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2008 Malegaon Blast Trial: ATS Officer Denies That He Planted RDX At Accused’s Residence

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Mumbai: An Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officer who the National Investigation Agency had claimed had planted RDX at the residence of Sudhakar Chaturvedi, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast trial, on Thursday denied the allegations before a special court. The ATS officer, Shekhar Bagade, who appeared before the court as a witness, said the allegations had been made to defame him.

The ATS has probed the blast case before it was taken over by the NIA, which had given a clean chit to Pragya Thakur and five others in its supplementary chargesheet of 2016, stating that there was not enough evidence to prosecute them. However, it said that Prasad Shrikant Purohit, then a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army, and others were behind the conspiracy.

Pragya Thakur Continues To Face Trial

However, Thakur continues to be on trial as the special court had refused to accept her plea for discharge. The central agency had alleged, on the basis of statements made by a subedar and his superior before a Court of Inquiry, that Bagade had broken into Chaturvedi’s residence and left traces of RDX in 2008, which were later found in a raid by the ATS.

ATS Officer Denies Charges

On Thursday, Bagade refuted before the special court that he was found by two army officials at Chaturvedi’s home planting RDX as evidence in the 2008 blast case. Bagade termed these as allegations and said he has been defamed. Bagade said the NIA has no evidence apart from these statements to make these allegations and claimed that it is a conspiracy against him. He said he had learnt about the allegations for the first time in 2015 and called them an “afterthought”.

Bagade said he is an honest officer and pointed out that his father was in the army. He also denied that he had first asked the subedar to help him with the keys to Chaturvedi’s home and later told him he did not need it. He denied that the subedar and his superior had seen him with a gunny bag rubbing something to the floor of Chaturvedi’s residence.

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Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal

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Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal

Chairman and CEO, Railway Board, Satish Kumar today reviewed the progress of Special Campaign 4.0. A high level meeting was held through video conferencing from the office of Railway Board. The meeting was attended by General Managers of Zonal Railways, General Managers of Production Units, RDSO and Director Generals of Training Institutes along with MDs/CMDs of Public Sector Undertakings and senior officials of Railway Board.

During the meeting, the key goals of Special Campaign 4.0 were shared with the participants, which focused on several important aspects, such as furthering digitization efforts, improving cleanliness at campaign sites, clearing space, earning revenue through disposal of scrap and prompt resolution of public grievances especially through platforms like RailMadad and CPGRAMS. The Chairman and CEO emphasized the need for active participation at all levels to achieve these goals. The meeting directed the General Managers to personally monitor the activities of this campaign.

The Ministry of Railways has embarked on Special Campaign 4.0 with great determination and energy, which is being implemented across the entire Indian Railways network. The meeting also highlighted inclusivity as a key element of the Abhiyaan, with a special focus on ensuring participation of women and persons with disabilities. Additionally, adoption of best practices for work settlement was encouraged to accelerate efficiency and effectiveness. Special focus was laid on increasing the number of office spaces, expediting resolution of public grievances and promoting community participation through Rail Chaupals at railway stations across the country.

The meeting emphasized the importance of showcasing the achievements and activities of the Abhiyaan through social media, local news channels and press releases to increase public awareness and participation. Ministry of Railways is committed to implementing Special Campaign 4.0 in a comprehensive and effective manner, aimed at ensuring its success at a large scale.

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National News

‘Irresponsible’ Congress Is A Hate-Spreading Factory: PM Modi

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'Irresponsible' Congress Is A Hate-Spreading Factory: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (October 9) went on the offensive against Congress just a day after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clinched victory in Haryana Legislative Assembly elections. The PM called Congress an irresponsible party and claimed that it ‘spread hatred’. Modi said that Congress wanted to divide the Hindus and aimed to create enmity between communities. Further, he said Congress always creates fear among Muslims and treats them as a vote bank. The PM was speaking after virtually inaugurating projects worth Rs 7600 crore in Maharashtra.

BJP managed to retain power in Haryana on Tuesday. The party bagged 48 seats in 90-member Haryana Legislative Assembly. The majority mark in 46. Congress, which was widely held to achieve comfortable majority had to be content with 37 seats.

Eyes On Maharashtra

On Wednesday, PM Modi said that election results in Haryana reflected mood of the country. He expressed confidence that BJP will achieve ‘bigger victory’ in upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

It is expected that elections will take place in Maharashtra next month.

In his speech, PM Modi said the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) and Congress, wanted to weaken Maharashtra just to enjoy power. The ruling Mahayuti government however, said the PM, will strengthen the state.

“Our goal is Viksit Bharat with the development of poor, farmers, youth and women,” the prime minister said.

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National News

PM Modi Meets Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, Congratulates Him For Historic Win

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini after he led the BJP to a historic hat-trick of victories in the Assembly elections on Tuesday.

“I met Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini ji and congratulated and wished him for the historic victory of BJP in the assembly elections. I am confident that Haryana’s role is going to become more important in the resolution of developed India,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

Haryana CM Nayab Saini On Electoral Victory

Earlier, Haryana CM Nayab Saini attributed the state’s election victory to PM Modi’s leadership after meeting him.

“The credit to this huge victory goes to PM Modi who has made such policies and schemes in the last 10 years which have benefitted poor, farmer, youth, women. His schemes are for every section of the society. This victory is the result of the PM’s policies and people’s love and affection towards PM Modi. I thank the people of Haryana. I am grateful to the party workers of Haryana as well… ” he said.

The BJP is set to form its third successive government in Haryana after it won 48 seats in the 90-member assembly as per the results announced on Tuesday. The Congress won 37 seats.

PM Modi Takes A Jibe At Congress

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, PM Modi took a jibe at Congress over its complaint and subsequent letter to the Election Commission regarding “slowdown in updating results” of assembly polls in Haryana and alleged that the opposition party wants to tarnish every institution.

Addressing party workers in Delhi after BJP victory in Haryana polls, PM Modi alleged that Congress has tried to mislead the people of the country.

“Whether it is the Election Commission of the country, the police, the judiciary, the Congress wants to tarnish every institution. You will remember the kind of ruckus they created before the results of the Lok Sabha elections. During the elections too, these people and their urban Naxalite allies had gone to the Supreme Court to tarnish the image of the Election Commission. Today also they have done the same. Congress has tried to mislead the people of the country. Congress always tries to question the impartiality of our institutions, tries to tarnish their reputation. This has been the habit of Congress. Congress has been doing such things shamelessly,” he said.

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