Projects to be launched to curb floods in Assam, NE states: Amit Shah

TB Team
-
0
Projects to be launched to curb floods in Assam, NE states: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that to permanently solve the chronic problem of flooding in Assam and other northeastern states, ambitious projects would be undertaken for which satellite survey is presently underway.

Addressing a Town Hall meeting in Guwahati, Shah said that after the satellite survey, large water reservoirs and water channels would be created to divert the floodwaters of Assam and other northeastern states.

“We’ve laid foundations for strong infrastructure that would lead to a prosperous Assam. For this, we would have to free the state of floods. Around 38 percent of Assam is affected by floods during the monsoon. The BJP government would solve the problem of flooding in Assam and other northeastern states permanently,” he said at the gathering organized at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra.

The Home Minister said that many large water reservoirs and water channels if created would also facilitate tourism in Assam and other northeastern states.

“To create a golden Assam, the BJP in alliance with the AGP and the UPPL is banking on five pillars to fight the Assembly elections — ‘Suraksha aur Samman’ (protection and respect), ‘Samriddhi aur Judav’ (prosperity and connection), ‘Sanskriti our Sabhyata’ (culture and civilization), ‘Shanti aur Samvad’ (peace and dialogue) and ‘Swanirbharta aur Atmanirbharta’ (empowerment and self-reliance),” Shah said.

Lambasting the Congress-All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) alliance in Assam, Shah said that AIUDF President Badruddin Ajmal is setting on Congress’ lap.

“They (Congress-AIUDF alliance) would not be able to check infiltration, neither will they fulfill the dreams of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva and Bhupen Hazarika,” the Home Minister said.

Srimanta Sankardeva was a 15th-16th century Assamese saint, scholar, poet, playwright, social-religious reformer, and a figure of importance in Assam’s cultural and religious history.

Shah also said the NDA government has strengthened border vigil electronically and virtually in areas where barbed wire fencing was not possible along the international borders to check infiltration and border crime.

“The Congress in 20 years constructed a bridge in Assam, but the Modi government in five years has built six big bridges, over 20,000 km roads, and many strong infrastructures,” the Home Minister said.

Saying that his party is not doing vote bank politics, the BJP leader said that Assam elections would not just ensure that the BJP stays in power, but would also ensure the preservation of the state’s culture and traditions.

The BJP in alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) is contesting the Assembly elections against the Congress-led 10-party ‘Mahajot’ (grand alliance).

The 126-member Assam Assembly will go to the polls in three phases on March 27 (47 seats), April 1 (39 seats), and April 6 (40 seats). The results will be declared on May 2.

Yadadri temple will be known for its uniqueness: Telangana CM

TB Team
-
0
Yadadri temple will be known for its uniqueness: Telangana CM

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said on Friday that after the completion of the ongoing renovation works, the Sri Yadadri Laxmi Narasimha temple will show its exclusivity among all the temples in the world.

He said the entire Yadadri temple renovated with ‘Krishna Sila’ (black stone) is going to become known for its uniqueness. “After the reopening, devotees in lakhs would visit the temple. Measures should be taken in such a way that these devotees do not face any difficulties during their holy visit,” he told the officials at a meeting to review the temple renovation works.

The CM directed the concerned officials to give final touches to the renovation works in the complex before the scheduled date for its reopening. He discussed with the temple authorities the precautions to be taken and the action plan for the ornamental look of the temple.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, took feedback from the officials on the progress of works in the backdrop of his recent visit to the temple and the suggestions he made after a thorough examination of the works going on there.

The officials put forth before the CM the model designs of the ‘Kalash’ (metal pots) to be placed along the queue lines. After examining four models, the CM selected one design.

KCR wanted the compound wall on the north side to be demolished to have a queue line there. He asked the officials to complete the queue lines by April 15. He wanted the brass designs to be used for the ‘Deepa Sthamba’ (light pole), compound wall, and even the pedestal of the light pole.

While inquiring about the ‘Sivalayam’, KCR wanted brass tridents to be placed on the compound walls. He wanted the demolition of the structure on the north side and that the area should be covered with grills and railings for a better view of the temple. The CM said that nothing should obstruct the temple view and it should appear like an iconic element.

Like the Sudershan Chakra is placed for view during the Brahmotsavam, the trident should appear all along with the Siva Temple. Radhasala should be in consonance with the temple elevation, he said. KCR wants the compound wall to be constructed around the Vishnu Pushkarini Hills to be illuminated on either side of the wall. The 80 feet lamp post should be placed at the center of the lawn.

The CM appreciated the construction of the ‘Addala Mandapam’ (mirror hall) and said it is coming up very beautifully. The CM watched a demo on the lighting of the temple complex and the surrounding.

The Chief Advisor to government, Rajiv Sharma, Advisor Anurag Sharma, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, CM’s Secretary Smita Sabharwal, CM’s Special Secretary Bhoopal Reddy, YTDA Special Officer G Kishan Rao, temple architect Ananda Sai, architect Madhusudhan and others were present on the occasion.

Delhi Budget session adjourned indefinitely

TB Team
-
0
Delhi Budget session adjourned indefinitely

Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Nivas Goel on Friday adjourned the Budget session for an indefinite period four days ahead of the scheduled date due to Covid-19.

On Thursday, AAP legislator and senior spokesperson Raghav Chadha were reported Covid-19 positive. He had attended the very first day of the Budget session on Monday (March 8).

On the last day of the session, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress for criticizing the ‘Deshbhakti’ budget presented by the AAP Government on Monday.

“Since the day our government has presented Deshbhakti budget for 2021-22, both the BJP and the Congress are criticizing it. I want to ask them what is wrong with it? Patriotism is for all, it is not only for a single party. If the National Flag won’t be unfurled in Delhi then will it be done in Islamabad?” Kejriwal said.

He appreciated Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is also the Finance Minister, for presenting a budget with a surplus of 6 percent despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kejriwal reiterated the achievements of his government and highlighted the initiatives in the field of education and health in the national capital.

BJP unleashes star power, Khushboo to contest against Udayanidhi at Chepauk

TB Team
-
0
BJP unleashes star power, Khushboo to contest against Udayanidhi at Chepauk

BJP will field Khushboo Sundar, the Tamil and South Indian movie star against Udayanidhi Stalin, actor-turned-politician and son of MK Stalin at Chepauk, the fiefdom of DMK. The Chepauk seat was represented by M. Karunanidhi the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and father of MK Stalin.

Karunanidhi had won from the seat in 1996,2001 and 2006 and Chepauk assembly seat is considered as a DMK bastion and a safe seat.

Sundar, while speaking to IANS said,” I am contesting on the basis of party’s programs and policies and not as a star. Jumping into the sea, doing pushups with schoolchildren are not matters which a political leader should do to connect with people. The people will give a fitting lesson to the Congress-DMK combine”.

Actor Gauthami will contest from Rajapalayam assembly seat in Virudhunagar district and transgender activist and former journalist Apsara Reddy will also contest the election.

Stars such as Vaidehi and Namitha will also contest on a BJP ticket in the ensuing assembly elections scheduled for April 6.

The BJP, AIADMK, PMK combine will contest the elections together with the AIADMK allocating 20 seats to the BJP and 23 seats to the PMK.

PM to inaugurate 4th Global Ayurveda Festival on Friday

TB Team
-
0
PM to inaugurate 4th Global Ayurveda Festival on Friday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the fourth Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF) via videoconferencing on Friday. The festival will culminate on March 19.

The event was earlier scheduled in May 2020, at Angamaly, but was later postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The eight-day festival includes an international seminar, a global exhibition, and a business meet and will feature lectures by 35 internationally renowned scientists and over 150 Indian scientists.

Around 650 of the 1,150 selected research papers will be projected live, while 500 research papers will be a poster presentation.

LS passes Bill to regularise Delhi’s unauthorised colonies

TB Team
-
0
LS passes Bill to regularise Delhi’s unauthorised colonies

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed by voice vote a bill to amend the National Capital Territory of Delhi laws to identify the unauthorized colonies for regularisation amid ruckus by the joint Opposition on the fuel price hike.

Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Hardeep Singh Puri moved the National Capital of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the House for consideration and passage hitting out at the Opposition for delaying the process which began in 2006.

Puri said that the process of identifying unauthorized colonies in Delhi was started in 2006 but all the ruling governments between 2006 and 2014 here did nothing for the people of the national capital.

“This problem is very known as Delhi’s population increased from 8 lakh in 1947 to 1.6 crore as per latest census,” Puri said, adding he expects that the population of Delhi will be close to 2 crore or more in the next census this year.

The Bill was passed by the Lower House after a brief discussion.

Puri said the Bill aims to provide relief to the citizens of Delhi who were neglected for years on the issue by the previous governments.

The government introduced the Bill in the Rajya Sabha on February 8, which seeks to replace the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.

The Ordinance was promulgated by President Ram Nath Kovind on December 30, 2020. It amended the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act, 2011 which was valid till December 31, 2020.

The Ordinance extended the deadline to December 31, 2023.

The 2011 Act provided for the regularisation of the unauthorized colonies that existed in the national capital as of March 31, 2002, and where construction took place till June 1, 2014.

The Ordinance amended this to provide that the unauthorized colonies will be identified for regularisation in accordance with the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorised Colonies) Act, 2019 and the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorised Colonies) Regulations, 2019.

Therefore, the unauthorized colonies that existed as of June 1, 2014, and had witnessed 50 percent development as of January 1, 2015, will be eligible for regularisation.

PM asks for all BJP members’ help to get people inoculated

TB Team
-
0
PM asks for all BJP members’ help to get people inoculated

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday gave a clarion call to all the BJP MPs and party workers to help eligible people in receiving Covid-19 vaccines as well as help them to reach vaccination centers.

India has expanded the world’s largest vaccination drive to the next stage and entered a fresh phase on March 1, covering all aged over 60 years and those above 45 years suffering from comorbidities.

Modi, who took the vaccine on March 1 as the new phase of vaccination took off in the country, urged his party workers on Wednesday during the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentary board meeting here inside Parliament premises.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi shared Prime Minister’s views after the one-hour meeting ended.

“Addressing our (BJP) MPs, the Prime Minister appealed them to join people and help the eligible candidates in receiving vaccines as well as helping them in reaching vaccination centers. A clarion call has been given by the PM for all MPs and BJP workers,” Joshi said.

Joshi applauded the efforts of the Prime Minister in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, saying, “When the entire world was stunned, perplexed and not able to understand what to do in this crisis, India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji achieved success in facing the crisis on both levels — in saving the lives of the people and also in bringing back the economy on track”.

For his efforts, Joshi said, “He not only saved the lives of Indians through Covid vaccine but also dispatched vaccine dozes to various foreign countries offering the much-needed helping hand.”

Thousands queued up at government and private medical facilities across the country as the country further opened its vaccination program that started on January 16 for healthcare and sanitary workers.

Indigenously developed Covaxin vaccine from Bharat Biotech and Covishield from the Oxford-AstraZeneca are being administered to people in India since the inoculation drive begins here.

To commemorate 75 years of Independence, Joshi further announced that a 75-week long program will be organized from March 12 at 75 places. The Minister said that Prime Minister has called upon all the MPs to participate in the program being started from Gujarat.

Centre has done nothing for Telangana, alleges industry minister

TB Team
-
0
Centre has done nothing for Telangana, alleges industry minister

Telangana’s industry minister K. T. Rama Rao on Tuesday alleged that BJP-led Central government has done nothing for the state.

He said that the Centre failed to give what was promised to Telangana in the State Reorganisation Act.

Rama Rao, who is also Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president, was addressing the graduates and members of Telangana Private Colleges and Schools Management and Staff Welfare Association in Hyderabad as part of the party’s campaign for March 14 election to Hyderabad-Rangareddy-Mahabubnagar graduates’ constituency of Telangana Legislative Council.

KTR, as Rao is popularly known, said while Telangana contributed Rs 2,72,000 crores to the Centre in the form of taxes, the Centre has given only Rs.1,40,000 crores to the state.

Attacking BJP, he said that the gas cylinder price was Rs 400 when BJP came to power and now it increased to Rs 800. Similarly, petrol prices have hit a century, he claimed.

After the State formation, Hyderabad has seen a lot of progress under the TRS Government rule. Three states were formed prior to Telangana, but they are no match to our state, said KTR.

He claimed that within few years of state formation, the TRS government resolved many infrastructure issues and has provided uninterrupted power, drinking water, irrigation facilities, safety, and attract investments.

KTR also mentioned that the TRS government has set up 672 new Gurukuls in the past six years and is spending about Rs.1,20,000 on each student in 970 gurukuls of the state. A total of 4,30,000 students are pursuing their studies in these gurukuls.

The minister said in the last six years, the state government spent about Rs 12,800 crore on fee reimbursement. The TRS government is providing overseas scholarships to students on the names of Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule, and Vivekanand where each student is granted a scholarship of Rs 20 Lakh. No other government is providing such scholarships to the students, he said.

KTR said that in 65 years, before Telangana formation, five government medical colleges were set up. But within six years, the TRS government set up five new government medical colleges – Suryapet, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Siddipet, and Adilabad. This is a testimony to the work we do, he added.

Talking about various irrigation projects, the minister said that the government is completing the construction of the projects on a war footing. He also mentioned that water is being provided to lakhs of acres in the state and as a result, people are not migrating to other states.

The minister highlighted the investments that have come to Hyderabad city during the past six years. He stated that a stable government, visionary leadership, and safety and law and order situation have made the companies prefer Hyderabad over other cities.

KTR also said that the government has filled 1,32,000 government jobs and a notification for the filling of another 50,000 jobs will be released soon.

He criticized the Congress party saying its government filled 24,048 jobs in the united Andhra Pradesh between 2004 and 2014 and out of which, mere 10,000 jobs were filled in Telangana.

Dhan Singh Rawat seen as shoo-in for next CM of Uttarakhand

TB Team
-
0
Dhan Singh Rawat seen as shoo-in for next CM of Uttarakhand

The names of Dhan Singh Rawat, Satpal Maharaj, Ajay Bhatt, and Anil Baluni are doing the rounds for the post of the next Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.

While Dhan Singh Rawat is seen as a shoo-in as the next CM, Pushkar Singh Dhami is being considered for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post.

The development came after Trivendra Singh Rawat on Tuesday submitted his resignation as the CM of Uttarakhand to Governor Baby Rani Maurya. The BJP is also planning to appoint a Deputy Chief Minister for which the name of Pushkar Dhani is doing the rounds.

A meeting of the BJP legislative party in Uttarakhand is scheduled for Wednesday morning to elect a new leader. BJP national Vice President Raman Singh has been sent to the state as a central observer, while the party’s national General Secretary and state in-charge Dushyant Gautam will also attend the meeting.

Dhan Singh Rawat, a minister in the Trivendra Singh Rawat government, has emerged as the front-runner for the top post in Uttarakhand. He is also close to the RSS and has worked as the state secretary of ABVP. He also served as an RSS office-bearer.

Dhan Singh Rawat had unsuccessfully contested the elections for the first time in 2012, before winning in 2017. He currently holds the post of Education Minister in the state.

Apart from Dhan Singh Rawat, another prominent name doing the rounds in BJP circles is that of Satpal Maharaj, also a minister in the current government. Maharaj has clearly shown his ambition to become the Chief Minister, besides being one of the MLAs who had to express their dissent against Trivendra Singh Rawat.

“Satpal Maharaj’s past association with the Congress may dampen his chances to become the Chief Minister,” said a BJP leader. Maharaj had joined the BJP in 2014.

Another strong contender is BJP MP and former state unit president Ajay Bhatt. Bhatt was the state president when Union Home Minister Amit Shah was the party’s national President.

Sources said that by nominating Bhatt for the post of Chief Minister, the party will have to face two by-polls — one each for the Lok Sabha and the state Assembly within six months.

“First Bhatt has to resign from the Lok Sabha and then he has to get himself elected to the state Assembly within six months of assuming office as the Chief Minister. With just one year of the tenure of the state Assembly left, the party leadership may not go for a by-poll six months ahead of the scheduled Assembly elections next year,” said a party leader.

The name of Rajya Sabha member Anil Baluni is also doing the rounds for the top post, owing to his closeness to the Prime Minister and the party’s central leadership.

The names of Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ and Uttarakhand BJP General Secretary Suresh Bhatt are under consideration to replace Trivendra Singh Rawat.

Bundelkhand will be a tourist centre soon: Yogi

TB Team
-
0
Bundelkhand will be a tourist centre soon: Yogi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday that Bundelkhand will become a major center of tourism after the construction of the expressway.

The Chief Minister, who inspected the construction work of a bridge on the Yamuna river of Bundelkhand Expressway on Monday, said in a statement that the work for the expressway is going on war-footing and about 50 percent of it has been completed.

“By the end of November, the entire construction work will be finished, providing the immense potential for triggering economic activities in the region,” he said.

Appreciating the farmers for their support, he said, “The farmers of Bundelkhand gave their land for the expressway and provided their full support. Adequate water is being provided for irrigation through the ‘Panchanad’ scheme.”

Adityanath also said that the expressway will boost the profits of the farmers of Bundelkhand.

“Once the Bundelkhand Expressway is constructed, it would go a long way in ensuring socio-economic development of the area which had been lying neglected for decades. The total length of the Expressway project is 296 km, out of which the construction of 120 km has was completed by UPEIDA within a year,” he stated.

The expressway will start from Chitrakoot district and end at Etawah on Agra-Lucknow Expressway. It will pass through the districts of Chitrakoot, Banda, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Jalaun, and Etawah.

It is worth mentioning that the service road and other works are also under progress by various contractors in the construction of Bundelkhand Expressway.

1...115116117...162Page 116 of 162