India

Prayagraj, Feb 22 (PTI) Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said this is not an ordinary assembly election but polls to save the democracy and change the fate of Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing a huge rally at Bhirpur in Yamunapar's Karchana assembly constituency, 30 km from the city, he said, "We will work to implement the SP manifesto. Ever since the BJP government came, inflation and unemployment have increased."

Ayodhya/Barabanki, Feb 22 (PTI) UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday urged people to vote for those who "protect cows and not those who kill them", vowing that his government will neither allow cows to be slaughtered, nor farmers' crops to be damaged'.

Addressing an election rally in Ayodhya and later another one in Barabanki, the chief minister also promised a stipend of Rs 900 per month per cow to farmers on forming his government again.

New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) The Election Commission on Tuesday barred a BJP candidate in Uttar Pradesh from campaigning for 24 hours for making communal remarks.

In its order, the poll panel said BJP's Tiloi assembly seat candidate Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh has violated the poll code by making the statement.

The order said the remarks are "utterly irresponsible and provocative that have the undertone and propensity to disturb religious harmony of society".

Mathura (UP), Feb 22 (PTI) A religious preacher and one of his followers were booked for rape after a nursing student alleged that they took sexual advantage of her on different occasions.

No arrests have been made as the matter is being investigated, Vrindavan Kotwali inspector Ajai Kaushal said.

The FIR was registered on Monday evening only after the woman took to social media and threatened to immolate herself in front of the office of the senior superintendent of police, sources said.

Lucknow, Feb 23 (PTI) Farmers' organisation Rashtriya Kisan Manch on Wednesday announced its support to the Samajwadi Party (SP) in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

In a letter written to the SP President Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday, Shekhar Dixit, the national president of the Manch, said his organisation has decided to extend full support to the SP.

Dixit in the letter said it was unfortunate that the ruling BJP is not doing anything for the welfare of farmers and is talking about creating disharmony .

Kolkata, Feb 23 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Bangladesh State Minister for Cultural Affairs, K M Khalid will be present at the inaugural function of the International Kolkata Book Fair (IKBF) 2022 beginning on February 28.

This being the 50th year of Liberation War of Bangladesh, the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the organisers of the fair, have decided to give special focus on Bangladesh during this edition of the book fair, Guild general secretary Tridib Chatterjee said on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI, Feb 22 (NNN-PTI) – At least 11 people, including women, were killed and two were seriously injured, in a road mishap, in north India early this morning, said a senior police officer, over the phone.

The accident occurred in the country’s Uttarakhand state, when the vehicle they were traveling in, skidded off the road and fell into a 250 feet deep gorge, the cop said.

The victims belonged to Champawat area of the state, and were returning from a wedding party when the mishap occurred.

Chhatarpur, Feb 22 (PTI) A 10-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a man after she went out of her school in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district, police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place in a village under Harpalpur police station area on Monday following which the 50-year-old accused was arrested, they said.

The Class 5 student went behind her school building to answer nature's call during her classes.

Mumbai, Feb 22 (PTI) The Mumbai police's crime branch has arrested four persons in connection with a pornography-related case lodged against actor Gehena Vasisth, an official said on Tuesday.

The property cell of the crime branch on Monday arrested four persons, including a casting director, the official said.

At least three FIRs had been registered against Vasisth last year for allegedly creating pornographic content and uploading them on some OTT platforms.

Muzaffarnagar, Feb 22 (PTI) A woman was allegedly raped by a youth in a forest area near Purkazi here after giving her a lift on his bike, police said on Tuesday.

Accused Dilshad Ahmad has been arrested and a case was registered against him under section 376 of the IPC, and under SC/ST act, they said.

According to the complaint lodged by the victim's husband, the incident took place on Sunday when the accused Ahmad offered lift to the victim and then took her to a nearby forest and raped her.

The victim has been sent for medical examination.