Patna (Bihar) [India], January 23 (ANI): A medical board has been constituted on Saturday to submit a report on Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s health condition to the jail authority.
“The report prepared by the medical board will be reviewed by the jail authority and the decision will be taken accordingly,” said Birendra Bhushan, Jharkhand inspector general (IG) Prison.
The former Chief Minister of Bihar is admitted at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi for the treatment of lung infection. The result of his COVID-19 report was negative.
Dr Umesh Prasad, the physician of the jailed RJD chief, had said last month that his kidney was functioning at 25 per cent capacity and the situation can deteriorate.
Lalu Prasad Yadav has been convicted in the fodder scam cases. (ANI)

Cuttack (Odisha) [India], January 23 (ANI): Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday visited met family of Padma Shri awardee D Prakash Rao in Cuttack
Rao, a noted social activist passed away on January 13 this year while undergoing treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack. He was admitted to the hospital after testing positive for COVID-19.
Pradhan, who reached Rao’s residence earlier in the day, said that Rao had set an example by his contribution to improve quality of life of those people living in slums.
“Padma Shri awardee D Prakash Rao is no more with us. In a small city like Cuttack, Rao had set an example by his contribution to improve the quality of life of slum dwellers. It was only a few years ago, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Cuttack, that the world came to know about Rao’s contributions to society,” he said.
“Rao will always be an inspiration for the people”, he further added. (ANI)

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], January 23 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of attacking its party workers during a rally in Howrah district in West Bengal.
Accusing the TMC of attacking its party workers, BJP’s district president in Howrah, Surajit Saha said “the ruling party will get the reply they understand the best”.
“Some of our workers were attacked by TMC workers today morning in Howrah. If they want politics in this language, they will be taught lessons in a similar language. The police have become agents of TMC. There is nothing called democracy in the state. The police is doing what TMC is asking it do,” Saha said while speaking to ANI.
Giving further details he added, “Yesterday, we were having a programme in Ward number 62, during which there was an argument with local ex-councilor Kailash Mishra’s sons. The matter was solved after the police intervened.”
“However, today morning, Mishra, along with two or three people attacked our Mandal president Manoj Singh and injured his head. Later when we went to complain to the police, Mishra again reached there along with 15-20 others and attacked our party workers, some of whom have been injured,” he alleged.
Saha further said, “Later they also attacked our Assembly convenor, fracturing his hand. Both have been currently admitted to a hospital for treatment. We will protest if no action is taken against the accused. The BJP will not leave them easily.”
The incident happened on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kolkata to address the ‘Parakram Diwas’ celebrations on January 23 to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary year of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
He will preside over the inaugural function of the ‘Parakram Diwas’ celebrations at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) release said.
“In order to honour and remember Netaji’s indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation, the Government of India has decided to celebrate his birthday on January 23 every year as ‘Parakram Diwas’ to inspire people of the country, especially the youth, to act with fortitude in the face of adversity as Netaji did, and to infuse in them a spirit of patriotic fervour,” the release said.
With the state all set to go on polls in a few months, both the BJP and TMC have upped the ante and trying to score points over each other. The state Assembly has 294 seats. (ANI)

Andhra Pradesh [India], January 23 (ANI): The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission on Saturday issued the notification for conducting of elections to gram panchayats in the State.
State Election Commissioner N Ramesh Kumar said: “The Commission has full belief, confidence, and loyalty towards the judiciary. We are proceeding with election procedure as per the HC order. We will obey the Supreme Court’s orders also as the SC will hear the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the state government on Monday. We also will put our version in front of the SC, if necessary.”
“The elections will take place in four phases. These will be held on the 5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th of the next month (February). The poll timings are extended from 6.30 am to 3.30 pm. Elections will not hamper the vaccination process”.
The state government has been raising objections regarding local body elections including gram panchayat polls. The government has said that the officials would be engaged in the vaccination programme and the conduct of elections would not be possible.
The SEC said it will call on collectors, DGP, Chief Secretary, Panchayati Raj Principal secretary, and other officials today around 3 pm.
“The Commission has a shortage of funds and staff. Despite the HC order, the government did not respond to date. The Commission does not have a secretary, joint secretary, joint director and legal advisor,” he said.
The state government asked to wait until the Supreme Court verdict on the SLP. But, the SEC felt it was not reasonable.
“The electoral roles have not been updated due to negligence and irresponsibility of Panchayati Raj officials. So the election will be conducted with 2019 electoral roles. However, stern action will be taken against non-cooperating officials,” he told the media.
Andhra Pradesh High Court on January 21 directed the state government to hold Panchayat elections as scheduled by the SEC.(ANI)

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], January 23 (ANI): Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said that six deaths have been confirmed so far in the blast incident at a crusher site in Shivamogga.
He also said that Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa will visit the site today and will hold a meeting with top officials.
“Various deceased have been identified. As of now, all the debris has been cleared and further probe is on. CM is visiting today and talking to all high-level officers there. 5 deaths confirmed and another dead is identified,” Bommai told reporters here.
The blast occurred around 10.20 pm on Thursday night.
Karnataka Police has arrested the quarry owner and the dynamite supplier in connection with the blast.
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased. (ANI)

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], January 23 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday paid floral tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at his residence here on the occasion of his 125th birth anniversary.
“I paid homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. He had said that nationalism is inspired by the highest ideal of mankind- Satya, Shiva, and Sundar. The biggest tribute to him will be contributing towards nation-building,” tweeted Chouhan.
The 125th birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose is being celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ across the country.
Born to advocate Janakinath Bose in Odisha’s Cuttack on January 23, 1897, Netaji went on to play a key role in the freedom movement. He is also known for establishing the Azad Hind Fauj.
While there is controversy over Bose’s death in a plane crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945, the Central government had in an RTI in 2017 confirmed that he had died in the incident. (ANI)