We’ll provide free Covid vax if Centre doesn’t: Kejriwal

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We’ll provide free Covid vax if Centre doesn’t: Kejriwal

 Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday announced that his AAP government will provide free Covid-19 vaccine to city residents if the Centre “failed” to do so.

Kejriwal made the announcement amid preparations for the world’s largest vaccination drive, to be launched across the country on January 16 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kejriwal said that he had earlier appealed to the Centre to provide vaccines free of cost to the people across the country, considering the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“There are a lot of people who won’t be able to afford the vaccine. I had appealed to the Centre to provide free vaccine to all the people of this country. If required, and if the Centre doesn’t do it, my government will provide free vaccine to all Delhi residents,” Kejriwal said.

He said the vaccine would first be administered to ‘Corona Warriors’ like health and frontline workers in the national capital.

Kejriwal hoped that the people’s struggle in 2020 will come to an end and they would get some respite from the pandemic, which has so far infected 1,04,95,147 Indians, including 15,968 in the last 24 hours.

The Aam Aadmi Party leader appealed to the countrymen to not spread any misinformation on the two approved coronavirus vaccines, believing that the Centre along with scientists concerned has followed all protocols and safeguards before launching them.

“There should be no doubt regarding it (vaccine).”

Kejriwal’s announcement comes days after the drug regulator gave the nod to ‘Covishield’ and ‘Covaxin’ for emergency use. The Oxford University and AstraZeneca have developed ‘Covishield’, which is manufactured in India by Serum Institute of India. Bharat Biotech has developed ‘Covaxin’.

Former Trinamool MP KD Singh sent to ED custody till Jan 16

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Former Trinamool MP KD Singh sent to ED custody till Jan 16

A Delhi court on Wednesday sent former Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmaker K.D. Singh to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till January 16.

In a major action, the ED arrested Singh in connection with a money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) earlier on Wednesday.

Singh was a Rajya Sabha member of the Trinamool Congress from 2014. His term got over in April last year. The Trinamool leaders have claimed that they had no contact with Singh for a long time.

The arrest is being seen as a major action ahead of the Assembly elections in Bengal scheduled later this year.

In September 2019, the ED had carried out searches at the premises of Singh in a money-laundering probe related to the Alchemist Infra Realty LLC in the Rs 1,900 crore money laundering case.

The ED had registered a case of money laundering against Alchemist Infra Realty LLC, a firm related to Singh and others, on the basis of a prosecution complaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on March 18, 2016.

In January 2019, the ED had attached properties to the tune of Rs 239 crore of the group.

The ED investigations revealed that funds mobilized by the Alchemist Infra Realty Limited from various investors were never utilized for the purpose for which they were collected.

The funds were transferred to the bank accounts of other group companies which were mainly paper companies from where they were systematically siphoned off by the accused and were used to purchase properties at various locations in the country, as ED official had said earlier this month.

Singh had resigned as the Chairman of Alchemist Group in 2012. In August 2019, Singh was also questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Narada sting operation case.

Naidu burns Andhra govt orders in Bhogi bonfire

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Naidu burns Andhra govt orders in Bhogi bonfire

Giving a political twist to ‘Sankranti’ festivities, TDP chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday burned copies of some Andhra Pradesh government orders in a ‘Bhogi’ bonfire.

“Naidu participated in ‘Bhogi’ event at Paritala in Krishna district. He joined the locals who burned draconian, anti-people, and anti-farmers orders issued by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government,” said a Telugu Desam Party statement.

The customary event to burn old wood on ‘Bhogi’, which symbolizes burning of the old and ringing in the new, was shared on social media in the early hours of Wednesday.

A large number of TDP activists were in attendance at the event as Naidu was welcomed by some priests. Joining TDP supporters, Naidu also tossed order copies into the fire.

The TDP supremo later alleged that people could not celebrate Sankranti, the biggest Hindu festival in Telugu culture, last year because of the news about the trifurcation of the state capital.

“After a series of cyclones, heavy rains, and floods, farmers suffered losses but the government did not rescue them, taking the sheen off Sankranti celebrations this time also,” claimed Naidu.

The former Chief Minister alleged that the festivities suffered this fate for two years as the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) was in power.

“As rulers do not have the resolve that people should be happy, these kinds of things are happening. I wish prosperity to farmers this year and extend my Bhogi greetings,” he added.

Haryana CM launches govt job portal

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Haryana CM launches govt job portal

In a major relief to aspirants of government jobs, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday launched ‘One Time Registration Portal’ for Group C and D category posts and non-gazetted teaching posts in government departments.

Also, the Chief Minister announced a Common Eligibility Test (CET) to be conducted by the Staff Selection Commission for filling posts of Group C and D.

Khattar told the media that with the launch of the ‘One Time Registration Portal’, aspirants would be required to apply and submit fees only once which would be Rs 500 for the general category candidates and Rs 250 for candidates belonging to reserved categories.

He said this decision would not only bring more transparency but also speed up the recruitment process.

The Chief Minister said the registration on the portal would commence on Tuesday and would continue till March 31. He said the students who are appearing for Class X and XII examination this year could also provisionally apply on the portal.

The Chief Minister said each candidate registering on the portal would be issued a unique identification number on basis of which he or she could apply as per their educational qualification and experience.

He said a separate CET would be conducted for the Group C and Group D posts and it would be valid for a period of three years.

The selection for the Group D posts would be made on the basis of merit of the CET, including marks under socio-economic criteria and experience, whereas in the case of Group C posts, the candidates would also have to clear the departmental examination in addition to the CET.

The weightage under socio-economic criteria would not be more than 10 percent for Group D posts and five percent for Group C posts.

He said the ‘One Time Registration Portal’ would be integrated with the Parivar Pehchan Patra and the details of family members of the candidate would be automatically generated while filling the form.

The candidates would also have the facility to update the family details on the portal. If any candidate does not have Parivar Pehchan Patra, he could get it prepared from any nearby authorized center.

PM, Shah to launch Assam poll campaign next week

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PM, Shah to launch Assam poll campaign next week

As the ruling BJP kicks off its Assembly poll campaign in Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other central leaders would hold a series of election rallies in the northeastern state next week, BJP leader and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday.

BJP National President J.P. Nadda, who left here on Tuesday for Delhi, addressed a public gathering in southern Assam’s Silchar on Monday and claimed that the saffron party has been winning all the elections in the country from Jammu & Kashmir to Telangana, and it would return to power in Assam once again with 100-plus seats in the upcoming state Assembly polls.

Sarma, who is the convener of the BJP-led alliance of regional parties — North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) – said that Prime Minister Modi is likely to visit Assam on January 23 and Home Minister Shah is also likely to address two public rallies at Kokrajhar and Nalbari on January 24. The Prime Minister’s detailed program is yet to be finalized.

Nadda who was on a two-day Assam visit held meetings with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Sarma, state BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass and other senior leaders in Guwahati on Monday and Tuesday and discussed the strategies for the Assembly polls likely to be held in April-May.

Accompanied by his wife Mallika Nadda, the BJP President on Tuesday visited the famous Kamakhya Devalaya in Guwahati on Tuesday and prayed at the famed ‘Shakti Peetha’ atop the picturesque Nilachal hills in Assam’s main city. The 126-member Assam Assembly will go to the polls along with West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

In the last Assembly polls in 2016, the BJP defeated the Congress and formed the government in Assam for the first time winning 60 seats after forging an alliance with the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), who won 14 and 12 seats, respectively. The ruling alliance also has the support of an independent MLA.

Rakesh Tikait welcomes SC order, but says farmer protests will continue

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Rakesh Tikait welcomes SC order, but says farmer protests will continue

Farmer leaders on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court decision to suspend the three farm laws but said they will not leave the protest site till the three laws were repealed.

Speaking to media after the Supreme Court order, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said, “Our protest will continue. We are demanding that the government repeal the three laws and also make a law to guarantee Minimum Support Price (MSP) for our produce.”

He also said farmers will continue the protest, regardless of the number of days it takes.

Tikait also said he will discuss the Supreme Court order of putting the three farm laws on hold with other farmer leaders.

Asked if farmers will participate in the panel formed by the Supreme Court, Tikait said, “We will discuss the issue in the core committee of farmers. And we will also go for the meeting with the government scheduled for January 15.”

Asked about the plans of taking out a tractor parade on January 26, he said, “Protests will continue, the Republic Day parade will go as planned.”

Tikait’s remarks came soon after the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of three farm laws and formed a committee comprising mostly agriculturists to hear the grievances of the farmer unions against the laws.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S. A. Bobde said, “We are going to suspend the implementation of the three farm laws until further orders.”

The Chief Justice mentioned the names of agriculture economist Ashok Gulati, Dr. Pramod Kumar Joshi, Anil Dhanawat, and B.S. Mann to be on the committee to hear the farmers’ issues regarding the laws.

The top court also issued a notice on the Delhi Police application seeking to stop farmers from entering the national capital to hold a tractor rally on Republic Day.

Speaking to media, Jaspreet Singh, a farmer leader said at the Singhu border, “We are demanding for the repeal of these farm laws. Farmers have been agitating for the last four months, at least 70 people have died.”

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at several borders of the national capital for the last 48 days demanding the repeal of the three farm laws and the guarantee of MSP.

Earlier, seven rounds of talks of farmers with the government have remained inconclusive. The next round of talks with the government is scheduled for January 15.

Political dynasts weakening democracy: PM

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Political dynasts weakening democracy: PM

Without taking names of political rivals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday said that political dynasts posed the biggest threat to democracy and appealed to the youth to enter politics to redress the situation.

“There are still people who want to do politics only to save their family’s name in politics. This sort of politics keeps ‘nation first’ in second place and ‘my family and my benefits’ as first priority.

“The youth need to enter politics to end this practice of family-based politics. It is important to save our democratic practices,” he said at a valedictory function of the second Youth Parliament here.

“Dynasts are the biggest threat to democracy and this leads to social corruption; more youths should come forward to curb this problem.”

The Prime Minister maintained that people nowadays supported those who worked with honesty and sincerity.

Modi said that the politics of nepotism was nearing its end, adding that it hadn’t ended completely though.

“Those who have corruption as part of their legacy now are not able to come out of that burden.”

Invoking Swami Vivekananda, the Prime Minister advised the youth to believe in themselves and take the nation forward. The new National Education Policy 2020 will take the youth towards modern education and learning, he added.

The PM also listened to the prize winners of the National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF)that aims to lend a voice to youths between the age of 18 and 25.

NYPF is based on an idea put forth by the Prime Minister in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address on December 31, 2017. The first NYPF was organized from January 12 to February 27, 2019, with the theme of ‘Be the Voice of New India and Find Solutions and Contribute to Policy’.

The second NYPF was held on December 23, 2020, through the virtual model, in which 2.34 lakh youths from across the country participated in the first stage. It was followed by state Youth Parliaments through the virtual mode from January 1 to 5, 2021. The final of the second NYPF was held in the Central Hall of Parliament on January 11, 2021.

Hyderabad kidnapping case: Three including ex-Andhra minister’s aides held

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Hyderabad kidnapping case: Three including ex-Andhra minister’s aides held

Hyderabad police on Monday arrested three more accused in last week’s sensational kidnap of three businessmen while a city court rejected the bail petition of former Andhra Pradesh minister Bhuma Akhila Priya, who is the main accused in the case.

A Secunderabad court rejected her bail petition after Chanchalguda prison authorities submitted a report on her health status.

The court also sent her to police custody for three days. The police had sought seven-day custody but the court granted her custody only for three days.

Businessman Praveen Rao and his two brothers were kidnapped from their residence in Bowenpally by a group of 10 persons, who posed themselves as income tax officials. The trio was let off by the accused in the early hours of January 6.

Hours later, police arrested Akhila Priya from her residence at Kukatpally. Another accused in the case A.V. Subba Reddy was arrested the same day.

According to police, the incident is linked to a dispute over 25 acres of land at Hafeezpet in Hyderabad. Praveen Rao had reportedly purchased the land in 2016 with the help of Subba Reddy who took the assistance of Bhuma Nagi Reddy, a former MP, and father of Akhil Priya who died in 2017. Akhila Priya later approached Praveen for a share after differences with Subba Reddy.

Meanwhile, police arrested three more accused and claimed to have gathered more evidence against Akhila Priya. The arrested include a personal assistant of Akhila Priya and an aide of her husband Bhargava Ram, an accused in the case who is still absconding.

Boya Sampath Kumar, the personal assistant of Akhila Priya, Nagaradoddi Mallikarjuna Reddy, personal assistant of Bhargava Ram and Dorllu Balachennaiah, all residents of Kurnool and Anantapur districts of Andhra Pradesh were apprehended by the sleuths of Commissioner’s Task Force teams along with Bowenpally police.

“During the investigation, it is established that Bhuma Akhila Priya planned and executed the crime along with Bhargava Ram, Guntur Srinu, and other accomplices in order to grab the land or extort money from the victims,” Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said.

He told reporters that police seized items used in the commission of offense including three mobile phones and fake number plates.

According to police, on the instruction of Akhila Priya and her accomplice, Mallikarjuna Reddy purchased six SIM cards and six new mobile phones.

One SIM card was allocated to Akhila Priya, two cards to another accused Guntur Srinu, and the remaining SIM cards were used by their accomplices.

On January 5 when the offense was committed, Akhila Priya used the SIM card while traveling from Vijayawada to Hyderabad and communicated with accused persons from her residence at Kukatpally till the early hours of January 6.

According to police, Guntur Srinu and Bhargava Ram were continuously receiving instructions from Akhila Priya on their mobile phones. One of the kidnappers using a temporary number called Akhila Priya on her regular contact number at 10.42 p.m. on January 5. Later, using the same number kidnappers made the victims call to Deputy Commissioner of Police North zone to communicate their safety at 1.09 a.m. on January 6.

Sampath Kumar confessed before police that in the direction of Akhila Priya, he conducted recce along with Bala Chennaiah on a bike with fake number plate at the residence of victims at Bowenpally and gave information to Bhargava Ram and Guntur Srinu about the presence of victims at the residence.

On January 5, all accused started from Akhila Priya’s apartment in Kukatpally and gathered at MGM School, Yousufguda, which belongs to Bhargava Ram on five four-wheelers and two two-wheelers. They replaced the original number plates of the vehicles with fake ones.

Made in India vaccines most cost effective in the world: Modi

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Made in India vaccines most cost effective in the world: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday emphasized that India is entering into a decisive battle against Covid-19, as the country prepares for the Made in India vaccination drive from January 16.

Making the closing remarks at the meeting with the Chief Ministers on Covid vaccine roll-out, the Prime Minister said that the public representatives are not on the priority list and the first round of vaccines will be given to the frontline workers. He also said that the state governments will not have to pay for the first round of Covid vaccines as the Centre will bear the cost.

“We have to continue creating public awareness, but the maximum awareness is required after the second and third round when we complete three crore vaccinations,” Modi said.

“Public representatives are not on the priority list. Only the frontline and healthcare workers are on the list. The fight against coronavirus is an example of India’s federalism,” the Prime Minister said.

“India is entering into a decisive battle against Covid-19 and we should not let our guard down now. We are going to start the vaccination drive on January 16. It is a matter of pride for us that the two approved vaccines for Covid-19 are both Made in India,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that both the Indian vaccines are more cost-effective than any other vaccine in the world.

“Apart from the two already approved vaccines, four others are in the pipeline. It will help us plan for the future in a better way. Our experts have taken all precautions to provide the countrymen with effective vaccines,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that these vaccines are made keeping in mind the situation of the country. “In the second phase, people above 50 years of age will be vaccinated,” Modi said.

Work on Varanasi-Delhi bullet train project gains momentum

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Work on Varanasi-Delhi bullet train project gains momentum

Over three years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of India’s first 508-km  High-Speed Rail corridor, the work on the second such rail corridor in the country — on the Delhi-Varanasi route — has gained momentum.

An aerial LiDAR survey of the 800-km Delhi-Varanasi High-Speed Rail (DVHSR) corridor has now been undertaken by the Railways as part of the project to connect Modi’s parliamentary constituency with the national capital through the bullet train.

On Sunday, the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) launched the LiDAR survey for the Delhi-Varanasi route from Uttar Pradesh’s Greater Noida, wherein a helicopter fitted with state-of-the-art aerial LiDAR and imagery sensors will capture data related to the ground survey along the proposed route.

NHSRCL spokesperson Sushma Gaur said that the light detection and ranging survey (LiDAR) technology helps gather all ground details and data in three to four months as against the normal time period of 10-12 months through the traditional method.

She said that the ground survey is a crucial activity for any linear infrastructure project as it provides accurate details of the geographical areas around the proposed railroad alignment. “This technique uses a combination of laser and GPS data, flight parameters and actual photographs to give an accurate survey data,” she said.

Gaur said that the LiDAR survey will capture data of 300 meters (150 meters on either side) of the proposed railroad alignment area. Thereafter, a three-dimensional (3D) topographical map of the 50-meter corridor on either side of the proposed alignment on a scale of 1:2500 will be made available to design vertical and horizontal alignments, structures, location of stations and depots, land requirement for the corridor, and identification of project-affected plots/structures, and right of way, etc.

The NHSRCL official said that as per nine standard benchmarks set by the Survey of India in this field, 86 master and 350 secondary control points have been established. These coordinates are used to fly the chopper on the Delhi-Varanasi HSR corridor route.

“To provide clear pictures of structures, trees, and other minute ground details, 60-megapixel cameras have been used in the LiDAR survey,” she said, adding that the NHSRCL has been entrusted to prepare the Detailed Project Reports for seven high-speed rail corridors.

Gaur said that the first draft of the DPR for the DVHSR corridor was submitted to the Railway Ministry on October 29, 2020. The corridor aims to connect the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi with Mathura, Agra, Etawah, Lucknow, Raebareli, Prayagraj, Bhadohi, Varanasi, and Ayodhya.

The HSR route also proposes to connect the upcoming international airport at Jewar in Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

On September 14, 2017, Modi along with then Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe had laid the foundation stone of the MAHSR corridor, popularly known as the ‘bullet train’ project.

On February 15, 2019, Modi had flagged off an indigenous ‘Train 18’, which was rechristened ‘Vande Bharat Express’ between Delhi and Varanasi, capable of running at 180 kmph.

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