Ruling BJP all set to invite PM, other bigwigs for poll campaign in K’taka

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Ruling BJP all set to invite PM, other bigwigs for poll campaign in K’taka

The Karnataka BJP, in an upbeat mood, after post-poll surveys indicated victory in the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, is all set to invite party bigwigs to the state for campaigning.

Assembly elections in Karnataka are scheduled tentatively before May 2023.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will discuss the development and national security, whereas Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath would focus on Hindutva during the campaigning, said sources.

The party has planned a series of public meetings of the central leaders as the Shri Rama Sena has announced that it would ensure the defeat of the BJP in the assembly elections.

Party insiders confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being invited to the inauguration of the Metro Phase II project in Bengaluru soon. PM Modi, who was in Bengaluru to inaugurate the Kempe Gowda International Airport Terminal 2 recently, has agreed to come again, sources said.

The 15-kilometre-long Metro route between Byappanahalli and Whitefield, which connects tech hub ITPL to the central business district, is much sought after by commuters.

This development and Modi’s appeal would boost the prospects of the BJP in the state, say, insiders. Party sources say that Yogi Adityanath would tour three coastal districts and the southern part of Karnataka.

The central leaders would tour with former CM Yediyurappa while others would focus on the north Karnataka region.

UP is a model for the whole world: Melinda Gates

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UP is a model for the whole world: Melinda Gates

Melinda Gates, Co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), said on Wednesday that Uttar Pradesh is not just a model for India, but for the entire world.

Melinda Gates met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the latter’s official residence on Wednesday and discussed enhancing technical cooperation in the fields of health, nutrition, and agriculture.

After the meeting, Adityanath tweeted, “Had a wonderful meeting with co-chair and trustee of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at my official residence in Lucknow today. We had a fruitful discussion regarding better technical cooperation in the fields of health, nutrition, social security, and agriculture in UP.”

During the meeting, Gates lauded the work done by the Uttar Pradesh government in recent years, underlining the Covid management and encephalitis control despite a dense population.

“Amid the challenges of Covid, the way the state leadership tackled the issue of dense population and various social challenges is highly commendable,” she said. “Uttar Pradesh is a model not only for India but for the whole world,” she said.

Gates also congratulated women’s self-help groups (SHGs) for the success of the nutrition mission and praised the efforts being made to increase the income of farmers by promoting the formation of FPOs in the largest agricultural state of the country.

The Chief Minister said that he has closely seen the works of the BMGF, which has made a commendable contribution to the field of health and nutrition. Uttar Pradesh received logistics and technical support from the Foundation amid the challenges of Covid.

The Chief Minister said, “Uttar Pradesh has achieved satisfactory success in health and nutrition in recent years. About 95 percent of the deaths of innocent children caused by a disease like encephalitis have been controlled. Besides, the Foundation has cooperated with us for effective control of communicable diseases like Chikungunya and Kala-azar. We have received good cooperation from global organizations such as UNICEF, WHO, BMGF, and PATH in the field of public health, including in controlling various waterborne diseases such as encephalitis, as well as Covid management.”

Jagan calls BCs ‘backbone classes’ at massive outreach conclave

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Jagan calls BCs ‘backbone classes’ at massive outreach conclave

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Wednesday that BCs are not backward classes but they are the ‘backbone classes’ of the society.

In a massive outreach to the BCs, the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) organized a massive conclave ‘Jayaho BC Mahasabha’.

In what is claimed to be the first of its kind gathering, over one lakh BC leaders of YSRCP from all 175 Assembly constituencies and public representatives of the party from ministers to village heads participated in the conclave.

Leaders and representatives of 139 BCs participated in the Mahasabha, where the chief minister highlighted his government’s various welfare measures for the BC community.

He revealed that the government has disbursed Rs 1,63,000 crore to the BC community through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and Non-DBT methods in the last three years.

Through DBT alone, Rs 86,000 crore was distributed to the people.

“We have taken steps to empower every sector. Of the total expenditure of Rs 3,19,227 crore spent by the government in the last 3 years under DBT & Non-DBT (for all the schemes), Rs 2,50,357 crore or 80 percent of the total amount has been spent for the SCs/STs/BCs and minorities,” he said.

Coming down heavily on Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu, the chief minister said TDP went to court to stall the housing scheme and English medium in schools.

“To ensure self-respect in all areas, we brought in three capitals but they went to court against that as well. Ours’ is a social justice party, TDP is social injustice party,” Jagan Mohan Reddy said.

The chief minister recalled that in 2014, Chandrababu Naidu had made 114 promises to BCs but he did not fulfill 10 of them.

Jagan said while Chandrababu Naidu did not send even one BC member to Rajya Sabha between 2014-2018, YSRCP sent four BCs to Rajya Sabha, and in the state legislative council out of the 32 MLCs, 18 are from the BC community.

“The Assembly speaker is from the BC community, the Council Chairman is from the SC community and the council deputy chairman is from the minority.

“Our government has empowered BCs, SCs, STs, and minorities even in the cabinet. 11 BC MLAs have been made ministers in this government and if you combine BCs, SC, STs, and minorities, the government has given 70 percent of the ministries to them,” he said.

Jagan claimed that the YSRCP government fulfilled the promises made in 2019. He announced that the BC Corporation will be constituted. The government has already formed 56 corporations.

“Permanent BC commission has been established as promised. This is the first in the country. In nominated posts, temple boards, and Agri marketing committees, our government has given 50 percent reservation for BC, SC, ST, and minorities. In the nominated contract works, we have promised 50 percent of the work to BC, SC, ST, and Minorities. We announced this by bringing an Act in the first assembly session,” he said.

For those not into traditional business, YSRCP promised welfare schemes for them. The government brought Jagananna Thodu and Cheythodu.

He pointed out that under the TDP rule, the government was spending only Rs 35,000 as fee reimbursement and the rest was borne by the parents. But now, the government is paying 100 of the fees.

YSRCP government also paid the fee reimbursement arrears of the previous govt. As of now, the government has spent Rs 9,052 crore on Jagananna Vidya Deevana.

Hostel and Mess charges have been taken care of by Jagananna Vasathi de event. The government has so far spent Rs 3,349 crore on this scheme.

MCD polls: AAP takes lead over BJP in 126 wards

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MCD polls: AAP takes lead over BJP in 126 wards

The AAP is leading in 126 wards, while the BJP is ahead in 96 seats as the counting is underway in 42 centers for the December 4 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections, as per the initial official trends at 10.30 am.

Meanwhile, the Congress is leading in 11 wards, Independent on 3 while Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are ahead in one each.

As the trends showed AAP leading, scores of party workers started gathering in the party’s headquarters here.

BJP has won in six wards, while AAP has emerged victorious in four. The second round of counting of EVM votes is on.

Counting for the 250 wards of the civic agency began at 8 a.m. on Wednesday amid tight security arrangements at 42 centers.

There are a total of 1,349 candidates in the fray.

The exit polls have predicted a big win for the AAP. The BJP has been at the helm for the past 15 years in the MCD and it ran a high-pitched campaign as senior leaders of the BJP campaigned in the elections.

As per exit polls released on Monday, in Chandni Chowk, which has 30 wards, 20 may go to AAP while BJP is projected to win 10 wards.

In East Delhi, where there are 36 wards, AAP may win 22, followed by BJP at 14. Out of the 25 wards in New Delhi, AAP may win 21 followed by BJP at 4.

The exit poll further predicted that of the 41 wards in the North-East district, 21 will go to BJP, followed by AAP at 17, Congress at 2, and 1 ward will go to others.

PM Modi to attend World Ayurveda Congress in Goa

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PM Modi to attend World Ayurveda Congress in Goa

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the valedictory session of the 9th World Ayurveda Congress to be held in Goa on December 11.

The four-day event will commence on December 8 with the participation of around five thousand delegates. More than 200 foreign delegates from 30 countries will also attend.

There will be 150 invited keynote speakers from 35 countries and 600 overseas Ayurveda stakeholders.

This event will bring together leading practitioners of Ayurveda and a whole spectrum of stakeholders from around the world.

Union Minister for Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik, and Union Minister of State for Ayush Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai will be present on the occasion.

The conclave is being organized by the World Ayurveda Foundation, an initiative of Vijnana Bharati, with the support of the Union Ministry of AYUSH and the government of Goa.

Major topics to be deliberated include, ‘Expanding the Scope of Ayurveda’, ‘New Age Prospects’, Innovations and Entrepreneurship, Ayurveda Education, Ayur Informatics, Innovation Ecosystem, Health and Environment and Heal in India.

Congress leaders pay tributes to Ambedkar

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Congress leaders pay tributes to Ambedkar

Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury paid tributes to B.R. Ambedkar at the Parliament lawns in the national capital on his death anniversary. Kharge tweeted, “We are Indians, firstly and lastly.”

” Babasaheb Dr. B R Ambedkar “On the Mahaparinirvan Diwas of Babasaheb, it is time to reaffirm the ideals of – liberty, equality, fraternity, and justice, which he truly championed. Social transformation is the foundation for any progress.”

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also tweeted, “Humble tributes to Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar on his Punya tithi. As the chief architect of the Constitution of India & as a social reformer, he dedicated his life to upholding the ideals of social justice & equality. His life & principles would always be a guiding light.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is in Rajasthan for his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra. December 6 is observed as the Mahaparinirvan Diwas, or the death anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the Father of the Indian Constitution.

SIT to probe old cases against SP MLA in UP

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SIT to probe old cases against SP MLA in UP

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to investigate old cases against Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Irfan Solanki, has flagged four of the 13 complaints received by the police as ‘serious’ after a preliminary investigation.

Irfan and his brother Rizwan Solanki were sent to jail in connection with a case of arson last week.

The complainants have given concrete evidence to support the charges against the MLA to the police.

The police will first investigate these four complaints. If charges are found to be true, cases will be registered against the MLA.

Irfan and his brother Rizwan, after remaining elusive for 24 days in the arson case, had surrendered before the commissioner of police B.P. Jogdand on Friday morning after a case was registered at the Jajmau police station. They were sent to jail thereafter.

SIT sources said joint commissioner of police Anand Prakash Tiwari held a meeting with the SIT and the scrutiny of the allegations in all the 13 complaints was done minutely. After an initial investigation, SIT has decided to investigate four out of 13 complaints considering them to be serious in nature.

These complaints are allegations of fraudulently taking money and threatening by misusing the position to pressurize for returning, fraudulently extorting money in the purchase of land, and demanding extortion. However, the identity of the complainants has not been divulged by the police.

Bangladesh’s reserves increased to $48 bn, says PM Hasina

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Bangladesh’s reserves increased to $48 bn, says PM Hasina

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Monday that the country’s reserves have increased to $48 billion during the tenure of her government.

Rubbishing rumors, the premier said: “Some words will spread rapidly and you (people) might be misled. But, I will say there is nothing to be misled.”

She urged the countrymen not to pay heed to any propaganda over foreign reserves and bank liquidity as Bangladesh is economically stable despite many developed countries facing global crisis for the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

“Inflation has increased globally. Many developed countries are at stake economically and facing trouble — their reserve is declining. But, we can say that we have been able to keep Bangladesh in a stable condition,” she said while addressing a graduation ceremony of the National Defence Course-2022 and Armed Forces War Course-2022 at the Sheikh Hasina Complex in Dhaka’s Mirpur Cantonment.

She said the reserves were only $2.5 billion when the Awami League assumed power for the first time in 1996 and it was a mere $5 billion when her party came to the power for the second time in 2001.

The premier said her government has taken every possible measure including purchasing Covid-19 vaccines, giving stimulus packages to industries and business establishments, and reaching cash to every person up to a grassroots level to protect Bangladesh’s economy and its people from the wrath of the pandemic.

She said they purchased the Covid-19 vaccines by giving 12,000 crore taka in advance while the development of the vaccine was in the research stage.

Bangladesh has administered the Covid-19 vaccines to its people free of cost despite the fact that no rich or developed country did it, the Prime Minister said.

Hasina reiterated her call to bring all lands under cultivation so Bangladesh never falls into a food crisis as the world is approaching a serious food problem.

She also said her government did not show any stinginess in spending money to protect Bangladesh and its people, urging people to show austerity in using electricity, gas, and water.

Summoned by CBI in liquor scam, Kavitha meets KCR

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Summoned by CBI in liquor scam, Kavitha meets KCR

A day after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sought clarifications on the Delhi liquor policy scam, TRS MLC K. Kavitha on Saturday met Telangana Chief Minister and her father K. Chandrashekar Rao.

Kavitha drove to Pragati Bhavan, the residence of CM KCR. They are believed to be discussing the strategy to counter what they believe is a political vendetta by the BJP government at the Centre by targeting them through Central agencies.

She is likely to discuss the latest developments with brother and state minister K. T. Rama Rao and other family members.

The TRS leaders are also believed to be discussing the political strategy of the party to counter investigations by Central agencies like the CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Income Tax against state ministers, MPs, state legislators, and other leaders.

Meanwhile, a large number of TRS workers reached Kavitha’s house to show solidarity with her a day after she confirmed that the CBI has issued a notice to her.

“I’ve been issued a CBI Notice under Section 160 of Cr. P.C., seeking my clarification. I have informed the authorities that I can meet them at my residence in Hyderabad on Dec 6th as per their request,” Kavita said in a statement on Friday.

The CBI notice dated December 2, stated, “During the course of investigation of the subject cited case, certain facts have emerged which you may be acquainted with, hence your examination on such facts is required in the interest of investigation.”

On November 30, Kavitha’s name surfaced in the remand report filed by the ED in a Delhi court on Wednesday for the remand of businessman Amit Arora in the Delhi liquor policy scam.

According to the remand report, businessman Vijay Nair, who has already been arrested in the case, received kickbacks of Rs 100 crore on behalf of AAP leaders from a group, called ‘South Group’.

The group is controlled by Sarath Reddy, Kavitha, and Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, it added.

Sarath Reddy, one of the directors of pharma major Aurobindo Pharma, has already been arrested.

Srinivasulu Reddy is a member of Parliament belonging to Andhra Pradesh’s ruling party YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

The CBI is likely to seek information from Kavitha based on the remand report. The ED stated in the report that the TRS leader changed 10 phone devices between December 2021 and October 2022.

Kavitha had said on December 1 that she will fully cooperate with the central agency and is not scared of anything.

She alleged that the BJP government at the Centre is playing cheap tricks to damage her reputation through media leaks.

“We have already said we are ready to face any probe. If an agency comes and questions, we will definitely give a reply but if you resort to media leaks to damage the reputation of leaders, people will definitely fight back,” she said.

Kavitha, a member of the Telangana Legislative Council, also dared the Modi government to put her in jail. “If you want to put me in jail, do it. There is no problem but we will not stop working for the people and we will continue to expose the failures of the BJP,” she said.

The former MP alleged that the ED, CBI, and IT cases against ministers, MLAs and other TRS leaders were BJP’s reaction to TRS exposing its conspiracy to topple the democratically elected government.

“You conspired to topple the government and since we exposed this before people, as a reaction ED, CBI, and IT cases are booked against ministers, MLAs, and MLCs,” she said.

BJP to hold ‘massive’ meeting of office bearers on Dec 5-6

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BJP to hold ‘massive’ meeting of office bearers on Dec 5-6

With campaigning for Gujarat Assembly and Delhi civic polls coming to an end, BJP National President J.P. Nadda has called a “massive” meeting of all national and state-level office bearers of the party in the national capital on December 5 and 6 to discuss future elections.

The meeting, party sources say, has been called to discuss the strategy and preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as the 2023 assembly elections in several states.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address the concluding session of the meeting virtually on December 6.

Along with all the national office bearers of the party, in-charge and co-in-charge of all the states, state presidents and state organization general secretaries of all states have also been called to the meeting.

A senior BJP leader said that information about the achievements of the government will also be shared with the office bearers during the meeting, which will be presided over by Nadda. The functioning of the organization will also be reviewed in the meeting.

Considering India’s G-20 presidency a major achievement, the party will also outline programmes linked with it to apprise people about the country’s “growing global influence under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi”.

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