FirstUp: Gramin Bharat Bandh, Nyay Jodo Yatra in UP... today's big stories

It’s Friday. And there’s a massive day of news ahead. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and central trade unions have called for a Gramin Bharat Bandh today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for both the Metro project in old Gurugram and AIIMS Rewari. Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is set to enter Uttar Pradesh. A court will hear an arrest warrant against Louise Khurshid – the wife of ex-EAM Salman Khurshid. India and England will lock horns on the second day of the third test match in Rajkot. Let’s take a closer look at today’s big-ticket items: Gramin Bharat Bandh The Samyukt Kisan Morcha has urged all like-minded farmer organisations to participate in the Bharat Bandh today. According to News18, the protest will start at 6 am and end at 4 pm. The farmers will participate in a chakka jam from 12 pm to 4 pm on major roads across the nation. While transportation, rural industrial, private and service sector businesses will remain closed, emergency services will remain unaffected. The SKM earlier this week wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding Minimum Support Price for crops. It also slammed action against the farmers’ ‘Dilli Chalo’ march and accused the government of trying to “project” division among farmer bodies. The development came after the ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation, spearheaded by SKM splinter group Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, faced tear gas shells near Ambala and Jind protesters tried to break past police barricades set up by the Haryana Police to stop them from heading to the National Capital. PM Modi lays foundation stones Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of Gurugram metro rail project today. The project, which is slated to be built a cost of about Rs 5,450 crore, ill connect Millennium City Centre to Udyog Vihar Phase-5 and merge in the existing metro network of Rapid Metro Rail Gurugram at Moulsari Avenue station near Cyber City/ Modi will also lay the foundation stone of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rewari – which will cost around Rs 1,650 crore. The institute will be developed on 203 acres of land at Majra Mustil Bhalkhi village in Rewari. It will have top class amenities including including a hospital complex with 720 beds, medical college with 100 seats, nursing college with 60 seats, AYUSH block with 30 beds, residential accommodation for faculty and staff, hostel accommodation for UG and PG students and a night shelter among other facilities. Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra enters UP Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is set to enter Uttar Pradesh today. According to The Times of India, Rahul is slated to be given a grand welcome. Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) president Ajay Rai told The Times of India that the former party chief’s yatra would begin in Varanasi. [caption id=“attachment_13531412” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Jodo Yatra will enter UP today. PTI.[/caption] “After passing through Visheshwarganj Market and Maidagin Crossing, he will reach KV temple to offer prayers. Thereafter, he will reach Godowlia Crossing, where he will address the public. Later, he will be welcomed at Manduadih Crossing, after which he will leave for Bhadohi,” Rai added. Rahul on Thursday again came out in support of the protesting farmers, likening the cultivators to soldiers who fight on the country’s borders to protect it. The former party chief earlier this week vowed to bring a law on minimum support price for crops if his party comes to power in the 2024 polls. Hearing for arrest warrant on Louise Khurshid A special court will hear hold a hearing regarding an arrest warrant for Louise Khurshid, wife of former external affairs minister Salman Khurshidin a case involving alleged misuse of government funds. The special MP-MLA court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Shambhavi last week had issued an arrest warrant against two persons including Louise Khurshid in the matter. The case is about allegations of discrepancies in a programme of distribution of artificial limbs and equipment run by Lousie’s Dr Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust. The government has claimed funds were misused by using fake seals and signatures in the programme. A case was registered in Bhojipura police station in this regard in 2017. Louise and organisation’s secretary Mohammad Athar Farooqui were named in the FIR. The police had filed the charge sheet against both the accused in the court. The court issued summons several times thereafter, but the accused neither appeared nor got bail in the case. India vs England in Rajkot With the India-England test series tied at 1-1, a fascinating day of cricket took place at Rajkot on Thursday. England snapped up three quick wickets to put India in peril at 33 for 3 as Mark Wood played the destroyer on a flat deck. It took combative centuries from Captain Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja to bring India back from the brink. [caption id=“attachment_13731902” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Debutant Sarfaraz Khan bats on Day 1 of the third Test between India and England in Rajkot. Sportzpics[/caption] A dazzling knock by debutante Sarfaraz Khan, who scored the fastest 50 for India on debut, left Team India in a position of relative strength at the end of Day 1 of the third test. But with the pitch looking flat, and days 2 and 3 being the best for batting, the question now is how much India can get – and how many wickets its bowlers can take against Bazball. Happy birthday John McEnroe! John McEnroe turns 65 today. The tennis legend and hall of famer dominated the game both as a singles and doubles player and played some of the greatest games of all time including the 1980 Wimbledon final against Bjorn Borg. According to ESPN, McEnroe’s career saw him win 77 singles titles including seven Grand Slams. While McEnroe also attracted negative attention during his career for his bratty on court behaviour and his explosive temper, he has in retirement transitioned into a respected analyst. With inputs from agencies