Congress seeks EC action against IPS officer Rashmi Shukla for MCC violation in Maharashtra
Mumbai: The Congress has called on the Election Commission (EC) to take action against senior IPS officer Rashmi Shukla for allegedly breaching the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) during the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
According to Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe, Shukla, who previously served as Maharashtra’s Intelligence Chief and was the Director General of Police (DGP), met Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his official residence on November 23, the day election results were declared. The MCC was still in force at the time. Fadnavis also holds the Home portfolio in the Maharashtra government.
Earlier this month, the EC directed the Maharashtra government to transfer Shukla following complaints from various political parties, including the Congress. The commission ordered her responsibilities to be reassigned to the next senior-most IPS officer.
Highlighting the meeting as a "clear violation" of the poll code, Londhe criticised the EC's apparent inaction, drawing comparisons to a similar incident in Telangana. In that case, then-DGP Anjani Kumar faced consequences for meeting the Chief Minister-designate during elections. Londhe alleged that the EC acts quickly in non-BJP states but remains lenient in BJP-ruled ones, questioning the neutrality of the institution.
Londhe also pointed to past controversies involving Shukla, including allegations of phone tapping targeting Opposition leaders. “Her meeting with the Home Minister during the poll code period is a blatant breach and warrants strict action,” he added.
The Congress has demanded accountability and urged the EC to act immediately against Shukla, describing the incident as a serious violation of electoral norms.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
