QBullet: Delay Polls or Switch to Paper Ballot, Kejriwal Tells EC

The Quint brings you the stories making headlines in dailies across India.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. (Photo: PTI)

1. EVM Tampering Allegations: Kejriwal Asks EC to Release Machines For Probe

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal raised doubts on Monday over the BJP’s landslide assembly poll victory in Uttar Pradesh and asked the Election Commission to release Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) for investigation into allegations of tampering and rigging.

Also, the Aam Aadmi Party chief demanded that the 23 April civic elections in New Delhi be postponed or the poll panel should go back to the paper ballot.

We demand the EC to release the EVMs so that it is open to scrutiny; we will investigate. Recent observations are alarming, paper ballot should be considered to replace EVMs.

Arvind Kejriwal

(Source: Hindustan Times)

Also Read: Chanting ‘Modi, Modi’ Won’t Fill Your Stomachs: Arvind Kejriwal

2. Is India’s Africa Outreach in Jeopardy?

India's Africa outreach seemed in jeopardy on Monday after African envoys rebuked India, describing the Greater Noida mob violence against Nigerians as "xenophobic and racial", and India tersely rejected the statement as unfortunate and unwarranted.

The African nations, who also called for a probe by the UN Human Rights Council, were scathing in their indictment of the government over incidents of race violence and said India had taken "no known, sufficient and visible deterring measures" to prevent violence against Africans.

But the developments took a new turn late on Monday when Indian sources rejected the claim that African nations had spoken in one voice.

(Source: The Times of India)

Also Read: India Calls African Envoys’ Claims of Racism, ‘Unfortunate’

3. Ajmer Dargah Head Asks Muslims to Give Up Beef, Says Triple Talaq Against Sharia

Spiritual head of the Ajmer Sharif dargah on Monday called upon Muslims to give up beef eating, and said triple talaq is against Sharia.

The dargah is considered to be among the holiest Muslim shrines in India.

On the occasion of the 805th Urs (death anniversary) of Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisty, who all through his life strived for peaceful coexistence of Hindus and Muslims, we (Muslims) should give up eating beef to honour the religious sentiments of our Hindu brethren.

Zainul Abedin Khan, Diwan of the Shrine

(Source: Hindustan Times)

Also Read: Kerala BJP Candidate Promises “Quality Beef” if Voted to Power

4. Education Rankings Throw Up Surprises

The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, topped among educational institutions in the national rankings released on Monday and Jadavpur University came fifth among universities, but a little-known Delhi-based college beat several reputable ones in one of the surprises the list threw up.

Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma (ARSD) College under Delhi University (DU) stood fifth among colleges in the annual rankings, ahead of Calcutta's St Xavier's College and Delhi's Lady Shri Ram College.

Another surprise was that institutions like St Stephen's, Delhi School of Economics and Hindu College – all under Delhi University – did not take part in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) exercise conducted by the National Board of Accreditation, a wing of the Human Resource Development Ministry.

(Source: The Telegraph)

Also Read: IISc Tops Indian University Ranking, Miranda Gets Best College

5. Youth Shoots, Uploads Video Before Jumping to Death

A third year engineering student of a reputed college committed suicide by jumping from the 19th floor room of a five-star hotel in Bandra (west) on Monday. Just before jumping to death, he shot a video and uploaded it on a social networking site (Facebook live app).

Here is another post he shared on Facebook before committing suicide.

The deceased, identified as Arjun Bharadwaj, broke the glass window of the hotel room and jumped to death around 6:30 pm. The Bandra police have found nine short suicide notes on the table in room number 1925. The video, which is one minute and 43 seconds long, shows Bharadwaj talking about "steps" before committing suicide.

(Source: The Times of India)

6.‘Misconceptions’ Due to My Saffron-Clad Look, Says UP CM Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said “misconceptions” have been created about him due to his saffron-clad look and promised to win hearts of “all sections” by spreading a new idiom of happiness and prosperity.

He also said those who have been “insulting” India’s traditions in the name of secularism are feeling threatened after he assumed office.

“Many misconceptions are created about me. Many people say I am saffron-clad, so there are many in the country who are averse to saffron,” Adityanath said in an interview to RSS affiliated weekly Organiser.

(Source: PTI)

Also Read: Yogi Barely Bearable: Does Modi Truly Believe UP Needs Adityanath?

7. Indian, Malaysian Firms Sign Investment Deals Worth Rs 2.45 Lakh Crore

Visiting Malaysian PM Najib Razak extolled the virtues of the humble south Indian idli as Indian and Malaysian companies signed investment deals worth $36 billion or about Rs 2.45 lakh crore.

Addressing Indian business leaders here as he oversaw the signing of the business agreements, Najib said:

I want to make a confession to all of you that I am beginning to consider idli as my favourite breakfast item and you can see how much of India has crept into our Malaysian way of life.

Najib has been courting Indian-origin population in his country as he heads into elections, so this is not surprising. The PM acknowledged Malaysia was home to the largest Indian population outside India.

(Source: The Times of India)

8. Remove Two Leaves Symbol From Social Media Accounts, EC Tells AIADMK’s Sasikala Faction

(Photo Courtesy: Screenshot)

The Election Commission on Monday asked Sasikala faction of the AIADMK to stop using the ‘Two leaves’ symbol on its website and social media accounts. The commission also sought a reply by 11 am on 6 April.

The poll panel had decided to freeze the AIADMK election symbol of ‘two leaves’, after representatives of former Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam and Sasikala factions made their claims for it.

Neither of the two groups shall be permitted to use the symbol ‘Two Leaves’ of the AIADMK.

Election Commission

The poll panel had also asked both the factions to choose a new symbol to contest the bypolls in RK Nagar.

(Source: The Indian Express)

Also Read: OPS Superimposes AIADMK ‘Leaves’ over His Symbol, EC Issues Notice

9. No Proof Against Indresh, Pragya in Ajmer Blast: NIA

Sadhvi Pragya is one of the main accused in the Malegaon blast case. (Photo: Altered by The Quint)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday cleared senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Indresh Kumar, Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and two others of all charges in the 2007 Ajmer dargah blast case in which three people were killed. The NIA said no evidence was found against them.

In its supplementary closure report filed in the NIA Special Court, the agency said it did not find any role of Kumar, Sadhvi Pragya, Ramesh Venkatrao and Samandar alias Rajendra Chaudhary in carrying out the blast at the 13th century shrine of Sufi mystic Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

Special judge Dinesh Gupta fixed 17 April for deciding whether the court would accept or reject the closure report.

(Source: The Hindu)

Also Read: Sadhvi Pragya Acquitted in Joshi Murder Case for ‘Weak’ Evidence

More From The Quint:

Ace Hindustani Classical Vocalist Kishori Amonkar Passes Away
Pul’s Bribery Allegations: Widow Seeks SC Nod for Lodging FIR
Treating Africans With Respect: Why is it So Difficult?
Yogi’s Beef With Meat and the Bones of Contention

Join The Quint on WhatsApp. Type “JOIN” and send to 9910181818.