The oath-taking ceremony of Bharatiya Janata Party MP Durga Das Uikey at the Rashtrapati Bhavan caught the attention of social media users for an unexpected reason - a video of a mysterious animal sauntering in the corridor. While some speculated it to be a big cat, the Delhi police dispelled rumors by confirming it to be a domestic cat. This incident has sparked curiosity about security measures in the presidential estate, with no prior reports of leopards being present.
Unusual Incident at Rashtrapati Bhavan: Domestic Cat Sparks Security Concerns
Background:
Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India, is one of the most heavily guarded buildings in the country. With its vast expanse of gardens and proximity to forests, concerns have been raised over the possibility of wildlife sightings within the premises.
Recent Incident:
On July 24, 2023, a video emerged on social media showing an unidentified animal walking through a corridor of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The incident occurred during the oath-taking ceremony of Bharatiya Janata Party MP Durga Das Uikey.
Investigation and Clarification:
The Delhi Police promptly investigated the incident and concluded that the animal in the video was a domestic cat. This clarification dispelled rumors of a leopard being present on the premises.
Security Measures:
The incident has reignited discussions about security measures at Rashtrapati Bhavan. While no leopards have been reported in the area in recent history, the vast greenery surrounding the building provides a suitable habitat for wildlife.
The Presidential Estate is protected by multiple layers of security, including armed guards, advanced surveillance systems, and perimeter fences. However, it is impossible to completely eliminate the potential for wildlife encounters in an urban setting.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers:
No, there have been no prior reports of leopard sightings within the Presidential Estate.
The Delhi Police have not released information about how the cat gained access to the building.
While the recent incident was a domestic cat, it is possible for wildlife to enter the Presidential Estate, especially from nearby forested areas. Security measures are in place to minimize such encounters.
The President's Secretariat is constantly reviewing and updating security measures based on the latest assessments and technological advancements.
Visitors can visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum and the Mughal Gardens during designated hours. However, access to other areas of the building is restricted.
After a decade of defeat, the J&K National Conference party makes a comeback in the 2024 Assembly Elections, with leader Omar Abdullah likely to be the next Chief Minister of the Union Territory. Abdullah's party saw a major drop in their vote share and seats in the 2014 elections, but have now emerged victorious. The return to power may bring about a sense of vindication for Abdullah, but also raises questions about past baggage and future challenges.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has secured a historic third term in Haryana, winning 48 Assembly seats. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is set to meet with senior BJP leaders in Delhi to discuss finalizing his cabinet. Despite this victory, the Congress party has raised concerns about the integrity of the counting process and functioning of electronic voting machines (EVMs). The elections in Jammu and Kashmir also saw a significant increase in BJP's tally and its government at the Centre claims credit for holding the elections for the first time since Article 370 was abrogated.
Former BJP MP and ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh reacts to wrestler Vinesh Phogat's victory in the Haryana Assembly polls, calling it a result of the power of his name. Singh claims his name was enough to help Phogat win the elections in Julana and criticizes the BJP for relying on "jaat" majority seats. Meanwhile, Phogat herself sees her win as a victory of struggle and truth.
In a surprising turn of events, the ruling BJP secured a historic third term in the Haryana Assembly Elections, winning 48 seats. However, the Congress has raised concerns over the integrity of the counting process and functioning of EVMs in some districts and has promised to bring it up with the Election Commission. The results defied pollsters' predictions of a Congress win and experts attribute BJP's success to its consolidation of non-Jat votes, fresh candidate selection, extensive campaigning, and a fragmented opposition. Meanwhile, Congress supporters started celebrating outside the party headquarters as early trends showed a big victory for the party in Haryana and a lead for the Congress-National Conference alliance in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to reports from Haryana's State Assembly elections, Congress has taken the lead against rival BJP. However, Congress leader Hooda has raised concerns about stopped counting at several voting booths, calling it a "game". Despite these allegations, Hooda has trounced BJP's candidate with a significant margin. Currently, Congress is leading in 27 seats while BJP trails with 44 seats out of the total 90. Other parties also hold seats in the assembly.
Congress leaders have raised concerns about EVM tampering in Haryana, citing results from machines with varying battery strength. However, sources from the Election Commission have rejected these claims, stating that alkaline batteries used in EVMs have the property of regaining voltage when switched off, which explains the discrepancies in battery percentages. The EC further clarified that initial battery strength is determined on the day of commissioning in the presence of candidates, and the control unit remains functional as long as the battery has more than 5.8 volts, similar to a vehicle running on reserve fuel.
In the midst of election campaigning, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi found a unique way to bring attention to the struggles of small businesses in India. He used the popular sweet, jalebi, as a metaphor for promoting local industries and providing employment opportunities. This sparked a trend on social media and even resulted in a political backlash from the BJP. With his focus on promoting small businesses, Gandhi's jalebi strategy gained both praise and criticism.
Pakistan's decision to invite Islamic preacher Zakir Naik as a state guest in a bid to anger India has backfired spectacularly. Naik's bizarre statements and actions during his visit have not only confused Pakistanis but also provided ample material for social media trolls. Many are questioning whether he is a religious preacher or a "stand-up comedian". This move has also raised concerns about Pakistan's stance on extremism and terrorism.
The highly contested Haryana assembly elections have seen the BJP's candidate Anil Vij leading against independent candidate Chitra Sarwara with a significant margin of over 8,000 votes. Vij, who previously served as the state's home minister, has won the Ambala Cantt seat multiple times, first as an independent candidate and later on the BJP ticket. His opponent Sarwara, who was a runner-up in the 2019 elections, was reported to have given a tough fight and even held a meeting with her supporters prior to the election.
The Haryana assembly polls results are in and senior BJP leader Anil Vij is leading from the Ambala Cantt Assembly seat after initially trailing behind independent candidate Chitra Sarwara. With 16 rounds of counting completed, Vij is ahead by 7,277 votes. Vij, who is a six-time BJP MLA, credits the victory to the party's policies and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the country. In a previous statement, Vij had expressed his desire to claim the Chief Minister post if the BJP wins the polls, but his bid was rejected by BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradesh. The ruling BJP has crossed the halfway mark of 45 seats and is aiming for a third term under the leadership of Nayab Singh Saini, while the opposition Congress is hoping to regain power after a decade. Stay tuned for all the latest updates on the assembly polls results.