India’s main opposition bloc held a demonstration against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in the capital New Delhi ahead, with national elections to begin in April.
The INDIA bloc, consisting of nearly two dozen parties, is challenging Mr Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its alliance partners in the elections to Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament.
The opposition bloc has accused the right-wing Hindu nationalist BJP of threatening democracy in India by embarking on a crackdown against its political rivals.
Nearly a billion people are eligible to vote in the seven-phase poll, which begins on April 19 and ends on June 1, with results expected on June 4.
Many political commentators have predicted a victory for Mr Modi’s party, riding on his popularity and the rise of Hindu nationalism, which he and his party have endorsed since coming to power in 2014.
But his political rivals say the incumbent government is misusing state institutions to weaken the democratic process and manipulate elections.
Sunday’s “Save Democracy” demonstration at Delhi’s Ramlila ground was one of the largest public shows of strength by the opposition following the arrest of the Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal and the freezing of funds of India’s main opposition Indian National Congress.
Mr Kejriwal was arrested earlier this month after he was accused of receiving kickbacks in the process of bringing a now-scrapped alcohol policy to the Indian capital, a charge he and his party have denied.
He has since been in the custody of India's financial police. Opposition parties have questioned the motive and the timing of the arrest in the years-old case.
Mr Kejriwal’s wife Sunita addressed crowds of thousands at the opposition rally on Sunday. The rally was also attended by leaders from the Indian National Congress, which is one of the central parties in the INDIA bloc, including the party president Mallikarjun Kharge, leader Rahul Gandhi, and former party president Sonia Gandhi.
Regional leaders from Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren, former Maharashtra chief minister Uddav Thackeray, and former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti among other leaders also addressed the crowds.
The opposition leaders have accused Mr Modi of using federal investigative agencies against political rivals to intimidate and weaken them.
Last month, the federal tax authorities froze the bank accounts of the Indian National Congress, followed by a tax demand of $216 million over alleged violations.
“The nation knows they have used [India's Enforcement Directorate], and [Central Bureau of Investigation] to extort donations. To suppress this, false cases are being imposed on opposition leaders," said Akhilesh Yadav, former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.
“If you are so confident of crossing 400 [Lok Sabha seats in polls], why are you scared of Aam Aadmi Party leaders?”
Mr Gandhi on Sunday said that Mr Modi was trying to “win the election through match-fixing” and asserted that the coming elections were significant to “protect the Constitution” and the country.
“Narendra Modi wants to change the Constitution by winning elections through 'match-fixing' … this election is not just an election to form a government, it is an election to save the country, an election to protect the Constitution,” said Mr Gandhi.
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Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
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The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning.
The trains
Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.
The hotels
Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
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- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
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Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
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The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
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Company name: Dharma
Date started: 2018
Founders: Charaf El Mansouri, Nisma Benani, Leah Howe
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: TravelTech
Funding stage: Pre-series A
Investors: Convivialite Ventures, BY Partners, Shorooq Partners, L& Ventures, Flat6Labs
