40-member group of mostly Indians wins 10-million dirham lottery in the UAE
Dubai, Oct 4: A 40-member group, including 38 Indians working at a Qatar-based hypermarket chain, have won 10 million dirhams (USD 2.72 million) in a lucky draw in the UAE, according to a media report on Monday.
The winning ticket was bought on Indian expatriate Naheel Nizamudeen's name in the Big Ticket Lottery, Abu Dhabi, the Khaleej Times reported.
Nizamudeen, who hails from Kerala, could not be reached since Sunday evening and the lottery organisers had to contact his parents in India to deliver the news of the mega prize.
In the lottery application, Naheel had given his Indian number which was not active. However, he had also given the alternate number of his parents, which was how the organisers contacted him.
The prize will be shared by another 39 winners, of whom 37 are Indians (all hailing from Kerala) and the other two are from Bangladesh. All of them are employees of Qatar-based hypermarket chain Al Suwayed Group.
The news of the winning is yet to sink in. "We usually get a lot of spam calls. I still can't believe that we have won, Naheel told the newspaper.
We are all from middle-class families and have financial issues. So, the future of 40 families have been secured with this jackpot," said Shinoy Othayoth Kizhakk, one of the winners and Nizamedeen's roommate.
Shinoy said it was the first time that 40 people bought the ticket.
Usually, there are 10 to 15 people who purchase the ticket. Since we were not winning for the past couple of years, we expanded our group to 40..... You never know who gets lucky, Shinoy said over the phone.
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Poster supporting Robert Vadra surface in Amethi
Amethi: Amidst the anticipation over the Congress's candidate selection for Amethi, posters advocating for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's husband, Robert Vadra, have surfaced outside the local party office. The posters boldly proclaim, "Amethi ki janta kare pukar, Robert Vadra ab ki baar," indicating a desire among Amethi's people for Vadra's candidacy.
The constituency of Amethi, known for its historical significance as the Gandhi family bastion, has been represented by stalwarts like Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi in the past. In the previous election, Smriti Irani of the BJP secured a surprising victory over Rahul Gandhi, who subsequently won from Kerala's Wayanad. With the looming Lok Sabha polls on May 20 and the nomination deadline of May 3, the Congress is yet to unveil its contender.
Rahul Gandhi's potential return to Amethi remains uncertain, with speculations swirling around his candidacy. In response to queries, Gandhi stated, "I will do whatever the party orders me."
Meanwhile, Vadra's statements hint at a possible candidacy, expressing confidence in securing a significant victory if he contests. "They'll have the option of correcting their mistake of electing Smritiji. I am sure they will ensure my victory by a huge margin if I contest," he said earlier.
Smriti Irani, actively engaged in her campaign, has criticised the Congress for the delay in candidate announcement, taking jabs at Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra. "Jijaji ki nazar hai, saale sahab kya karenge. (brother-in-law is eyeing the seat, what will he (Mr Gandhi) do?) There was a time when people travelling in buses would leave their handkerchief to mark their seat so that no one sits on it. Rahul Gandhi will also come to mark his seat with a handkerchief because his brother-in-law is eyeing this seat," she recently told a gathering in Amethi.
"Has this ever happened? Just 27 days left for the election, but Congress has not announced its candidate. Such arrogance. What I could do in five years, Rahul Gandhi could not do in 15," she added.
"After the voting in Wayanad on April 26, Rahul Gandhi will come here to tell everyone that Amethi is his family and stoke the fire of casteism. Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party rejected the invitation for the consecration ceremony of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya, but he will be seen roaming around the temples in Amethi. So there is a need to be careful and alert," she said at a local meeting.
