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SATURDAY www.thehindu.com https://newsth.live/fb January 25, 2025 https://newsth.live/x https://newsth.live/ig DELHI CITY EDITION Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 20 Pages ₹ 12.00 RNI No. UPENG/2012/49940 Vol. 15 앫 No. 21 Printed at » Chennai » Coimbatore » Bengaluru » Hyderabad » Madurai » Noida » Visakhapatnam » Thiruvananthapuram » Kochi » Vijayawada » Mangaluru » Tiruchirapalli » Kolkata » Hubballi » Mohali » Malappuram » Mumbai » Tirupati » Lucknow » Cuttack » Patna IN BRIEF 쑽 8 killed in Maharashtra 538 arrested as U.S. begins TEENS IN TROUBLE Survey links deportation ordnance factory blast operation smartphone to mental Five injured in the explosion in Bhandara; SIT set up to ascertain cause of blast; factory also Agence France-Presse health 10 Oppn. MPs on forms inquiry team; NDRF rescuers avoid flash cutters as site has high-energy plastic explosives WASHINGTON Waqf Bill panel NEWS » PAGE 12 Hundreds of migrants in f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0 f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0 suspended Purnima Sah har Goswami (59), Manoj the U.S. were arrested on MUMBAI Meshram (55), Ajay Nag- Thursday and others flown THE GREAT CONGREGATION NEW DELHI deve (51), and Ankit Barai out of the country on mili- Ten Opposition members of massive explosion (20). The five injured — N.P. tary aircraft as the White Gods, gurus, and Parliament’s Joint Committee on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, who protested against the last-minute change in the A ripped through an ordnance factory in Maharashtra’s Bhandara Wanjari (55), Sanjay Raut (51), Rajesh Badwaik (33), Sunil Kumar Yadav (24) House said President Do- nald Trump’s promised de- portation operation had glass turtles agenda of the meeting by district on Friday morning, and Jaydeep Banerjee (42) started. White House press The Kumbh Mela and leaving eight people dead — have been admitted to secretary Karoline Leavitt Chairperson and BJP leader and five injured. A Special Laksh Hospital and the said “538 illegal immigrant its religious, social, and Jagdambika Pal, were suspended on Friday. Investigation Team (SIT) Bhandara District General criminals” were arrested political significance has been set up by the dis- Hospital. on Thursday and “hun- » Page 11 trict administration and Immediately after the dreds” were deported by GROUND ZERO » PAGE 9 the Superintendent of Pol- explosion, the factory’s military aircraft. ice to ascertain the cause Danger zone: Rescue operation under way at the blast site in rescue and relief team, fire “The largest massive de- Restore police of the blast, and the facto- Bhandara district in Maharashtra on Friday. PTI brigade team and medical portation operation in his- cover for Kejriwal: ry has also set up an inqui- team reached the spot and tory is well underway,” she ry committee. The building caught fire from the debris using spe- started the rescue opera- said in a post on social me- AAP CMs to CEC The blast took place at and collapsed, trapping 13 cialised equipment, as tion. “We had immediately dia platform X. Mr. Trump 10:40 a.m. in a building workers under the debris. they did not want to risk dispatched 12 fire brigade promised the crackdown NEW DELHI containing low-tempera- The death toll rose during using flash cutters that vehicles, 15 ambulances in the election campaigns Delhi CM Atishi and her Punjab ture plastic explosives, ac- the day as the rescue oper- could ignite the explosive and 8 heavy-duty cranes to and began his second term counterpart Bhagwant Mann cording to a statement ation continued till around material at the site. clear the debris,” Bhanda- with a flurry of executive RESPONSE TO BACKLASH wrote to the Chief Election from the ordnance factory. 8:30 p.m. ra district collector Sanjay actions aimed at overhaul- Commissioner on Friday urging These high-energy explo- National Disaster Res- Four victims identified Kolte said. ing entry to the U.S. ‘Jaffna’ restored in name of him to reinstate Punjab Police sives are used in the am- ponse Force (NDRF) per- Only four of the deceased cultural centre in Sri Lanka in Arvind Kejriwal’s security munition manufactured in sonnel had to manually re- workers have been identi- CONTINUED ON FULL REPORT ON detail. » Page 4 WORLD » PAGE 14 the factory. move the trapped workers fied so far — Chandrashek- » PAGE 10 » PAGE 14 Border patrol India, Indonesia set to discuss Myanmar conflict during talks Kallol Bhattacherjee The chain of engage- NEW DELHI ments indicated that both the countries are trying to The raging conflict in establish dialogue between Myanmar will feature pro- the military junta in Nay minently in discussions Pyi Taw and the ethnic between visiting Indone- armed organisations that sian President Prabowo have captured large Subianto and Prime Minis- amounts of territory of ter Narendra Modi during Myanmar, including vast the weekend, sources said. tracts of land near its bor- Mr. Subianto, who will be ders with India’s north- the chief guest at the Repu- eastern States. blic Day celebrations, be- The situation in Myan- gan his official meetings by The meeting of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (right) with mar has escalated over the calling on External Affairs External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi on Friday. PTI last year, with the military Minister S. Jaishankar and junta losing control over meeting industry bigwigs ders in the conflict-torn India recently hosted a areas in Chin state, Rak- on Friday. southeast Asian country. number of ethnic armed hine, and the Sagaing re- The inclusion of the pre- Sources mentioned that organisations from Myan- gion. Maungdaw near the vailing scenario in Myan- the two sides will discuss mar as well as members of Indo-Bangladesh frontier mar in the official agenda is several “regional issues in- the exiled National Unity was the latest town to fall significant as both India cluding the tension around Government. to the Arakan Army in De- and Indonesia have been the South China Sea” dur- India hosted them at the cember 2024. trying to stitch up a dia- ing the official talks that Indian Council of World Af- Hawk-eyed: Army personnel keeping vigil along the Line of Control in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. The Army has logue process among va- will be held in Hyderabad fairs, soon after Indonesia CONTINUED ON increased surveillance along the LoC under sub-zero temperatures ahead of Republic Day celebrations. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT rious domestic stakehol- House on Saturday. also hosted such groups. » PAGE 10 Tribal woman killed in tiger attack U.P. temple gets FCRA Bihar Chief Minister honours in Wayanad; residents stage protest nod without request Olympians, Paralympic stars Aabha Raveendran curfew has been imposed ly of Radha. He said a unit KOZHIKODE in the hamlets of Panchara- of the Rapid Response Vijaita Singh in the State over the con- Sports Bureau kolly, Pilakavu, Jessy, and Team of the Forest Depart- Ishita Mishra trol of the temple’s affairs PATNA Intense protests erupted at Chirakkara till January 27. ment would provide resi- NEW DELHI and funds. The committee Mananthavady in Wayanad dents round-the-clock pro- includes the State govern- Bihar Chief Minister Nitish district of Kerala after a tri- Call for hartal tection until the threat was The Union Home Ministry ment’s nominees. Kumar felicitated athletes bal woman was mauled to The Opposition Congress- eliminated. Around 100 of- has granted registration The Banke Bihari tem- and para-athletes at the death by a tiger on Friday. led UDF has called a hartal ficials, including sharp under the Foreign Contri- ple is presently owned and Sportstar Focus Bihar Con- Radha, 47, wife of a tem- in Mananthavady on Satur- shooters, have been de- bution Regulation Act managed by a hereditary clave held here on Friday. porary forest watchman, day. The furious mob ployed to capture the tiger. (FCRA), 2010 to the famous community of Sevayat Gos- The players felicitated was attacked by the tiger blocked the path of O.R. A.K. Saseendran, Minis- Banke Bihari temple in Ut- wami priests, Saraswat included Paralympic silver when she was plucking cof- Kelu, Minister for Welfare ter for Forests and Wildlife, tar Pradesh’s Vrindavan, Brahmins, and the descen- medallist Deepa Malik, fee cherries in the morn- of Scheduled Castes and told The Hindu: “We will enabling it to receive dona- dants of Swami Haridas, Olympic bronze medal- ing. Her body was disco- Tribes, and the local MLA, try to cage it as the first tions from foreign coun- who built the temple over winning boxer Vijender Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar presenting an award to former vered by the Thunderbolt when they arrived in the step. If that fails, we will try tries for “religious” 550 years ago. Singh, double Olympic decathlete Jai Prakash Singh in Patna on Friday. R.V. MOORTHY commandos who were area. The residents de- to tranquilise it and move it activity. Sources in the State go- bronze medallist P.R. Sree- combing the area for manded immediate action out of Wayanad. Killing the The temple’s priests, vernment said the temple’s jesh, double Paralympic a cased silver fish. teenage chess talent Md. Maoists around 11.30 a.m. to address the threat. tiger is the last resort.” however, said they had funds currently stand at medallist Sharad Kumar, As per the Sportstar Reyan bagged the Young They found the mutilat- They were pacified only Wayanad MP Priyanka never applied for the about ₹480 crore, apart six-time Winter Olympian Conclave tradition, two Achiever honour. Both ed body as they followed when the Minister assured Gandhi expressed condo- registration. from gold and other Shiva Keshavan, and wo- special awards were bes- were awarded a cash prize the pug marks of the tiger them that the tiger would lences to the family of the The temple committee valuables. men’s hockey team head towed on athletes from the of ₹50,000 each. that had dragged the body be captured. Mr. Kelu also deceased. Radha is a close is locked in a legal battle coach Harendra Singh. State. Decathlete Jai Pra- into the nearby forest. announced a compensa- relative of national cricke- with the Bharatiya Janata CONTINUED ON The sporting stars were kash Singh won the Un- SPORTS CONCLAVE In view of the threat, a tion of ₹11 lakh to the fami- ter Minnu Mani. Party (BJP)-led government » PAGE 10 honoured with a shawl and sung Champion award and » PAGE 18 CM A ND-NDE YK  f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0 Saturday, January 25, 2025 Delhi A ND-NDE THE HINDU CM YK 2 f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0  Saturday, January 25, 2025 THE HINDU Delhi States 3 M.P. to be alcohol-free soon as CM bans liquor in 17 religious places Decision is part of govt. plans to impose prohibition in State: Yadav; previous ban on liquor in 5-km radius of Narmada to continue; Ambedkar varsity in Mhow to be developed as ‘Centre of Excellence’ Mehul Malpani this, but from April 1 of the BHOPAL coming [financial] year, no liquor shop will be found he Madhya Pradesh functioning in these areas. T government on Fri- day decided to ban liquor in 17 cities, towns, And gradually, we will move ahead and close down more (shops),” he and villages of religious sig- told the gathering. nificance across the State, The Cabinet also ap- Chief Minister Mohan Ya- proved ₹25 crore to esta- dav announced after the blish a law department at State Cabinet meeting held the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Un- in Khargone district’s iversity of Social Sciences, Maheshwar. Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav and his Cabinet Ministers offering Mhow, the birthplace of Addressing the media prayers at the Ahilya Bai Holkar Ghat in Khargone on Friday. ANI the architect of the Consti- after the meeting, Mr. Ya- tution. Mr. Yadav also said dav said the decision was The list includes Ujjain 5-km radius on both sides the university will be deve- part of the government’s Municipal Corporation; six of the banks of the Narma- loped into a ‘Centre of plans to impose a liquor municipalities — Datia, da will also continue. Excellence’. f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0 f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0 ban across the State. Maihar, Mandla, Multai, On January 23, the CM “We have decided that Panda, and Mandsaur; six ‘Liquor, a curse’ had inaugurated a flyover the State will move to- nagar panchayats — Amar- Later in the day, the Chief in Bhopal and named it af- wards a liquor ban gradual- kantak, Omkareshwar, Ma- Minister, while addressing ter Ambedkar. The two de- ly and in this regard, we heshwar, Mandleshwar, an event in Maheshwar, cisions assume signifi- have taken a policy deci- Orchha, and Chitrakoot; said liquor was equivalent cance as they come just sion that in the first phase, and four gram panchayats to a curse in families in the days before the Congress’s liquor shops will be shut that have religious State and that women have rally in Mhow on January down permanently in 17 significance. to deal with men who 27 where the Opposition nagar palikas, nagar par- Mr. Yadav also said the come home drunk. party plans to launch its ishads, and nagar pan- government’s previous “This is a policy deci- ‘Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Sam- chayats,” Mr. Yadav said. policy of a liquor ban in the sion. We are not just saying vidhan’ campaign. Row over J&K govt. J&K parties slam order asking students NCM member over to attend ABVP rally remark on Pandits Peerzada Ashiq Slamming the order, Peerzada Ashiq lack of security, destroyed SRINAGAR PDP leader Iltija Mufti said SRINAGAR homes, and the absence of on X: “J&K’s Education De- concrete rehabilitation A government order asking partment under the Na- A day after Rouble Nagi, plans. Her statement ig- educational heads to send tional Conference (NC) go- member, Panel of Com- nores this painful history,” students and teachers to a vernment has made it munity Leaders of National Sunil Kaul, a Kashmiri Pan- ‘Tiranga Rally’ organised mandatory for private and Commission for Minorities dit activist, said. He added, by the Akhil Bharatiya Vi- public school children (NCM), said there was no “If there’s no hostility, why dyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in across Poonch to attend a negative attitude towards were Makhan Lal Bindroo Poonch has come under rally organised by ABVP, the Kashmiri Pandit com- and Rahul Bhatt brutally criticism from political the RSS-affiliated student munity in the Valley, politi- killed? These incidents re- parties and student bodies wing that normalises anti- cal parties and activists on flect the grim realities in Kashmir. Muslim bigotry. Using edu- Friday raised serious Kashmiri Pandits still face.” According to an order of cation as a propaganda objections. BJP leader G.L. Raina ac- the Additional District Ma- tool by forcing students to Ms. Nagi on Thursday cused Ms. Nagi of “lacking gistrate, Poonch, permis- attend ideological events is had said migrant Kashmiri knowledge and under- sion was granted to the ral- unacceptable.” Pandits need to decide if standing about the damage ly on Thursday to celebrate A spokesperson of the they want to return, say- her statement has caused Republic Day. The order J&K Students Association ing, “There is no negative to the institution of NCM”. was also copied to several said the order was “deeply attitude towards them J&K Peoples Conference schools, including govern- concerning and unaccep- from the local people”. leader Mudasir Karim too ment-run ones. The Christ table”. “With the direction She said the security sit- lambasted Ms. Nagi’s state- School and Raza-ul-Uloom that students should join uation in the Valley was ment. “[Union Minority Af- Higher Secondary in the ABVP in the rally, this peaceful and the number fairs Minister] Kiren Rijiju- Poonch were directed to has become more of an of killings has gone down. ji, can you please send “send 40 to 50 students ideological event rather “For over three de- someone to Kashmir who’s along with two teachers” than a Republic Day cele- cades, Kashmiri Pandits done his or her home- for the rally. bration,” he said. have lived in exile due to work?” he said. Timings DELHI SATURDAY, JAN. 25 RISE 07:13 SET 17:55 Partha Chatterjee RISE SUNDAY, JAN. 26 03:33 SET 13:45 admitted to hospital RISE 07:12 SET 17:56 RISE 04:32 SET 14:36 The Hindu Bureau MONDAY, JAN. 27 KOLKATA RISE 07:12 SET 17:57 RISE 05:30 SET 15:36 Former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, who remains in prison in the West Bengal recruit- ment scam, was admitted to the SSKM Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, after his health de- teriorated. He was shifted to the government medical facil- ity on Monday after he experienced breathing is- sues at the Presidency Correctional Home in Kol- kata. Doctors reportedly assessed his condition and concluded that his heart complications had gotten worse. Doctors also reported health issues in his kidneys and lungs. 0 DISCLAIMER: Readers are requested to verify and make appropriate enquiries to satisfy themselves about the veracity of an advertise- ment before responding to any published in this newspaper. 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CM A ND-NDE YK  THE HINDU 4 Saturday, January 25, 2025 DELHI ELECTION Delhi HC bins plea to table 14 Conspiracy to kill Kejriwal: With two weeks to go for CAG reports in Assembly AAP; party CMs urge CEC to polling, BJP leaders turn The Hindu Bureau NEW DELHI restore Punjab Police cover up the heat on ruling AAP The Delhi High Court on Kejriwal tells people to take money, saris distributed by opponents, but not to ‘sell’ their votes; BJP Friday rejected a plea by BJP MLAs seeking direc- asks why AAP chief was given Z-plus cover by Punjab where he does not hold any official position tions to the Delhi govern- ment to table 14 Comptroll- The Hindu Bureau order in the Capital. er and Auditor General NEW DELHI “Yesterday, Yogi Aditya- (CAG) reports in the As- nath pointed out that the sembly. The court said day after Punjab law and order in Delhi has holding a special session of the Assembly a few days before the election was A Police personnel deployed in the se- curity of Aam Aadmi Party deteriorated. I agree with him 100%. If Yogi Aditya- nath has indeed improved “impractical”. (AAP) national convener law and order in U.P., then The court questioned Arvind Kejriwal were with- I request him to sit with the Delhi government over drawn, AAP on Friday al- Amit Shah and explain to the “inordinate delay” in leged a “huge conspiracy” him how law and order can taking the requisite steps by the Bharatiya Janata be improved,” he said. to table the reports in the Party (BJP) and Delhi Pol- The AAP chief also con- Assembly and said once ice to “kill” Mr. Kejriwal. Poll call: Delhi CM Atishi and her Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann demned the widespread the new Legislative As- AAP on Thursday al- addressing a press meet in New Delhi on Friday. SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR “distribution of money and sembly is constituted fol- leged that the party chief’s saris” by political parties to lowing the February 5 elec- car was attacked for a se- want Mann jointly wrote a Punjab Police from Mr. Kej- influence voters in Delhi, BJP MP Anurag Thakur, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami addressing rallies. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT tion, the reports must be cond time in a week by BJP letter to the Chief Election riwal’s security detail pos- describing it as a “direct as- f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0 f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0 tabled “as expeditiously as workers in the presence of Commissioner urging him es “not just a threat to his sault on democracy”. The Hindu Bureau Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, and free cylinders during possible”. police in south-west Delhi. to reinstate Punjab Police life but a direct attack on “This money they are NEW DELHI Rajasthan, and Madhya Holi and Deepavali, along The Congress and the Hitting back, BJP leader in Mr. Kejriwal’s security democracy itself”. distributing was earned by Pradesh” against Delhi’s with other benefits. In con- BJP have, in their election Anurag Thakur on Friday detail and review his secur- looting the people of this With less than two weeks “dishonest CM”. trast, the Kejriwal-led go- campaigns, attacked the asked why the former Del- ity as the “guardian of free ‘Help restore order’ country. Take everything to go for the Assembly elec- The former Union Mi- vernment has failed to de- Delhi government for not hi CM was getting access to and fair elections”. “By Addressing a press confe- they distribute, but do not tion, senior BJP leaders nister alleged that the rul- liver on its promises to tabling 14 CAG reports in security from Punjab and leaving his security solely rence, Mr. Kejriwal com- sell your vote. Your vote is turned up the heat on the ing AAP “got Rajya Sabha women.” the Assembly. pointed out the “contradic- in the hands of a BJP-con- mented on U.P. Chief Mi- invaluable,” he said. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in member Swati Maliwal as- The Himachal Pradesh The Congress has ac- tion” in providing him Z- trolled police force, his life nister Yogi Adityanath’s Later in the day, ad- Delhi on Friday. saulted at the CM’s resi- MP also accused AAP of ne- cused AAP of “trying to plus security by the State, has been recklessly endan- statement on Thursday dressing an election rally dence”, ignored the plight glecting civic issues such as conceal corruption” while where he does not hold gered,” the letter read. highlighting Delhi’s law in Najafgarh, Mr. Kejriwal ‘Disrespected women’ of ASHA workers, denied the lack of clean drinking the BJP alleged that the any official position. It stated that after re- and order situation and stuck to the message of While former Union Minis- ration cards to women, water, good quality air, and Delhi government “is vio- Meanwhile, Delhi Chief peated attacks and “bla- urged him to step in and “galat button mat dabana ter and Lok Sabha member and promised but did not well-maintained roads. lating constitutional sys- Minister Atishi and her tant inaction” of Delhi Pol- guide Home Minister Amit (don’t press the wrong but- Anurag Thakur accused deliver ₹1,000 monthly tems to hide the truth”. Punjab counterpart Bhag- ice, the withdrawal of Shah in restoring law and ton on polling day)”. AAP national convener Ar- cash assistance to women. ‘Double-engine govt.’ vind Kejriwal of “disres- “On the other hand, At a separate rally in the pecting” women by ap- Prime Minister Narendra national capital, the Utta- pointing Atishi as a “proxy Modi launched transfor- rakhand CM said his State Will create Ministry for Purvanchalis in Capital: Cong. Chief Minister”, Uttarak- hand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami rued the lack of de- mative schemes, such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, leading to significant posi- is a model of how a “dou- ble-engine government” can bring about an “infras- velopment in the city and tive changes for women,” tructure boom”. The Hindu Bureau Making the announce- living in the national capi- of India in-charge, said the said, will tackle key con- said the time had come to said the Hamirpur MP at an “People keep voting for NEW DELHI ment at a press confe- tal. Mr. Singh said about 35 Congress, through its gua- cerns like rising costs and vote for a “double-engine event in support of Par- double-engine govern- rence, former Union Mi- lakh Purvanchalis living in rantees, will ensure that access to opportunities. [BJP]” government. vesh Sahib Singh, the party ments across the country The Congress on Friday nister and party’s Bihar Delhi have been treated as every family, not just the The Congress also an- Addressing a public candidate up against Mr. again and again because promised a separate Minis- chief Akhilesh Prasad a mere vote bank by AAP Purvanchalis, have savings nounced that it will create gathering, Mr. Thakur res- Kejriwal in New Delhi seat. they see the kind of work try and budget for Purvan- Singh said that if Delhi has and the BJP without giving of nearly ₹16,000 per a Chhath Ghat on the ponded to AAP’s barb — At another rally, he said, the party can do when it is chalis in Delhi if the party become a world-class city, them even basic facilities. month, ₹2 lakh annually, banks of the Yamuna for that the BJP does not have “We have pledged to pro- in power at the Centre as is voted to power in the the Purvanchalis have as Kanhaiya Kumar, the and ₹10 lakh over five the Purvanchalis and de- a CM face in Delhi — by vide ₹2,500 to every wo- well as in the State,” Mr. upcoming Assembly poll. much role in it as others National Students’ Union years. This initiative, he clare it a separate district. pitching the “honest Chief man, gas cylinders at ₹500, Dhami said. INBRIEF 쑽 ‘Treated like trash’: Bhalswa voters sick of living in filth BJP at Centre, AAP in Delhi Samridhi Tewari NEW DELHI has fallen sick multiple times. I had to take him to a the slum cluster, said, “Ev- ery day I see around 50 pa- ignored city for The trash mountain in private clinic nearby as the government hospital was tients. Cough, fungal infec- tions, stomach aches, 10 years: Pilot Bhalswa Dairy towers far away, and getting there diarrhoea, and fever are above the jhuggis, feasted was not easy,” said Ali Hus- common here. Nothing can Press Trust of India upon by crows, vermin, sain Khan, a 32-year-old change unless the living NEW DELHI cows, and flies, emitting a scrap dealer. condition improves.” stench that never stops re- Even clean drinking wa- There are a few more Senior Congress leader Sa- minding its residents of the ter is a dream for the Bhals- clinics near the slums. The chin Pilot on Friday said inescapable rot around wa Dairy residents who de- nearest government dis- neither the BJP-led Centre ‘Vote from home’ drive starts them. Living under the shadow pend on tanker water supply. Keriman, a mother pensary is at Swaroop Na- gar, which is over 4.5 km nor the AAP government in Delhi cared about the city’s in Delhi, to continue till Feb. 4 of the 62-metre-high land- of four, said she sometimes away from the slum. A Mo- residents over the past 10 fill, almost every other resi- has no option but to fill halla Clinic is within walk- years. People of every The Delhi Chief Electoral Office kicked off the dent suffers from respirato- buckets from a water tap at ing distance, but it was caste and religion have ‘vote from home’ drive on Friday for those aged ry problems, skin diseases public toilet. found to be closed. faith in the Congress, he 85 and above, and those with physical and stomach ailments. Children at the Bhalswa Dairy slum cluster often complain of skin While the ruling AAP Bhalswa Dairy is part of added. During a rally in disabilities. A total of 6,399 senior citizens and Surai Bano, 25, a domes- diseases and stomach infection. SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA and the BJP, which ruled Badli Assembly constituen- west Delhi’s Madipur, Mr. 1,050 persons with disabilities have opted for the tic help, says that living the Municipal Corporation cy, which has been repre- Pilot said, “For the past de- drive. On Friday, eligible voters in three near the landfill has not on- the main cause for my state treated like trash,” she told of Delhi for 15 years, blame sented by AAP’s Ajesh Ya- cade, we’ve seen both par- Assembly constituencies — Tilak Nagar, Nangloi ly left her sick but also dis- is the unhygienic condi- The Hindu. each other the mess, the dav since 2015. Mr. Yadav ties only fighting for supre- Jat, and Janakpuri — were allowed to vote from rupted her menstrual tions around my house. “As there is no drainage residents have little option. will take on Congress’ De- macy, and spending their their homes. “I voted from home today. It felt like cycle. There is no one to help im- system, the sewer water Dr. Balbeer Chand, who vender Yadav and BJP’s time making allegations the Election Commission was at my doorstep,” “According to doctors, prove our lives. We are gets accumulated. My son runs a private clinic near Deepak Chaudhary. and counter-allegations.” said K.K. Khanna, 93, a resident of Janakpuri. The drive will continue until February 4. More than 570 cases of MCC Fear that free bus rides scheme will stop, say women commuters violations registered: police Ashna Butani tickets, will be stopped. Ajmeri Khatoon is a we are ‘travelling for free’. NEW DELHI Addressing a public mother of five who works We tell them that we did More than 570 cases of violations of the model gathering in the Capital as a domestic help in Jang- not make the decision; the code of conduct (MCC) have been registered More than five years have earlier this week, Mr. Kejri- pura and travels from government did.” ahead of the February 5 Delhi Assembly election, passed since the Aam Aad- wal had said, “In the BJP- Bhalswa on buses daily. a police officer said on Friday. The cases were mi Party (AAP) govern- ruled States, there is no “I earn ₹10,000 a ‘Men paying for it’ lodged between January 7 — when the MCC came ment launched “pink tick- free bus travel for women. month as a house help and Ashok Kumar, who uses into force — and January 23. In the run-up to the ets” in Delhi, allowing If you press the wrong but- am able to support my fa- buses to commute to work poll, the police have intensified vigilance at women to travel on buses ton [on the EVM], free bus mily because I spend next daily, said, “They [the Del- border checkpoints and conducted crackdowns free of cost. According to travel for women will also to nothing on the com- hi government] have made on the smuggling of arms, liquor, and drugs. PTI the government, around 11 end.” mute,” she said. buses free for women, but lakh women avail of the Prime Minis- Ms. Khatoon we are the ones being scheme daily, and well ov- ter Narendra added, “I have taxed for it.” er 150 crore pink tickets Modi and Union been saving Ms. Sunita said she is Illicit liquor worth ₹50 lakh have been issued since its launch. Home Minister Amit Shah cate- ₹1,000 monthly due to the pink Women comprise 46% of Capital’s 1.52 crore voters. ASHNA BUTANI confident that the scheme will not stop, irrespective seized in Delhi: Excise Dept.