A massive rally of the Patel community at Mehsana town in Gujarat demanding reservation and release of their jailed leaders today turned violent as police used lathicharge and fired teargas shells on the agitators who allegedly engaged in stone-pelting.

Patel protesters had gathered at Modhera crossroad as part of the `Jail Bharo’ agitation announced by the Sardar Patel Group (SPG), one of the prominent groups seeking OBC quota for the Patel community.

SPG chief Lalji Patel received head injury during the face-off with the police.

While the police claimed they resorted to lathicharge only after some persons started throwing stones at the police vehicles, Lalji Patel alleged that Patel agitators were targeted without any provocation.

“Our protest was peaceful as announced earlier. However, police suddenly hit me and some of our members when we were walking ahead of the procession. I was hit on head. You can see the blood on my face. We were beaten up without any provocation,” said Patel, who along with some other agitators were detained by the police subsequently.

In-charge DGP of Gujarat P P Pandey claimed the situation deteriorated only after some people resorted to violence.

“Police always work to establish peace. The gathering was peaceful initially. However, the situation deteriorated only after some persons resorted to violence and damaged property. I have already sent additional force to handle the situation,” Pandey said.

Meanwhile, SPG as well as Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) have given a call for `Gujarat Bandh’ tomorrow.PTI

Senior BJP leader Vijay Goel has sharpened his attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the odd-even scheme alleging that “huge” amount of public money was being spent on advertisements in the name of the car rationing initiative.

The Rajya Sabha MP, who declared that he would violate the odd-even rule to protest against the “political posturing” by AAP, asked the Delhi government to disclose the amount spent on advertisements.

“There is not a single commercial hoarding in Delhi without Kejriwal’s photo under the garb of odd-even scheme.

The same scenario resonates in newspapers, TV channels and radio,” he said in a statement.

“I will leave my residence on 10 Ashoka Road tomorrow at 10 am in my odd-numbered vehicle and pay fine for violation of the scheme,” he said.

Goel said his protest was against “political posturing” by AAP which he alleged is using odd-even scheme’s advertising budget to “plaster Kejriwal’s photo everywhere”.

Noting that BJP is “never” against any good scheme, he said, “I am for any endeavour that reduces pollution and congestion or brings relief to the people of Delhi.”

With a section of auto and taxi unions threatening a strike on Monday, Kejriwal had yesterday alleged BJP wanted the odd-even scheme to “fail” but people will foil their designs.PTI

Government will on April 28 consider two new proposals, including from Infosys, for setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

The proposals will be taken up by the Board of Approval (BoA) for SEZ, chaired by Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia.

Infosys Ltd has proposed to set up an IT/ITeS zone in Bengaluru over an area of over four hectares.

Chhindwara Plus Developers Ltd has proposed to set up a multi-product SEZ in Madhya Pradesh over an area of 1,320 hectares.

Further, as many as 19 developers and units have sought more time to complete their projects which are under different stages of completion.

Wipro Ltd has requested for further extension of its letter of approval for setting up an IT SEZ in Bengaluru.

“The developer has been granted two extensions, validity period of which is upto May 26. The developer has requested for further extension so as to implement the project,” the agenda of the BoA meeting said.

Similarly, Vedanta Aluminium Ltd has sought extension of the validity period of formal approval, granted for setting up an SEZ for manufacture and export of aluminium in Odisha, beyond May 22.

Others who have sought more time include Brooke Bond Real Estate, Avash Logistic Park, Sealand Ports and Indofil Industries.

SEZs are exports hubs which contribute to about 23 per cent to the country’s total outbound shipments.

The commerce ministry is taking steps to revive investors’ interest in these zones.

Exports from such zones in 2014-15 stood at Rs 4,63,770 crore as compared to Rs 4,94,077 crore in the previous fiscal.PTI.

Country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India tightened its grip in terms of best selling cars with six of its models featuring in the the top-10 list for the just concluded fiscal.

The company, which had five models in top-10 selling cars in 2014-15, saw compact model Celerio enter the list at the seventh position in 2015-16.

Besides, volume share of the company in top-10 models has shot up to 73 per cent with six of its models accounting for 10,29,639 units out of a total of 14,19,768 units sold in the fiscal.

The company’s volume share in top 10 stood at 68 per cent in 2014-15 with sales of 9,12,415 units.

As per the data, the company’s Alto, Dzire, Swift and WagonR were the first, second, third and fourth biggest selling models during the fiscal.

The company sold 2,63,422 units of Alto during 2015-16 compared with 2,64,492 units in 2014-15.

It was followed by compact sedan Dzire, with 2,34,242 units sold. The company had sold 2,10,649 units of the sedan in 2014-15.

Compact hatchback Swift continued to hold on to the third position during the fiscal with 1,95,043 units. Swift sales stood at 2,01,338 units in the previous fiscal.

Wagon R with 1,69,555 units sold during the last fiscal, retains the fourth position in passenger car segment. MSI had sold 1,61,250 units of the hatchback in 2014-15.

Its compact model Celerio also made it to the top 10 for the first time. It stood at 7th position with sales of 87,428 units during the fiscal.

It dislodged Hyundai’s compact car Eon from the seventh position. MSI’s van Omni retained its ninth position with sale of 79,949 units in 2015-16. It had sold 74,686 units in 2014-15.

Rival Hyundai’s two models — Grand i10 and Elite i20 also made it to the top ten list. Grand i10 sold 1,26,181 units during the fiscal. i20 stood at sixth position with 1,04,841 unit sales during the 2015-16 fiscal.

Mahindra’s SUV Bolero stood at 8th position with 81,559 units while Honda Cars mid-sized sedan City stood at 10th slot during the fiscal with 77,548 units.PTI.

Thirteen persons, including members of the managing commitee of the Puttingal Devi Temple, were today arrested in connection with the fireworks mishap there in which 110 people have died, police said.

The arrested included seven members of the managing committee and six workers of the two contractors, who carried out the fireworks display on the final day of the seven-day long festival early Sunday.

The arrests were made by the police after day-long questioning, sources said.

In a dramatic move, the temple trust’s President Jayalal, Secretary J Krishnankutty and members Shivaprasad, Surendran Pillai, Ravindran Pillai had surrendered before the Crime Branch police in the wee hours today.

Two other managing committee members Srendranathan Pillai and Murugesan were picked by police here this morning.

Other six workers of the two contractors who carried out the fireworks disply were also picked by police after the accident.

A Crime Branch probe into the fire tragedy is currently underway.

The ghastly mishap at the 100-year-old temple at nearby Parvavoor occurred when sparks from fireworks fell on a storehouse stocked with crackers, triggering powerful explosions.