PM, Sonia pay tributes to Jagjivan Ram

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PM, Sonia pay tributes to Jagjivan Ram

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday paid tributes to freedom fighter and Dalit icon Babu Jagjivan Ram on the occasion of his 115th birth anniversary.

Paying tributes to the former deputy Prime Minister, Modi posted on Twitter: “Tributes to Babu Jagjivan Ram Ji on his birth anniversary. Our nation will always remember his remarkable contribution be it during the freedom movement or after Independence. He was widely admired for his administrative skills and concern for the poor.”

The Prime Minister also posted an old picture in which he is seen offering tributes to Jagjivan Ram along with former finance minister Arun Jaitley.

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi also led the grand old party in paying tributes to Jagjivan Ram.

He had quit the Congress because of differences and joined the Janata Party alliance.

Sri Lankan ruling party loses majority in Parliament

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Sri Lankan ruling party loses majority in Parliament

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ruling party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) on Tuesday lost its majority in Parliament as 42 MPs announced they would sit independently.

Among the 42 MPs, 14 are from Sri Lanka Freedom Party, 10 belong to constituent parties of the government, and 12 are SLPP MPs, among others, reports Xinhua news agency.

The ruling SLPP-led alliance won 146 seats in the 225-member Parliament in the 2020 general election.

Tuesday’s development comes amid an ongoing turmoil in the island nation due to the country’s worst-ever economic crisis, triggering widespread anti-government protests.

On Monday night, Rajapaksa had said that he will not resign but was ready to hand over the government to whichever party holds 113 seats in Parliament.

On Monday, he held back-to-back political meetings amidst public protests throughout the nation, calling on the President and government to resign, reports the Daily Mirror newspaper.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a former Defence Secretary in his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government, played a crucial role to end the 26-year-long war against Tamil rebel Tigers.

In the 2019 Presidential election, he was elected President with a sweeping 2/3 majority with over 6.9 million votes.

Lack of dollar reserves and depreciation forced an economic crisis to lead to severe shortages of fuel, LPG, electricity, and essential food, and people are demanding Rajapaksa give up power immediately.

Sonia accuses BJP of misusing probe agencies to target opposition

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Sonia accuses BJP of misusing probe agencies to target opposition

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday accused the BJP of playing divisive politics and misusing probe agencies to target the opposition parties.

She was speaking at the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting.

“The divisive and polarising agenda of the ruling party and its leaders has now become a regular feature of the political discourse in state after state.”

She said history — not just ancient but also contemporary — is being mischievously distorted and facts are maliciously invented to add fuel to the agenda. It is for everyone to stand up and confront these forces of “hate and prejudice”.

“We will not allow them to damage the bonds of amity and harmony that have sustained and enriched our diverse society for centuries,” she added.

The veteran leader accused the ruling establishment of continuously targeting the opposition, its leaders, and workers. The full might of the state machinery is unleashed against them.

“Maximum governance to those in power clearly means spreading maximum fear and intimidation. Such blatant threats and tactics will neither frighten nor silence us nor cow us down.” She said.

Sonia alleged that the MSMEs are in the most precarious condition. There is no sign whatsoever that the commitments made to the farmers are going to be fulfilled in any significant manner. Prices of cooking gas and oil, petrol, diesel, fertilizers and other essential commodities have risen to an unbearable limit — and continue to rise.

“A few days back, our party launched a nationwide Mehngai-mukt Bharat campaign in which many of you took part. This must be sustained.”

She praised the Congress-led UPA government’s National Food Security Act and MGNREGA and alleged that though the minister concerned has denied it, inordinately delayed wage payments, however, continue to be a serious issue.

“In spite of repeated attempts, we have been unable to get the Government to agree to a discussion on the situation on our borders, a discussion that could only have deepened the sense of collective resolve. The value of non-alignment as a foundational principle of the nation’s foreign policy that was criticized so much has now, I am glad to note, been rediscovered even though it may not be acknowledged as such,” she added.

She expressed concern about the future of the thousands of students who have been evacuated from Ukraine. She charged the government with diluting the labor laws at a time of growing unemployment and livelihood insecurity. Interest rates on employee provident fund accumulations have been reduced considerably.

“Public sector enterprises, the one important avenue for employment of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes are being sold off under the fancy name “asset monetization”. This will be another disaster as demonetization turned out to be,” she said.

Modi, Bennett discuss prevailing situation in Ukraine

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Modi, Bennett discuss prevailing situation in Ukraine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke with his Israeli counterpart Naftali Bennett over the phone and discussed the recent geopolitical developments, including the situation in Ukraine.

The Russia-Ukraine war has entered its 40th day. Explosions were heard on Monday in the cities of Kherson and Odesa, in the south, while air raid sirens sounded across the east.

Modi conveyed his best wishes to Bennett for early recovery after his Covid-19 diagnosis. The Prime Minister also expressed his condolences for the loss of lives in the recent terrorist attacks in Israel.

“The leaders had a detailed discussion on recent geopolitical developments, including the situation in Ukraine. They also reviewed the ongoing bilateral cooperation initiatives,” the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Modi also conveyed his eagerness to welcome Bennett to India at an early date.

In the Russia-Ukraine war, India has called for “restraint on all sides” and said that all issues between both countries can only be resolved through “diplomatic dialogue”.

Earlier, Modi had spoken to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in an attempt to resolve the issue through “dialogue”.

Modi had also welcomed the ongoing negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and expressed hope that they would lead to a cessation of the conflict.

Similarly, Bennett plays a peacemaker’s role in the war and has made numerous calls to both Putin and Zelensky in an attempt to assist the efforts to resolve the conflict,

SL Prez invites oppn parties to join cabinet to resolve crisis

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SL Prez invites oppn parties to join cabinet to resolve crisis

Following the resignation of the Sri Lankan Cabinet amid anti-government protests, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has invited all political parties, including the opposition, to accept ministerial posts and to help to resolve the ongoing economic crisis.

Issuing a statement, President Rajapaksa invited the parties to come together to find solutions.

“The current crisis is a result of several economic factors and global developments. As one of the leading democratic countries in Asia, solutions should be found to this within a democratic framework,” the statement noted.

“Considering this a national need, the time has come to work together for the sake of all the citizens and future generations.”

As the island-wide protests defying curfew and emergency laws imposed by Rajapaksa took place on Sunday, the government decided to dissolve the cabinet with the plan to have an all-party interim government.

Grappled by a severe economic crisis, the island nation has been going through a crisis where people are suffered without fuel, LPG, electricity, and food for months.

Extensive loans and unlimited money printing which exceeded 1.2 trillion LKR ($4 billion) in 2021 have led to the current economic crisis.

Meanwhile, Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal, who was blamed by the opposition parties and activists as responsible for extensive money printing, has resigned.

Another round of district bifurcation in Bengal likely next year

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Another round of district bifurcation in Bengal likely next year

Speculation is rife that West Bengal is heading for a fresh round of district bifurcation by 2023.

Reportedly a brainchild of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the preparatory planning for this proposed fresh district bifurcation has already started and the plan is currently restricted among selected members of the cabinet and the top bureaucrats of the state. Although none of the top cabinet members and bureaucrats were willing to make any official comment on this matter, highly placed sources said if the fresh bifurcation is done the total number of districts in West Bengal will increase to 27 from the existing 23.

The planned three new districts will be forked out of the two big districts of North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas. To recall, the two existing districts of North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas were formed by bifurcating the erstwhile undivided 24 Parganas district on March 1, 1980.

A state government official, aware of the planning for the formation of the three new districts, told to an interviewer on condition of anonymity, that the proposed three districts would be Sunderbans, Basirhat, and Alipur.

Of the three, the formation of the Sunderbans district will be the most complicated process and it will have to be formed by forking out pockets from both North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts. According to him, the proposed Sunderbans district might be forked out mainly out of Gosaba, Basanti, and Kultali areas in South 24 Parganas district as well as Hingalganj and Sandeshkhali blocks in the current North 24 Parganas district.

The state government official also said that the formation process of the planned Basirhat and Alipur districts will be comparatively simple. Alipur might be formed with the pockets forked out of the Kolkata adjacent pockets in South 24 Parganas districts as well as the Assembly constituencies under Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, wherefrom the MP is the Trinamool Congress’s national general secretary and the chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee.

On the other hand, the state government official said the proposed Basirhat district would be formed from pockets forked out of the existing Basirhat and Bangaon sub-divisions in the North 24 Parganas district.

Since 1980, West Bengal has witnessed district bifurcations seven times, out of which three developments were during the previous Left Front regime and four developments took place during the current Trinamool Congress regime.

The first event of district bifurcation in the state was on March 1, 1980, when the previous Left Front government was in force with late nonagenarian Indian Marxist, Jyoti Basu as the state chief minister.

The second phase of district bifurcation was on April 1, 1992, when the erstwhile West Dinajpur district was bifurcated into the existing North Dinajpur and South Dinajpur districts. At that point in time, the Jyoti Basu-led Left Front government was in power in the state.

The third phase of bifurcation was on January 1, 2002, when the undivided Midnapore district was divided into the existing two districts of East Midnapore and West Midnapore. Mamata Banerjee’s predecessor, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was the chief minister of West Bengal then.

On June 25, 2014, when the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress regime came to power, the new Alipurduar district was formed by bifurcating Jalpaiguri district.

Again, on February 14, 2017, the hill district of Kalimpong was formed by bifurcating the Darjeeling district.

On April 4, 2017, the formation of the new Jhargram district was formed by bifurcating the West Midnapore district.

Finally, on April 7, 2017, two districts of West Burdwan and East Burdwan were created by bifurcating the erstwhile undivided Burdwan district.

Commenting on the practical justification of the bifurcation of districts, senior political analyst and former registrar of Calcutta University, Raja Gopal Dhar Chakraborty told in an interview that the formation of smaller districts through the bifurcation of bigger districts is always a welcome move.

“First this will provide a relief to the common people from traveling long distances to reach government offices. Secondly, the formation of new districts means the creation of new government offices which enhances the scope of fresh employment. However, at the same time, I would also like to say that like the formation of new and smaller districts I also do not find any harm in the creation of new and smaller states through the bifurcation of bigger states. There might be some sentimental issues involved with the bifurcation of states but the creation of smaller states enhances administrative advantage,” Dhar Chakraborty said.

PM Modi’s speech on April 6 to have maximum coverage

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PM Modi’s speech on April 6 to have maximum coverage

Elaborate arrangements are being made to ensure that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on April 6, which is BJP’s Foundation Day, reached out to every nook and corner of Uttar Pradesh.

Since this will be the first event for the state BJP after its victory in the recent state Assembly elections, the party is going all out to ensure its maximum coverage.

Special LED screens are being set up at BJP offices and arrangements are being made at village panchayat levels of the party organization to ensure the telecast of the event virtually.

The party’s foundation day, the first of the six annual events that the BJP celebrates all over the country, will be a mega show this year.

Besides the foundation day, the party will also celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14 as ‘Samrasta Diwas’ to highlight its initiatives to achieve social inclusion.

The entire week following the foundation day will be celebrated as ‘Seva Saptah’ (week dedicated to public service).

Uttar Pradesh BJP General Secretary and party’s Lucknow in-charge, Govind Narayan Shukla, said, “We will organize blood donation camps, health camps, plantation drives, and other public welfare activities. Programs will be organized in every division of the state BJP. Party workers will carry placards mentioning the government’s welfare schemes like the free ration scheme, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, among others.”

LED screens will be put up at various sites where party workers will listen to the Prime Minister’s speech.

Other party workers will listen to the address through the medium available to them.

Ministers, MPs, MLAs, and office-bearers from the party will be present in the programs in all districts.

Nepal PM’s visit further strengthens neighbourly ties, says Jaishankar

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Nepal PM’s visit further strengthens neighbourly ties, says Jaishankar

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who called on visiting Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Friday evening, said he was confident that this visit will further strengthen our close relations.

“I am confident that this visit will further strengthen our close neighborly ties,” he said.

Before that, Deuba, who is on a three-day visit, visited the BJP headquarters and met party chief J.P. Nadda.

Deuba, his wife, and four cabinet ministers of Nepal were part of the delegation that met Nadda, and the meeting lasted for around half an hour.

After the meeting, BJP overseas affairs cell chief Vijay Chauthaiwale said that at the party chief’s invitation, Deuba, his wife, and four cabinet ministers visited BJP headquarters.

“Discussion was held in a very cordial environment and the BJP chief briefed Nepal Prime Minister about the social works done by party workers during the Covid period,” Chauthaiwale said.

Deuba on Friday arrived in New Delhi on a three days visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He is accompanied by a 50-member delegation. The team will also include secretaries in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Water Resources, Health and Population, Agriculture, and Physical Planning.

Shah inaugurates birth anniversary of Lingayat pontiff in K’taka

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Shah inaugurates birth anniversary of Lingayat pontiff in K’taka

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday inaugurated the 115th birth anniversary of Lingayat pontiff, late Shivakumara Swamiji at Siddaganga Mutt in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has adopted the Lingayat seer’s philosophy.

At Siddaganga Mutt, more than 10,000 poor children from all sections of the society get to stay, study and have food.

The Modi government has also implemented this service spirit in its governance, Shah added.

“During the Covid crisis, 80 crore people were given 5 kg food for two years. Through the National Education Policy, PM Modi has enabled the students to get technical education, engineering, and medicine in their own languages. The Modi government has provided a home to 3 crore people in seven years of its rule. All three principles of late pontiff Shivakumar Swamiji, which are education, shelter, and free food, have been implemented by PM Modi too,” the Union Home Minister said.

“I have come to Siddaganga Mutt for the third time in my lifetime. Whenever I come here, I have gone back with enlightenment. Former Prime Minister, late Atal Bihari Vajpayee stated that ‘Uttar mein Ganga Aur Dakshin mein Siddaganga’, referring to this Mutt,” he added.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa demanded the inclusion of the life history of Shivakumara Swamiji in the school syllabus for children.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he would consider naming the government mid-day scheme after Shivakumar Swamiji.

Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Bhagwanth Khutba said he was a student of the Mutt and now he is a devotee.

Congress leader G. Parameshwara was also present at the function.

Move to Hyderabad, KTR tells startup founder unhappy with B’luru infra

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Move to Hyderabad, KTR tells startup founder unhappy with B’luru infra

“Pack your bags and move to Hyderabad” was the advice of Telangana’s Information Technology and Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao to a startup founder who highlighted the poor infrastructure in Bengaluru.

“Pack your bags & move to Hyderabad! We have better physical infrastructure & equally good social infrastructure. Our airport is 1 of the best & getting in & out of the city is a breeze More importantly our Govt’s focus is on 3 I Mantra; innovation, infrastructure & inclusive growth,” tweeted Rama Rao.

This was in response to a tweet by Khatabook founder Ravish Naresh, who flagged bad roads, power cuts, poor quality water supply, and other problems in the Karnataka capital.

“Startups in HSR/Koramangala (India’s Silicon Valley) are already generating billions of $ of taxes. Yet we have v bad roads, almost daily power cuts, poor quality water supply, unusable footpaths. Many rural areas now have better basic infra than India’s Silicon Valley,” tweeted Naresh.

“Also the nearest airport is 3hrs away in peak traffic,” added Naresh who tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP’s Karnataka unit, and MP Tejasvi Surya, seeking their help.

Many Twitter users urged Naresh to look at Hyderabad which has the best infrastructure, including an uninterrupted power supply to all sectors.

Some netizens also commented that the focus of Karnataka is on non-issues. “Sadly, the focus is on Hijab and removing Muslim vendors near temples. Karnataka, slowly but surely, is turning into Uttar Pradesh of South,” tweeted a user who goes by the name Anshul.

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