RS Chairman rejects suspension of biz notice on Uttarakhand & TRP scam

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RS Chairman rejects suspension of biz notice on Uttarakhand & TRP scam

Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday rejected a suspension notice given by CPI MP Binoy Vishwam and Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi under rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure of the House.

Vishwam has given the notice to discuss the issue of floods in Uttarakhand glacier burst disaster and Chaturvedi into the probe in the TRP scam and investigation.

The Chair did not accept both the notices.

“Everyone is concerned about the disaster, but we should wait for all the details to come in and then allow the Home Minister to apprise the Uttarakhand situation to the House,” Naidu said.

Till now relief and rescue operation is being done by the government and agencies in the state.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, who visited Chamoli in wake of the deluge following the glacier burst on Sunday, said that “over 125 people are missing and the number is likely to rise further”.

The incident occurred after the water level in Dhauliganga river, one of the six sources of the Ganga river, suddenly surged on Sunday morning following an avalanche near the Rishi Ganga Power Project. The 85 km river meets the Alaknanda river at Vishnuprayag at the base of Joshimath mountain in Uttarakhand.

The ITBP said that the flash flood occurred in Rishi Ganga at around 10.45 a.m. due to a glacier falling into it and exponentially increasing the volume of water.

The TRP scam is about some particular TV channels which have manipulated the ratings of their channels.

“Priyankaji should give notice on some other rules then I will consider it under rules,” Venkaiah Naidu said.

Timely delivered: PM pitches for world-class judicial system

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Timely delivered: PM pitches for world-class judicial system

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the government and judiciary are responsible for developing a world-class judicial system in which justice would easily be available to the last man in the society and will be delivered on time.

Addressing the Diamond Jubilee celebration of Gujarat High Court, the Prime Minister in the online interaction said that at a click of lawyers and litigants all details of cases at the National Judicial Data Grid has not only ensured “ease of justice” but also increased “ease of business”.

“Confidence has increased among foreign investors that in India their judicial rights are safe. In 2018, in its ease of doing business report the World Bank has praised the National Judicial Data Grid,” Modi said.

He also said use of “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) is being explored to make it part of the judicial process to make the judicial system “future ready” and AI will increase efficiency and speed of Judiciary.

“To end digital divide in the country and help commonman, ‘e-sewa kendras’ have been opened at high courts and district courts. At a time of pandemic, online and e-lok adalat has been the new normal, And the First lok adalat was held in Junagadh of Gujarat e-courts,” he said.

E-lok adalat has become the medium for timely justice with ease. In 24 states of the country, several lakh cases have been received and resolved in e-lok adalat. “Same speed, facility and faith is required from our judicial system,” he said.

Rahul extends support to farmers’ ‘chakka jam’

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Rahul extends support to farmers’ ‘chakka jam’

The Congress on Saturday extended its support to farmers’ planned three hours ‘chakka jam’ (road blockage) over the three farm laws.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and said, “The peaceful satyagrah of farmers is in the interest of the nation. These three farm laws are not only dangerous for the farmers and laborers but also for the people and the entire country. Full support.”

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also took a swipe at the government over the heavy deployment of security and police personnel in view of ‘chakka jam’.

In a tweet in Hindi, she said, “Why are you threatening with a wall of fear?”

She also attached a photograph of heavy police deployment on the Delhi-UP Gahzipur border which showed multiple layers of barricades and heavy deployment of police and security personnel.

The police have made adequate arrangements in view of farmers’ planned ‘chakka jam’ from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

During the January 26 tractor parade of farmers, violent clashes took place at several places in the national capital leaving many farmers and Police personnel injured. Agitating farmers also hoisted a pennant from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Delhi Police filed several cases against farmer Union leaders for the violent clashes.

Allahabad HC rejects SEC schedule for panchayat polls

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Allahabad HC rejects SEC schedule for panchayat polls

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday rejected the schedule proposed by the Uttar Pradesh’s State Election Commission (SEC) for holding panchayat elections in the state.

The SEC had sought to hold panchayat polls in May, but the court ruled it out, observing that the panchayat elections should have concluded by January 13, 2021, as per the rules.

The SEC, in its submission before the high court, said that the voter list for panchayat polls had been prepared by January 22, however, the work on the reservation of seats by the state government is yet to be finalized which has delayed the process of holding elections.

The SEC further said that it will take at least 45 days more to prepare for the polls after the seat reservation is decided.

Uttar Pradesh Panchayati Raj minister, Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, had said in December that the notification regarding the panchayat elections will be issued after the completion of preparatory work for the polls which was already underway.

Govt has bypassed health, education in Budget, says Sisodia

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Govt has bypassed health, education in Budget, says Sisodia

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has expressed his displeasure over the Union Budget 2021-2022 presented on Monday by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Sisodia stated that due to the Covid-19 pandemic that has exposed the poor public health care system of the country, it was expected the government would substantially increase the health care allocation in this year’s Budget. He claimed that the Centre has reduced the health care budget instead.

The Minister further slammed the BJP-led Central Government alleging that it has bypassed the education and health sectors in this year’s budget. “Covid-19 pandemic has led to a serious setback in our education system and therefore children should have provided additional allocation in education to take care of this loss. What we see is a reduction in the Ministry of Education budget by 6% (Rs 6000 Cr) – from Rs 99,312 Cr in BE 2020-21 to Rs 93,224 Cr in BE 2021-22,” Sisodia claimed in a statement issued by his office.

He added, “The Finance Minister’s announcement of a 137% increase in budget for healthcare and well-being is misleading and is an attempt to hide the reality that this government doesn’t care for the health of the people. It has clubbed non-health schemes like clean air program, water supply program, etc to show an overall increase in health expenditure.”

Sisodia also slammed the Centre for reducing Agriculture Ministry’s budget from Rs 1.55 lakh crore to Rs 1.48 lakh crore. “A time when unemployment is at its highest, the budget for jobs and skills ministry has also been reduced from Rs 5,400 crore to 3,500 crores, a reduction of 35%. It shows the government is completely apathetic towards the pain of the jobless,” he added.

Kamal Nath slams ‘disappointing’ Budget

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Kamal Nath slams ‘disappointing’ Budget

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and state Congress President Kamal Nath have termed the Union Budget as “disappointing”.

Reacting to the Union government’s General Budget, Nath said, “The people of the country had high hopes from this General Budget which came today during the critical coronavirus pandemic crisis, but this Budget has led to a lot of disappointment among the people.”

The former MP Chief Minister said, “In view of the collapsed economy during the pandemic, no provision has been made in this Budget to provide relief to the common man. The largest section of the community, the farmers in the country, have been agitating on the streets for their rights for more than two months now. There is nothing in this Budget for the farmers, only false promises, once again the years-old promise of doubling their incomes. First the move of ending the ‘mandi’ system with the new farm laws and now false promises to strengthen the ‘mandi’ system in the budget today. These are just misleading promises.”

Referring to the deepening crisis in employment caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Nath said that a large number of youth have lost their jobs after the pandemic and there is nothing in this Budget for the employment of youth.

Nath leveled allegations at the Centre and said, “Years-old announcements have been repeated in this Budget once again. The slogan of those people who said they will not sell the country, today their slogan is they will sell everything, this is clearly visible in this Budget.”

Referring to no mention of the poor and middle class in this Budget, Nath said, “There is nothing in this Budget for the poor and the middle class. The income tax exemption was expected, but the exemption was not increased. This Budget is an inflationary budget. In view of the rising prices of petrol, diesel, and cooking gas, people were expecting a huge relief in the middle of the coronavirus situation, but the public has been cheated once again.”

Nath also lashed out at the slogan of ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance), saying, “Like the old slogan of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’, now the Budget has been misleading the people of the country by manipulating the statistics with a new slogan of ‘Aatmanirbharta’.

“Those who opposed FDI are now implementing it in every sector today. This Budget is complete ‘anti-people’ and ‘disappointing’,” he said.

MVA calls Union Budget ‘national betrayal’, BJP celebrates

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MVA calls Union Budget ‘national betrayal’, BJP celebrates

The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress allies on Monday slammed the Union Budget 2021-2022 of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as a ‘national betrayal’, ‘letter of intent to sell off government assets’ and doing ‘injustice’ to Maharashtra while the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed it as path-breaking and all-inclusive.

State Congress President and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said the Budget is a ‘letter of intent’ to profit by selling off top government companies in the guise of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and doling out largesse to states going to elections this year.

NCP leader, Deputy Chief Minister, and state Finance Minister Ajit Pawar said the Centre has continued the tradition of injustice to the women, backward classes, tribals, minorities, migrants, the middle-class, and Maharashtra which contributes the highest revenues to the country has got nothing.

Quoting the IANS-CVOTER Budget Tracker Survey, Pawar said that the Centre’s financial performance is the worst in the country to date and in such a scenario, the claims of the Finance Minister are nothing but words and dreams.

Shiv Sena leader Kishore Tiwari who is President of Vasantrao Naik Sheti Swavalamban Mission (VNSSM) attacked the budget labeling it as “a national betrayal, complete eyewash and hostile to the farmers” who are agitating against the 3 new farm bills for over two months.

PWD Minister Ashok Chavan targeted the Budget saying it reflects the six overall economic pillars of the BJP-led Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi — wealth and wellbeing of select capitalists, harassment of farmers and traders, selective development eyeing assembly elections in some state, depressing human capital, revising R&D to mean ruining and destroying the economy, and maximum promises with minimum performance.

Lauding the Budget, BJP’s Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis termed it as innovative with several positive proposals for the countrymen, and also appreciated Sitharaman’s decision to allocate Rs 2,092 crore for the Nashik Metro and Rs 5,796 crore for the Nagpur Metro-Phase II.

“We are happy that the Centre appreciates our innovative approach and accepts the Nashik Metro model as a national project, to be implemented in other cities. Both the (Nagpur-Nashik) metro proposals were sent during the BJP tenure,” a pleased Fadnavis pointed out to media-persons.

Shiv Sena MP and Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut strongly criticized the budget saying it had nothing for the poor, the middle-class, or migrants who were the worst-hit during the Coronavirus pandemic last year, or the farmers who are demanding the repeal of the 3 farm laws.

Thorat alleged that it’s the new policy of the BJP government not to give anything to states where there are no elections, and in the name of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’, sells all prime assets of the country painstakingly built up during the 60-years of Congress rule.

“The PM had said that he will not sell off the country, but the FM’s speech has nailed the lie. The government will sell airports, seaports, highways, power lines, parts of railway freight, government warehouses, GAIL, Indian oil pipelines, stadiums, and even the LIC which was a ‘safe investment vehicle’ for people for decades,” Thorat said.

He added that the unplanned lockdown led to unemployment of crores of people, small and medium enterprises went bankrupt, but the Finance Minister did not utter a word on these, the expected rationalization or reduction of GST is also belied, and this will further fuel inflation.

Pawar said that the government announced a portal for the unorganized labor, but it has closed the survey of the jobless in the country for the past several years, the real figures of the unemployed are not released.

There was disappointment for the farmers as the 3 farm laws are not revoked, nothing for the MSP though the government claims to be serious about the welfare of the peasantry, the Deputy Chief Minister added.

Tiwari said the VNSSM has been demanding attention to various core agricultural problems including a five-year farm credit policy, but the Budget has not even touched on these issues which can defuse the agrarian crisis or arrest the farmers’ suicides in the country.

“Overall this is an ‘India Sale’ budget for the mega-corporates only. However, we welcome the increase in import duty on cotton, the 7 textile parts, the agro-infra network, and the focus on the health sector and child welfare,” Tiwari said.

Other prominent farmers leaders like Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana President Raju Shetti, All India Kisan Sabha President Dr. Ashok Dhawale and general secretary Dr. Ajit Navale also condemned the budget for totally ignoring the farmers who are agitating against the 3 farm laws.

BJP Leader of Opposition (Council) Pravin Darekar attacked the critics of the Budget as having a ‘jaundiced vision’ by accusing the government of making announcements for the four states going to the elections.

Budget 2021 carries forward Aatmanirbhar vision: PM

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Budget 2021 carries forward Aatmanirbhar vision: PM

Terming the Budget 2021 “exceptional”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said it has a vision of “Aatmanirbhar” (self-reliance) and inclusion of every citizen with a sense of belief in development amid the Covid-19 pandemic which has shaken entire humanity.

Mentioning the influence of Covid-19, Modi said the Budget has been presented amid exceptional circumstances and will highlight India’s confidence, and at the same time, evoke new confidence in the world.

In his remarks after the Union Budget was tabled in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister said that the principles behind the Budget include expansion of new opportunities for growth, and for the youth, giving a new dimension to human resource, infrastructure development, and helping new sectors grow.

The Prime Minister said that the Budget will enhance “ease of living” for the common man by simplifying procedures and rules while bringing positive changes for individuals, investors, industry, and infrastructure sector.

He said that the government gave proper attention to its responsibility towards fiscal sustainability while increasing the size of the budget while expressing happiness that the transparency factor of the budget has been appreciated by the experts.

Stressing the proactive approach of the government, whether, during the Corona pandemic or campaign for Aatmanirbharta, the Prime Minister noted that the budget doesn’t have an iota of reactive approach. “We have gone beyond active and have given a pro-active budget.”

Appreciating the all-round development emphasis of the Budget, Modi said that it is focused on wealth and wellness, MSME, and infrastructure. He also noted the unprecedented focus on healthcare.

The Prime Minister expressed happiness that the Budget has taken into account the development needs of southern states, the Northeast, and Ladakh.

He also said it is a huge step in the direction of turning coastal states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal into a business powerhouse. The Budget will also be greatly helpful in tapping the unexplored potential of the northeastern states such as Assam, he added.

Mentioning the impact of the Budget on the various segments of society, Modi said its emphasis on research and innovation will help the youth.

The Prime Minister earlier congratulated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her marathon 110-minute Budget speech and also inquired about her health soon after she completed her presentation in the Lok Sabha.

The Finance Minister began her Budget speech at 11 a.m. for the third time in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Prime Minister Modi. She concluded it after almost two hours.

Mamata criticises Union Budget, calls it anti-people

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Mamata criticises Union Budget, calls it anti-people

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday vehemently criticized the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament earlier in the day, saying it would impact farmers and poor people across the country. She said, “it is anti-farmer, anti-people, and anti-country budget”.

“The budget is not in favor of the farmers and poor people of the country. What kind of budget is this? It’s a fake budget. Bhekdhari sarkar fakedari budget (It is a fake budget of the deceptive government,” Banerjee said on the occasion of the virtual inauguration of a bridge in north Bengal’s Siliguri.

She said the budget will increase the prices of the essential commodities.

“The agricultural cess imposed upon all petroleum products will lead to price rise. The Centre takes away all the cess. The state governments do not get any share of that,” she said.

The West Bengal Chief Minister dubbed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as a vindictive government.

“Are you sure that you will get your insurance amount? No one knows to whom they will send the insurance sector. I guess they will take a demonetization-like decision with nationalized banks too,” Banerjee said.

The Union Budget also mentioned the development of the 675-km stretch in West Bengal at a cost of Rs 95,000 crore.

She said that the Centre wants to make roads ahead of polls. “Go and give this money to farmers. No need to make rural roads, I will myself make it,” the Chief Minister said.

“We have already made roads in north Bengal. What will they do with the Kolkata-Siliguri road? You made an airport in Assam operational, why can’t you make the Coochbehar airport operational? If you don’t do it, I will do it,” she added.

West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra said that the budget doesn’t have the clarity and vision.

“Only clarity it has is to sell off everything, starting from a rail, port, insurance, airlines, etc. A lot of expectations were there but it has failed to meet them,” Mitra said, in his reaction to the budget.

Budget sops for poll-bound states, oppn dubs it ‘manifesto’

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Budget sops for poll-bound states, oppn dubs it ‘manifesto’

While the BJP attempts to woo voters in the four poll-bound states of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, and Assam, announcing major infrastructure projects and welfare schemes in the Union Budget, the opposition termed it an “election manifesto” that ignored the rest of the country.

The BJP is fighting a high-voltage election battle in West Bengal to dislodge Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress government and is also aiming for a second consecutive term in Assam. The BJP is also trying to form a government in Tamil Nadu with alliance partner AIADMK and working hard to increase its numbers in the Kerala Assembly where it has only one member.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed new highway projects of 3,500 km in Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 1.03 lakh crore, 1,100 km of highways in Kerala at an investment of Rs 65,000 crore. In West Bengal, she proposed 675 km of highways works at a cost of Rs 25,000 crore and over 1,300 km of highways in Assam at Rs 34,000 crore.

Rajya Sabha member and Assam Congress chief, Ripun Bora tweeted, “So, the BJP government has made parliament the place to launch election manifestos for Assembly elections. This Budget is nothing more than an election manifesto full of ‘jumlas’!”

“Congratulations India, FM presents the election budget,” Bora said.

BJP General Secretary and West Bengal in-charge, Kailash Vijayvargiya said that this year’s Budget is an attempt to find a self-reliant India, new possibilities for employment and business. “When the whole world is struggling with a deteriorating economy, the new Budget under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought new hope,” Vijayvargiya tweeted.

Congress Lok Sabha MP from Ernakulam in Kerala, Hibi Eden told IANS that the whole Budget exercise was turned into an “election drama” by announcing major infra projects in poll-bound states while ignoring the rest of the country.

“All the infrastructure projects are announced to reap political benefits in Assembly polls in four states to be held in coming two or three months. Even while announcing welfare schemes for poll-bound states, the BJP government has failed to include tea workers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the scheme announced for tea workers of West Bengal and Assam,” said first-time MP Eden. The Budget proposed Rs 1,000 crore for a welfare scheme for tea workers of Assam and West Bengal.

Budgetary announcements were made for Kochi Metro rail phase II and Chennai Metro rail phase II. Eden alleged that funds for phase II of Kochi Metro announced by the UPA government were stalled and made part of the Budget of 2021-22. “People are expecting the announcement of Phase-III of Kochi Metro rail but the BJP government announced budgetary provisions for phase-II,” Eden added.

Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien said that India’s first paperless budget is also a 100 percent “visionless” Budget.

“Theme of the fake budget is ‘Sell India!’ Railways: sold, Airports: sold, Ports: sold, Insurance: sold, PSUs: 23 sold! Common people ignored. Farmers ignored. Rich get richer, nothing for the middle class, poor get poorer,” O’Brien tweeted.

Referring to 675-km highway work in West Bengal, Brien further tweeted, “What Bengal did yesterday, Centre only talks today, Budget ’21 promise – 625 km roads in WB, WB government (2018) – new roads of 5,111 km, No one in India. Plus 1,165 km roads in 2019.”

Talking about the promotion of seaweed farming, Sitharaman announced the setting up of a multi-purpose seaweed park in Tamil Nadu. DMK Lok Sabha MP from Namakkal in Tamil Nadu, A.K.P Chinraj told the IANS that these Budget proposals are just an announcement and in reality, there is nothing on the ground to execute these projects.

“Announcements are made with an eye on upcoming Assembly polls including Tamil Nadu to grab power in these states. They will forget all the Budget proposals once the Assembly polls get over,” Chinraj added.

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