50,000 trishuls to be distributed by VHP in Delhi ahead of Assembly Elections: Report
New Delhi: As Delhi gears up for the much-anticipated Assembly elections scheduled for February next year, political parties have intensified their campaign strategies. Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has reportedly planned a large-scale distribution of trishuls (tridents) in the national capital. According to The Wire, the organisation has already distributed around 7,000–8,000 trishuls and aims to distribute over 50,000 before the elections. However, the VHP has denied any link between the distribution of trishuls and the elections.
The trishul campaign commenced on December 15, with the first distribution event held in Paharganj. The next event is scheduled for January 19. These programmes are open to all, allowing anyone interested to obtain a trishul.
These trishuls are reportedly designed in a manner that they do not fall under the ambit of the Arms Act.
The VHP has been inviting the public to participate in the programme through WhatsApp messages, which state:
"Everyone should register themselves and possess weapons. In a way, this also serves as a membership drive for Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of VHP."
Trishuls are being distributed in Delhi after a considerable gap. According to VHP Delhi Secretary Surendra Gupta, the last trishul distribution in Delhi took place in either 2012 or 2015.
When asked by a news outlet if the distribution is connected to the upcoming Assembly elections, Gupta said:
"We have not organised these events with elections in mind. Had that been our intent, we would have distributed trishuls during the Lok Sabha elections or the recently concluded municipal polls. The decision by VHP and Bajrang Dal activists to safeguard Hindu society is not based on elections."
However, the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators was echoed during the Paharganj event, which is a key electoral topic for the BJP.
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West Bengal board declares class 10 exam results, 86.83 pc students pass
Kolkata (PTI): The West Bengal board's class 10 results were declared on Friday, with 86.83 per cent of the total 9.71 lakh candidates passing the examination, an official said.
In last year's Madhyamik Pariksha, 86.56 per cent of the 9.84 lakh students were declared successful, West Bengal Board of Secondary Education president Ramanuj Ganguly said.
This year's examination was held from February 2 to February 12 at over 2,600 centres across the state, he said.
Abhirup Bhadra of Sarada Vidyamandir in Uttar Dinajpur district bagged the first rank, securing 698 of 700 marks. Priyotosh Mukhopadhyay of Sarojinidevi Saraswati Sishu Mandir in Birbhum was declared second with 696 marks. The third rank was shared by three students.
A total of 131 students secured the top 10 ranks, of whom 28 were girls.
Kalimpong recorded the highest percentage at 95.01, followed by Purba Medinipur at 94.02 and Kolkata at 92.31.
