Chandrababu Naidu calls on Banerjee, discusses formation of non-BJP govt in case of hung verdict
Kolkata, May 20: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu held a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her residence here Monday to decide on forming a non-BJP government at the Centre in case of a hung verdict, TMC sources said.
Naidu, who reached here from Amaravati, held a 45-minute-long meeting with Banerjee on the future strategies of the "Mahagatbandhan" (Grand Alliance), the highly-placed sources said.
The meeting also discussed possibilities of forming a non-BJP government including regional parties with the support of the Congress, they said.
"It was decided at today's meeting that a detailed discussion will be held among other political players of the Mahaghatbandhan in the event of a hung verdict after the poll results are declared on May 23, the sources said.
The decision on Banerjee going to New Delhi would also be taken after May 23, the sources said.
Naidu, who is making efforts to bring together opposition leaders against the BJP, left for New Delhi after the meeting.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav telephoned Banerjee during the day and discussed the proposed strategy of the "Mahagathbandhan", the sources said.
The TDP President had on Sunday called on National Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar and had also met CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.
On Saturday he had met BSP chief Mayawati and Yadav.
During his meeting with Banerjee, the TDP chief spoke about the meetings, the TMC sources said.
The exit polls gave a clear verdict in favour of the BJP, which was promptly dubbed by Banerjee as "gossip".
The TMC supremo had said that she does not trust such surveys as the "game plan" is to use them for "manipulation" of EVMs.
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Primary accused in 96.6 pc POCSO cases were close acquaintances: NCRB
New Delhi (PTI): In 96.6 per cent of 44,126 cases of sexual abuse of minors, close acquaintances have emerged as the primary offenders, according to the latest data released by the NCRB.
In its report 'Crime in India 2024' released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 44,126 total cases have been registered under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act under Sections 4 and 6 which pertain to penetrative sexual assault on minors during the year across the country.
The figures present a grim picture as close acquaintances emerged as primary accused in 42,634 (around 96.6 per cent) of the 44,126 total cases falling in that category, according to the latest NCRB data.
The data shows that family members were involved in 3,658 cases, while family friends, neighbours, employers or other known persons were named in 16,668 cases.
The largest share came from friends, online friends or live-in partners acting on the pretext of marriage, with 22,308 cases.
Cases where the offender was unknown or not identified stood at mere 1,492, or 3.4 per cent of the total.
Among states, Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of POCSO cases at 5,320, followed by Maharashtra at 4,829 and Madhya Pradesh at 3,721. Uttar Pradesh was next with 3,671 cases.
In Union territories, Delhi accounted for the highest number of cases at 1,038, followed by Jammu and Kashmir at 228 and Puducherry at 82. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported 77 cases.
The data also shows that Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Tripura and several Union territories, including Chandigarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Ladakh and Puducherry, reported 100 per cent of cases involving known offenders.
