing up for advice, said aspirants mostly want to know what puja they should perform and what colour they should wear to get a ticket for sure. A first-time candidate from the Congress offered another perspective. “There are a couple of astrologers who have great influence over those who decide the ticket. We seek their favour in pushing our names for candidature,” he said on condition of anonymity.

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Defections galore ahead of Rajasthan Assembly Polls

Last week, BJP leader and former Union minister Jaswant Singh’s son Manvendra joined the Congress at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi

Ahead of the Rajasthan assembly polls scheduled on December 7, leaders are switching parties.

The Congress district president of Dholpur joined the BJP on October 26 while the BJP’s Jaipur district president switched to the Opposition party.

Ashok Sharma, son of Congress leader Banwarilal Sharma, joined the saffron party in the presence of MPs Dushyant Singh and Arjum Ram Meghwal, and ministers Rajendra Rathore and Gulab Chand Kataria at BJP office in Jaipur.

Sharma told mediapersons that he joined the BJP as he was impressed with the work that Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje had done to solve the problem of drinking water in Dholpur.

Sharma also said even though his father has worked with the Grand Old Party for more than two decades, he was never given a place in the All Indian Congress Committee (AICC). Adding that the Congress has double standards due to which party workers are unhappy, Sharma announced that he will now work as “ordinary worker with the BJP” for the development of the Dholpur area.

Rathore told the media that Ashok’s entry to the BJP will further strengthen the party’s foothold in eastern Rajasthan. “This is just the trailer. The film is yet to be screened. Wait and watch who else will join the BJP. The Congress is a divided house and there is a long line of those who want to join the BJP,” Rathore told the publication.

Meanwhile, in Sikar, four BJP leaders joined the Congress in the presence of Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

The four leaders are Mool Chand Meena, BJP zila pramukh of Jaipur; Bindu Choudhary, ex-zila pramukh of Nagaur district and sister of minister Ajay Singh Kilak; Narayan Ram Beda, former MLA; and Jat leader Vijay Poonia, whose wife Usha Poonia was tourism minister in previous Raje government.

Besides, Zamindara Party leader Shimla Nayak, who contested the 2013 polls from Anoopgarh, also joined the party.

Last week, BJP leader and former Union minister Jaswant Singh’s son Manvendra Singh had joined the Congress at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi.

Manvendra claimed that the saffron party disregarded his father at the national level, while the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government targeted him after his father was denied a Lok Sabha ticket from Rajasthan.

While both the national parties are accusing each other of infighting, it seems that both have been infected with the same disease, with party leaders abandoning their own and joining the opposite bloc.

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Rajasthan: Now, Brahmins want their share in electoral cake

The Brahmin community has decided to go aggressive with its demand for political space in Rajasthan. All India body of Brahmins Vipra Foundation has declared a charter of demands which prominently includes 40 seats to the community by each party, reservation for the economically weaker sections (EWS) and abolition of reservation in promotion. This charter of demands will be handed to both BJP and Congress.

National convenor of Vipra Foundation Sushil Ojha declared that they will take out a rath yatra from November 15 in three zones of Rajasthan to urge the community to aggressively come out and vote for those who support their demands. “We will take out a rath yatra in Udaipur, Jodhpur and Jaipur zones, each having 11 districts. Our community has given four chief ministers and at one time represented over 62 seats; today we are limited to just 16 seats.

Even those seats that are Brahmin dominated get candidates from other communities. Political parties have been appeasing other communities at the cost of Brahmins because we are a peaceful community. We will seek to bring awareness for our rightful political space,” said Ojha.

Brahmins can decide the electoral fate of over 50 seats. While the community has traditionally supported BJP, it has been the cause of concern for BJP since it aggressively voted against the ruling party in bypolls. Congress by giving a ticket to Raghu Sharma for the Ajmer Parliamentary seat had gained their support.

The Vipra Foundation has also submitted a data sheet that is based on a survey. It says that 55 seats have 25000 to 55000 Brahmins, while in 10 assembly seats they are above 60000. The average voter strength of a seat is around 2 lakh.

“We will not suggest candidates to the parties, it is for them to decide. All we want is that Brahmins should be given tickets. We are facing existential crisis in politics and its a fight for survival,” added Ojha.

BJP’s efforts to appease Rajputs, Jats and Dalits while ignoring the Brahmins has further caused their alienation.

In these circumstances, the demands of Brahmin community assume importance.

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Satta market bets big on BJP in MP and Chhattisgarh, Congress in Rajasthan

Highlights
“We are confident that the BJP would make a comeback while scope for the Congress is slim in MP. BJP would also win Chhattisgarh whereas Congress will make a comeback in Rajasthan,” said a bookie
Satta market in every election runs in crores. Bets are placed not just over phone, but also on websites and online mobile applications

Whether BJP would form government for the fourth time or Congress will make a comeback after 15 years in Madhya Pradesh?

While a political party may win or lose but the ensuing elections would bring in some extra moolah for bookies in the festive season.

As the parties struggle to finalise candidates, the satta market is already on a high this election season.

If the trend in satta markets is anything to go by, BJP would make a comeback in MP. Bookies are bullish on ruling BJP in the election. The rates in satta market point at the possibility.

As per the bookies, if a person places a bet of Rs 10,000 on BJP, he would get Rs 11,000 in return if the party comes to power while in case of Congress, the stake holder tends to lose Rs 10,000 for placing a bet of Rs 4,400.It means profit is offered more on Congress by punters believing that the party would not be able to make a comeback in this assembly election. Profit margin is low for BJP since bookies believe more people would like to place a bet on BJP.

“We are confident that the BJP would make a comeback while scope for the Congress is slim in MP. BJP would also win Chhattisgarh whereas Congress will make a comeback in Rajasthan. The satta market is running good this poll season. Rates may vary once the tickets are finalised by the parties, but we expect the trend to remain the same,” said a bookie.

Satta market in every election runs in crores. Bets are placed not just over phone, but also on websites and online mobile applications, leaving almost no room for police to nab the bookies and the ones placing the bet.

Probably, this is the reason why no gang has been busted in state so far for running election betting racket. And it is not that people in major cities, including Bhopal are not into betting. At least three cases of betting are registered daily in Bhopal. The craze of betting is more for cricket and it is shifted to politics only during the polls.

Officials said busting an online betting racket is a challenge as such gangs keep moving from one place to another. Online betting can be operated even from a moving car, café or from any public place in the city, state or from any other part of the country.

DIG Dharmendra Choudhary said the police are running special campaigns against criminals involved in gambling and betting ahead of elections. The criminals are being made to sign bonds to prevent them from committing such crimes in the future. He said that crime branch, Bhopal monitors and keeps an eye on online betting. Raids are being conducted on receiving specific tips to nab criminals. Police station level actions were also taken against such illegal betting and gambling dens being operated in the city.

ASP (Crime) Rashmi Mishra said crime branch activated its network of informers in the city prior to elections to keep an eye on illegal activities. She said that it is difficult to crack online betting and gambling rackets, but police take actions against criminals after specific inputs.

Speaking about websites and mobile apps for gambling, IG (Bhopal) Jaideep Prasad said police would act against such rackets on getting specific inputs and complaints. The state cyber cell keeps a constant vigil on such websites and mobile apps and take necessary action, he said.

SP (cyber cell) Bhopal Rajesh Bhadouria said the cyber cell takes action against any criminal activity which falls under the provisions of IT Act. The cyber cell is keeping a constant vigil on cyber-crimes in view of upcoming elections, he said, adding, action is taken on basis of any intelligence or information received on any specific activity.

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For Specially-Abled Voters In Rajasthan, A New Service Ahead Of Polls

For the convenience of specially-abled voters, the Election Commission of India has decided to deploy pick-and-drop vans, during the December 7 Rajasthan assembly polls.

Jodhpur district Election Officer Ravi Kumar said the voters would also be taken inside the polling booth in wheelchairs by volunteers.

To implement this measure, the district administration is appointing transport nodal officers in every district, while the booth level officers (BLO) have been asked to identify specially-abled voters, enlisted to cast votes at their booths.

The BLOs will provide lists of the voters to the transport nodal officers, who can be contacted directly by voters to avail the pick-and-drop facilities.

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