Assam govt to convert 1,100 wooden bridges to concrete

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Assam govt to convert 1,100 wooden bridges to concrete

In an effort to improve road connectivity across the state, the Assam government has decided to convert 1,100 wooden bridges to concrete, an official said here on Friday.

The government will invest Rs 4,000 crore for the project. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a meeting regarding the project with top Public Works Department (PWD) officials in Guwahati on Thursday evening.

Apart from the construction of new concrete bridges, the state government has decided to reconstruct roads in the Dima Hasao district which were damaged during the heavy monsoon floods earlier this year.

For this, nearly Rs 3,800 crore has been allocated. Both these projects have received the Central government’s approval, the official added.

During Thursday’s meeting, Sarma also informed that in association with World Bank and Asian Development Bank, the Public Works (Roads) Department is implementing numerous crucial projects in the state.

Notable among these were the Rs 2,608-crore Guwahati-North Guwahati Bridge, and Rs 3,197-crore Palasbari-Suwalkuchi Bridge.

The Chief Minister also said that the state government has already set a deadline of March 2026 to complete all the major road projects in the state.

Gujarat Polls: Urban voter turnout 15% lower than in tribal & rural belt

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Gujarat Polls: Urban voter turnout 15% lower than in tribal & rural belt

In the first phase of the Gujarat assembly elections, rural and tribal voters have come out in large numbers, but the urban voters have not come out to vote on such a scale.

Till 3 p.m., 48.48 % of voters voted for 788 candidates in 89 constituencies in Saurashtra and Kutch, and South Gujarat. The highest voting has been reported in Tapi district at 64.27%, Narmada at 63.88%, and Dangs at 58.55%.

In Saurashtra’s Bhavnagar district it was 45.91 percent, Junagadh district 46.03 %, and Surat 47.01% votes.

Constituency-wise voting shows a huge difference between enthusiasm for voting in tribal reserve seat Nizar at 66.42%, Kaprada (64.45%), whereas in the urban areas it was 42.90% in Rajkot West and 43.42% in Rajkot South.

In Rajkot district, in the most sensitive assembly constituency Gondal, Congress candidate Yatish Desai alleged that the party’s polling agent Jaydeep Parakhiya was beaten up by BJP leader Babubhai Toliya’s son, they attempted bogus voting at Jamvadi polling station of the constituency.

Not scared, ready to cooperate with ED, says KCR’s daughter Kavitha

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Not scared, ready to cooperate with ED, says KCR’s daughter Kavitha

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter K. Kavitha, whose name figured in the investigation by Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the Delhi liquor policy scam, said on Thursday that she will fully cooperate with the central agency and is not scared of anything.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader alleged that the BJP government at the Centre is resorting to cheap tactics to damage her reputation through media leaks.

Addressing the media and her supporters at her residence here, Kavitha told Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop using central agencies like ED, CBI, and IT to target his political opponents and come to power.

“We have already said we are ready to face any probe. If the agency comes and questions, we will definitely 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.

Kavitha made it clear that she is not scared. “We are not scared. At the most what you can do. Will you hang us? At the most, you can put us in jail. Do it. As long as people are with us and we are working sincerely for people, there is nothing to fear,” she said.

The TRS alleged that the entire country knows that during the last few years, the BJP has toppled democratically elected governments in nine states and came to power through manipulation.

“In every state, ED comes a year before elections. ED comes before Modi. There is nothing new in Telangana as the elections are to be held here next year,” she said.

She advised Narendra Modi to stop using central agencies to come to power. “Go to people, tell them what you will do for them, and get democratically elected but using CBI, ED to win and that too in politically conscious Telangana is not possible,” she said.

Kavitha’s name has 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’.

According to the report, the group is controlled by Sarath Reddy, Kavitha, and Magenta Srinivasulu Reddy. 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).

Telangana governor anguished over manner of Sharmila’s arrest

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Telangana governor anguished over manner of Sharmila’s arrest

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has termed “disturbing” the visuals of YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) leader Y. S. Sharmila’s car being towed away while she was inside.

The governor expressed concern over the developments and the consequent arrest of the YSRTP president and former chief minister Dr. Y.S. Rajshekhar Reddy’s daughter Y.S. Sharmila.

Tamilisai took to Twitter to react to Tuesday’s incidents. She tagged the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Union Home Minister, and Director General of Police of Telangana.

“The Governor expressed anguish at the way Smt. Sharmila was arrested and expressed concern about her safety and health condition. The visuals of towing away of her car, when she was inside the car, were disturbing,” reads the tweet from her official handle.

Tamilisai Soundararajan stated that whatever may be the political background or ideology, women leaders need to be treated in a more dignified and respectful way.

“Women cadres & women leaders need to be treated in a more dignified & respectful way in such situations,” she said.

Sharmila, who is the sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, was arrested amid high drama on Raj Bhavan Road on Tuesday when she was marching to the chief minister’s residence to stage a protest against an attack on her padyatra in Warangal district by the supporters of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) the previous day.

Sharmila, who was driving a car damaged in the attack by TRS men, refused to get down. The police then called a towing vehicle, which towed the car away with the leader still sitting inside it.

The YSRTP leader was shifted to the SR Nagar police station. She, along with six others, was booked for unlawful assembly, public nuisance, criminal intimidation, insulting the modesty of a woman, using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty, and theft.

The police on Tuesday night produced them before a magistrate, who granted them bail.

Wanted UP SP MLA booked for travelling on forged Aadhaar

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Wanted UP SP MLA booked for travelling on forged Aadhaar

The absconding Samajwadi Party MLA Irfan Solanki has been booked for boarding a New Delhi to Mumbai flight on a forged Aadhaar card on November 11.

The MLA and his brother Rizwan were already wanted by the Kanpur police for allegedly setting a woman’s house on fire to grab her 365 square yard plot in Jajmau’s Defence Colony.

Anand Prakash Tiwari, joint commissioner of police (law and order) said that a senior woman SP leader Noori Shauqat and three others, who allegedly helped Solanki obtain the Aadhaar card, have been arrested. The three others were Ashraf Ali, Anwar Mansoori, and Akhtar Mansoori. Two more people named Ishrat Ali and Ammar Ilahi were yet to be arrested, said Tiwari.

The MLA flew from Delhi to Mumbai using this forged identity card to evade arrest. The Aadhaar card carried his photograph but had his name mentioned as Ashraf Ali, the officer said. Tiwari said the fresh FIR was lodged with the Gwaltoli police.

“The police have seized the computer and other gadgets that were used to forge the Aadhaar,” he said, adding the police charged Solanki and six others under sections 212, 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B of the IPC.

Several police teams were conducting raids in several cities for the arrest of the MLA. While on his trail, the police team found that Solanki had gone to Mumbai from New Delhi.

The police obtained CCTV footage of airport terminals in the two cities that confirmed Solanki’s entry and exit after the said flight landed, said the JCP.

The footage also purportedly showed that some people had come to the airport to receive the MLA. “All these people knew that Solanki was wanted in a criminal offense and that he was traveling on forged documents. They have also been made an accused,” he added.

The FIR came ahead of the hearing on Solanki’s anticipatory bail plea in a district court. His lawyer, Naresh Chandra Tripathi, alleged that the MLA was being framed.

Hyderabad cops tow away car with Sharmila sitting inside

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Hyderabad cops tow away car with Sharmila sitting inside

A car with YSRTP leader Y.S. Sharmila in it was towed away by police here on Tuesday when she was heading towards Chief Minister’s official residence to protest the alleged attack by TRS supporters on her padyatra in Warangal district on Monday.

The YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) leader herself was driving the car and proceeding towards Pragathi Bhavan as a mark of protest against the attack by the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).

Police stopped her on the way. As Sharmila refused to get down from the car, the police called a crane that towed away the vehicle with the YSRTP leader sitting in it.

Sharmila, who is the sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, was arrested and taken to S.R. Nagar Police Station.

After reaching the police station, she refused to get down of the car. Police personnel forcibly opened the car door and whisked her away to the police station.

Meanwhile, some YSRTP workers who reached the police station to stage the protest were arrested.

A case was registered against her at Panjagutta Police Station. The case was booked under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), section 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), and section 327 (voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act)

Meanwhile, Sharmila’s mother Y.S. Vijayamma was placed under house arrest by the police as she was leaving for S.R. Nagar Police Station to meet her. The police did not allow Vijayamma to come out of her residence in Jubilee Hills. Vijayamma began a protest at the residence along with her supporters.

She condemned the police behavior with her daughter. She alleged that the state government was trying to snatch the democratic right to raise people’s issues.

Sharmila along with supporters took out the protest march and headed towards the CM’s residence in Begumpet.

When they reached near Yashoda Hospital on Raj Bhavan Road, police stopped them.

The YSRTP workers raised slogans against the ruling party. As they tried to proceed toward the chief minister’s residence, police detained them.

The protest march by YSRTP also included the padyatra bus that was stoned and burnt by the TRS activists on Monday.

Sharmila’s Yatra bus and other vehicles were attacked at Narasmpet in the Warangal district when she was visiting the area as part of her Praja Prasthanam Yatra.

The YSRTP alleged that TRS men went on a rampage indiscriminately attacking the Padayatra, stoning and burning a bus, unleashing filthy language, and tearing down banners and party flags.

The police later arrested Sharmila on the ground that she was continuing the foot march despite their advice to call it off in view of the tense situation in the area.

The police later shifted the YSRTP leader to Hyderabad on Monday night. Addressing a press conference, she made it clear that her yatra and the fight against the TRS atrocities would not stop.

Sharmila added she would not be cowed down by the ‘rowdies and rogues of TRS’ and would march for the sake of 4-crore Telangana people who stood by her.

In continuation of her protest, she began her march towards Pragati Bhavan to “seek an explanation from KCR” and “know if this is part of his governance that those who questioned his government’s failures and tyranny had to be attacked and harmed”.

Some party leaders who also staged a protest at the party’s office in Jubilee Hills were also arrested by the police.

President Murmu opens International Gita Mahotsav in Kurukshetra

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President Murmu opens International Gita Mahotsav in Kurukshetra

President Droupadi Murmu on the first day of a two-day tour to Haryana on Tuesday offered prayers amidst chanting of mantras as she formally inaugurated the International Gita Mahotsav (IGM) — 2022 organized on the banks of Brahma Sarovar in Kurukshetra, the holy land of the Shrimad Bhagwad Gita.

Later, the President offered flowers on the religious scripture Gita as she performed the yagna near Lord Shri Krishna’s chariot idol located at Purushottampura Bagh.

Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya and Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar were also present on the occasion.

President Murmu inaugurated the Gita Shilp Udyan, built-in Purushottam Bagh, dedicated to the ongoing celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

At the Gita Shilp Udyan, an attempt has been made to give a glimpse of ongoing celebrations of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav along with many other significant aspects of Indian culture.

Twenty-one craftsmen from various states, comprising Haryana, Odisha, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Assam, have contributed beautiful sculptures.

The sculptures made of black marble, weighing 5 to 12 tons, have been prepared by the artists by carving pieces of the same rock. All the sculptures have been prepared on subjects related to Mahabharata. These beautiful sculptures have been made under the leadership of Hriday Kaushal and other promising art craftsmen along with the efforts of the Art and Cultural Affairs Department.

The sculptures have become witness to the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and this work has not only given the young artists of the state special recognition at the international level but has also made the vanishing art of modern sculptures alive.

This amazing modern art, which has been alive for centuries, is working to increase the pride and honor of Haryana.

The Shilp Udyan has become the center of attraction for tourists during the IGM — 2022.

International Gita Mahotsav — 2022 became more memorable for Haryanavis as the President gifted three pivotal projects to the state which include first-of-its-kind Nirogi Haryana, a health checkup scheme, covering Antyodaya families, the foundation stone of Sirsa Medical College and the e-ticketing system of the state roadways.

Later, she participated in the International Gita Seminar held at Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Sadan at Kurukshetra University here. The seminar is a part of the series of ongoing programs being held at IGM — 2022 in Kurukshetra.

The President, while attending the seminar, virtually launched these projects in the presence of Governor Dattatraya and Chief Minister Khattar, among other dignitaries.

Yogi compares Shivpal Yadav to a pendulum

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Yogi compares Shivpal Yadav to a pendulum

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) leader Shivpal Yadav’s condition has become like that of a pendulum that moves from one side to another.

Addressing his first election rally in Mainpuri, the Chief Minister targeted the Yadav clan and said: “Some people have become a football. They should ensure that they are not treated like one. Shivpal Yadav was not even given a chair to sit on and we all saw him sitting on the handle of a chair not so long ago.”

Adityanath further said that one should never be a pendulum in life because the pendulum has no target.

“The FIFA football tournament is going on at present. Like football, whenever a person turns around, one kicks from this side, and the other kicks from the other side. That poor fellow is only able to dance. Some people have become football… they have no movement. One must avoid becoming a football. With great clarity, we must move forward with respect and self-respect.

“To protect this honor and self-respect, the Bhartiya Janata Party has fielded Raghuraj Singh Shakya in this by-election and you must vote for him,” he said.

Earlier, Adityanath started his address by paying tribute to Mulayam Singh Yadav.

He attributed the victory of the BJP in the Azamgarh and Rampur Lok Sabha by-polls to the blessings of ‘Netaji’ (Mulayam) and said that with his blessings now, “the Lotus (party symbol) will bloom in Mainpuri as well”.

YSRCP will draw a blank in 2024 polls: Chandrababu Naidu

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YSRCP will draw a blank in 2024 polls: Chandrababu Naidu

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday predicted that the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) will draw a blank in the next Assembly elections.

The former chief minister said that YSRCP will suffer defeat in all 175 Assembly constituencies.

He predicted that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will lose the election in his constituency, Pulivendula.

Naidu’s prediction is a counter to Jagan Mohan Reddy’s claim that YSRCP will make a clean sweep in the 2024 polls by winning all 175 seats.

The YSRCP leader stated on many occasions that Naidu will lose the election on his home turf Kuppam.

The TDP chief claimed that the public response he received during his visit to the Kurnool district was unprecedented during his 40-year-long career. He said this has triggered tremors in YSRCP and forced it to replace presidents of eight district units of the party.

Naidu alleged that the aquaculture is in deep crisis now in Andhra Pradesh due to the faulty policies of the state government.

Participating in a state-wide seminar on ‘Idemi Kharma Aqua rytanganiki’ (what is this ill-fate for aquaculture), Chandrababu Naidu said that the policies of the state government should always be in favor of the farming sector but this government is only trying to have an upper hand on all the sectors.

Those who ruled the State earlier had always worked for the betterment of all systems but due to the wicked policies of this government aqua farmers are suffering a lot now, Naidu observed.

Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, always thinks of his share in every decision that he takes and he works only to mint money, the TDP national president maintained.

Prices of all commodities, including petrol and diesel, are skyrocketing only in Andhra Pradesh and even the prices of essential commodities and power tariffs are highest in the state, he stated.

The ‘Badudee Badudu’ programme organized by the TDP to highlight the highest tax structure in the state evoked tremendous response from the public, Chandrababu Naidu noted.

”When the TDP was in power, we encouraged every sector, including agriculture and aquaculture but now no Minimum Support Price (MSP) is being paid for any farm product, leave alone aqua products,” he said.

The former chief minister felt that several enactments have been made only to control the aqua farmers. The new legislations are only aimed at making money by looting the farmers, he remarked.

Chandrababu Naidu promised to supply power at Rs 1.50 per unit when the TDP comes back to power and also assured subsidy to the farming sector for installing solar energy systems.

”I am promising that quality seed and feed will be supplied to the farmers,” he said and remarked that if Jagan is ready to sacrifice his commission, he too can give subsidy in power and products.

UP ministers ready to cross shores for Global Investors’ Summit

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UP ministers ready to cross shores for Global Investors’ Summit

Uttar Pradesh ministers will travel to 19 cities across 17 countries between December 9 and 19, ahead of the Global Investors’ Summit (GIS) scheduled early next year.

The roadshows will work in a simultaneous mode which means that more than one roadshow will take place per day.

Sources said the schedule had been verbally approved by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who may travel separately closer to the event in January. The required paperwork for visas and other things has been initiated by the partner industry bodies.

Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) have been engaged for the event that eyes to attract an investment of over Rs 10 lakh crore to the state.

As per the schedule, state finance minister Suresh Khanna will travel alone between December 9 and 15 and lead roadshows in London, New York, and San Francisco.

Cabinet minister for industries and infrastructure development Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ and PWD minister Jitin Prasada will travel between December 9 and 14 to lead roadshows in Frankfurt, Brussels, and Stockholm.

On the same dates, Speaker UP Vidhan Sabha and former minister for industrial development Satish Mahana will travel to Canada to hold roadshows in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. He will be accompanied by Dharampal Singh, cabinet minister for animal husbandry, dairy development, political pension, minority welfare, Muslim waqf, and haj and civil defense departments.

Canada has extended support to the UP GIS 2023 as a partner country. Dharampal Singh will travel to Los Angeles on December 16 as well.

Minister for tourism Jaiveer Singh would travel to Tokyo and Seoul between December 9 and 16 with Ashish Patel, minister for technical education, consumer protection, weights, and measures minister.

The minister for MSME Rakesh Sachan will conduct the roadshow in Dubai and will head to his destination on December 11.

Power minister Arvind Kumar Sharma and Jal Shakti Minister Swatantra Dev Singh would travel to Sydney and Singapore City between December 13 and 16.

Deputy chief ministers Brijesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya will travel in different directions from December 13 and 16 respectively.

While Pathak would head to Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires with Sanjay Nishad, the minister for fisheries, Maurya would cover Hague and Paris with IT minister Yogendra Upadhyay.

Though the program for the chief minister is yet to be finalized, he may travel in January closer to the event.

Sources said his schedule was also subject to security clearances from the Union Ministry of External Affairs.

Senior officials had earlier pointed out that the focus sectors being targeted through the roadshows, include electronics manufacturing, retail, automobile, EV-manufacturing, defense, textile, agro and food processing, chemical, pharmaceuticals, venture capitalists, and transport among others.

Meanwhile, domestic roadshows will be led by senior officials from the industries department.

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