Bhadradri Kothagudem (Telangana) [India], March 21 (ANI): A Junior Assistant working at the Tahsildar office of Palvoncha in Bhadradri Kothagudem district was caught red-handed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) at his workplace while accepting a bribe of Rs 3,500.
The junior assistant, Mandadapu Anandamohan Chakravarthy, demanded the bribe from complainant Koti Arun Sai to process his application and to see that his ‘Family Member Certificate’ is issued online by the Tahsildar.
The bribe amount has been recovered and the junior assistant has been arrested. (ANI)

Kochi (Kerala) [India], March 21 (ANI): BJP leader Gopal Krishna Agarwal on Saturday said that people in Kerala are fed up with the LDF and the UDF and claimed that the NDA will form the government in the state going to polls on April 6.
Addressing a press conference here, Agarwal said people of Kerala want the change and economical development,
“People are fed up with LDF and UDF. They have seen them for several decades. This time we are very hopeful that NDA will form government in Kerala,” he said.
“We expect this time that there is a big wave of change blowing on in Kerala. The people of Kerala want the change. They want economical development, they want employment, they want industrialisation, they want agricultural growth, they want good infrastructure and the communist government can’t provide them. Because they ideologically don’t like good business and good industries etc. That shows in their policies. They believe in just the welfare of their own members and their party workers. All the money that the government spends goes to the pockets of their own workers,” he said.
Agarwal also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his promise for a separate fisheries ministry and termed the UDF as “complete failure”.
“The UDF is a complete failure. They don’t have a vision. Rahul Gandhi doesn’t know the ground reality. He talks of the fisheries department, he doesn’t know there is a fisheries department existing. Then they are allying with the Indian Muslim League and talks of secularism in other states. They are fighting left and aligning with Left in West Bengal. Nobody is going to support them,” he said.
On Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s remark that Prime Minister Narendra Modi destroyed the economy of the country, the BJP leader said that the way West Bengal Chief Minister handled economic growth and development of the state is pathetic.
“Mamata what does she know about economics, the way she has handled West Bengal’s economic growth and development is pathetic,” he said.
“Every industrialist, every businessman, has over the past 10 years run away from West Bengal. They have basically come to Gujarat and UP. Those states have done remarkably good in attracting investment and setting up of industries,” he added.
The election for the 140-member Kerala assembly will be held on April 6. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. (ANI)

Shivamogga (Karnataka) [India], March 21 (ANI): Amid farmers’ protest at Delhi borders against the central farm laws, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait suggested farmers in Karnataka should organise a protest in the state similar to that of Delhi and gherao Bengaluru from all sides.
Addressing a farmers’ meeting in Shivamogga on Saturday, Tikait said a strategy has been made to snatch farmers’ land in the state.
“There are lakhs of people gheraoing Delhi. This fight will go on for a long. We need to start such protest in every city until these 3 black laws are taken back and the law on MSP is not brought. You need to run a protest in Karnataka. A strategy has been made to snatch your land. Big companies will do farming… Labour laws have been amended to employ cheap labour,” the BKU leader said.
“You need to make a ‘Delhi’ in Bengaluru. You need to gherao Bengaluru (like Delhi) from all sides and people will come and join your protest… The Prime Minister said farmers can sell crops anywhere so you take your crops to offices of District Collector, SDM and if the police stop you, ask them to buy crops on MSP,” Tikait said.
The BKU leader said farmers need to protest against the Central government’s decision of privatising PSUs.
“If this (farmers’) agitation is not held, then the country will be sold and you will lose your land in the next 20 years. You need to protest against these companies. Around 26 major PSUs are in process of privatisation. We need to take a pledge to stop this sale. We need to protest against this,” he said.
Farmers have been protesting at the different border of Delhi since November last year against the three newly enacted farm laws — Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 21 (ANI): Congress on Saturday released a list of 39 candidates for the West Bengal Assembly polls.
The party fielded Neajuddin Sk in Murshidabad, Silvi Saha in Krisnanagar Uttar, Dharmendra Shaw in Bhatpara.
Md Shadab Khan will be contesting from Bhabanipur while Md Mukhtar is the party’s candidate in Kolkata Port.
Ashutosh Chatterjee got the party ticket to contest from Rashbehari seat whereas the party fielded Santosh Kumar Pathak in Chowrangee. Janab Ajmal Khan is the party’s candidate from Jorasanko.
The candidates declared are for the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth phases of the Assembly polls.
Congress Party is fighting Assembly Polls on 92 seats in alliance with the Left parties.
Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from March 27 with the final round of voting taking place on April 29. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. (ANI)

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], March 21 (ANI): In a bid to promote tourism and revive traditional cultural activities in Kashmir, the government has announced the opening of a historic Badamwari garden in Srinagar that is witnessing an almond bloom from March 21.
The aromatic garden, located in the foothills of historic Koh-e-Maraan in Srinagar city, is famous for almond bloom and is also known as “Badam Waer”.
The tourism department organised pre-opening and colourful cultural programmes at Badamwari on Saturday to announce that the garden will be open for the general public from March 21.

During the opening ceremony, a number of cultural activities including traditional folk songs and group dance known as “RAUFF” were performed by local artists of Valley.

Badamwari was closed for visitors last year despite almond bloom due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Speaking on the occasion, Sarmad Hafeez, Tourism Secretary said: “It is mesmerising. Badamwari is a symbol of spring. This is the first almond blossom that blooms in Kashmir. It is the perfect time to be here. People should come and enjoy the beauty of Kashmir.”
“We have had many traditions, especially during springs. We are trying to revive those traditions and give people a local experience and give them a feeling of not just the place, beauty but also our culture, ethos, and handicrafts,” he added.
The Tourism Secretary said the garden will remain open for visitors till the blossom last.

Tanushree Chatterjee, a tourist from Kolkata who attended the cultural evening said Badamwari is a well-maintained garden and has a great ambience.
“We came to Kashmir on March 13. We visited several places here. The people here are very nice. I have never come to Badamwari. It has a great ambience. It is well maintained as well. I request people to visit Kashmir,” Chatterjee told ANI.
Another tourist Anand said: “Kashmir is a paradise. I am feeling happy to come to Badamwari. I want to request people from all over the world to visit Kashmir.” (ANI)

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 21 (ANI): IndiGo on Saturday said it has handed over a passenger to security on arrival at Kolkata airport for not wearing a face mask despite repeated requests made by the crew on board.
Face masks have been made mandatory in public spaces after the COVID-19 outbreak in March last year.
A total of 40,953 new coronavirus cases and 23,653 recoveries were reported, the Union Health Ministry informed on Saturday.
With the addition of fresh infections, the total cases in the country reached 1,15,55,284, including 2,88,394 active cases, 1,11,07,332 recoveries and 1,59,558 deaths. (ANI)