All eyes on results of TN urban polls as counting on Tuesday

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All eyes on results of TN urban polls as counting on Tuesday

All eyes are on the results of Tamil Nadu urban local body polls as the counting will start from 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The elections were held on February 19.

Chief Election Commissioner of Tamil Nadu, V. Palanikumar in a statement on Monday said that the commission has made elaborate arrangements at all the 268 counting centers in the state.

Palanikumar chaired a virtual session of the commission to review the arrangements for the counting of votes. This includes installation of CCTV cameras, deployment of security personnel, electricity supply, network connectivity, and other minor requirements.

The virtual meeting chaired by the Chief Election commission also discussed the arrangements made for the counting of postal ballots, adhering to Covid-19 standard protocol, declaring the election results at the earliest as well as uploading the details. The meeting discussed issuing Certificates and arranging the first meeting of elected representatives on March 2.

Tamil Nadu State Election Commission Secretary, A. Sundaravalli, Commissioner of Town Panchayats, R. Selvaraj, Director of Municipal administration, P. Ponniah, several senior officials, and district collectors were present in the virtual meeting.

Leap in higher education in TN due to AIADMK govt: Palaniswami

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Leap in higher education in TN due to AIADMK govt: Palaniswami

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Monday said that the leap in higher education in the state is due to the efforts of the AIADMK government.

In his address at the inaugural function of a private medical college owned by the former Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker, Thambidurai, at Hosur, he said that the percentage of entrants into the higher education sector in Tamil Nadu rose from 33 percent to 51 percent during the AIADMK regime.

He also said that the entry of students from modest backgrounds to medical colleges in Tamil Nadu was testimony to the efforts taken by the AIADMK government.

The AIADMK leader said that the state government’s 7.5 percent quota for medical education through NEET ensured that a large number of students from modest backgrounds could dream of medical education.

He also said that it was the AIADMK government that established 7 law colleges, 21 polytechnic colleges, 23 medical colleges, 5 veterinary colleges, and 40 government arts and science colleges.

Telangana model can be replicated across India: KTR

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Telangana model can be replicated across India: KTR

Telangana’s minister for information technology and industry K. T. Rama Rao has described the state as the most successful startup and said the Telangana model of development can be replicated across India.

The minister delivered a keynote address at the Harvard India Conference 2022 held virtually late Sunday.

During the one-hour-long session, he highlighted the all-around development of Telangana, the Hyderabad IT ecosystem, friendly industrial policies, and investment opportunities existing in the state.

Minister KTR spoke at the conference under the theme “Turbocharging India @ 2030. “If I want to talk about Turbocharging India @ 2030, I should speak about Turbocharging Telangana since 2014,” the Minister said in his opening lines.

“By 2030, I want to witness an India that leads the world, in almost every category. I strongly believe that cues for “Turbocharging India@ 2030: can be had from “Turbocharged Telangana since 2014, a said KTR.

KTR stated that the schemes and policies being executed in Telangana should be executed across the country to speed up the development wheel of India. “What Telangana has done, can be done at the national level too. Telangana Model of Development can be replicated across India, for sure,” said KTR.

“Growth should be distributed fairly across society and create opportunities for all. I think that any one-sided policy emphasis will have negative effects. Diversity is India’s greatest asset. The same diversity requires the widening of policy frameworks beyond the narrow focus,” the minister opined.

KTR stated that the Telangana government’s effective policy design & implementation, equal focus on rural and urban development, vision towards 3 I’s — infrastructure development, inclusive growth, and innovation — helped the youngest state of India achieve remarkable progress in just 7 years.

Telangana has been progressing under the visionary leadership of CM KCR. The Telangana government’s equal focus on development and welfare measures has made it a model state which is being emulated by other states, KTR said. “It used to be said earlier that what Bengal thinks today is what the country thinks tomorrow, but in the modern context it is what Telangana thinks today which influences the country tomorrow,” he added.

KTR stated that Telangana achieved the third rank in the country in terms of percentage increase in GSDP at current prices between 2014-15 and 2020-21. “The NITI Aayog report says that the Gross State Domestic Product of Telangana by provisional estimates was Rs 9.80 lakh crore, an increase of 94 percent from its 2014-15 value,” he added.

Minister KTR highlighted that despite the Covid-induced economic slowdown in 2020-21, Telangana’s Per Capita Income (PCI) of Rs 2.37 lakh at current pricing is the third highest in the country — the latest data from the Union ministry of statistics and program implementation.

“Telangana is the 11th largest state in terms of geographical area and 12th in terms of population in the country. I am proud of the fact that Telangana stood in fourth place in contributing to the economy of the country,” KTR said.

The state government’s focus on every sector — from agriculture to IT, power generation to industry, health infrastructure to quality education has brought remarkable progress in the state.

He pointed out that Telangana attracted over Rs 2.2 lakh crore investments since the launch of its innovative TS-iPASS industrial policy. These investments employed about 16 lakh people.

The minister highlighted that Hyderabad has emerged as a global hub for some of the most marquee names from the IT world. “You will be amazed to learn that the five most valued tech companies of the world, namely Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Facebook, each of them has their second-largest presence anywhere in the world outside their headquarters in the US in our city of Hyderabad,” KTR said.

“The cabins of the US President’s ‘Marine One helicopters are made in Hyderabad by Tata Sikorsky Aerospace Systems, a joint venture between the Tata Group and Sikorsky,” said the minister. He also highlighted that Hyderabad produces one-third of global vaccine output. “I take immense pride in saying that Hyderabad is the vaccine capital of the world,” he added.

He highlighted that seven villages from Telangana ranked among the top 10 under the SAGY program (Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana of Union Ministry of Rural Development).

He told the conference that Telangana is building the Kakatiya Mega Textiles Factory (KMTP), one of the world’s largest Textile Parks. KMTP is expected to house state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities with a development strategy based on the ‘Fiber to Fashion’ concept.

“IT exports of Telangana touched a new high of Rs 1.45 lakh crore in 2021. Since the formation of Telangana, we have been able to achieve a Compound Average Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.25 percent, up from Rs 57,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 1.45 lakh crore now. Employment in the IT/ITeS sector had also increased by eight percent to touch 6.3 lakhs”.

KTR stated that the government of Telangana is developing Hyderabad Pharma City as the “World’s largest integrated pharma park to promote domestic manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and to consolidate the leadership position of India in the pharmaceutical sector.

“Telangana has already built the world’s largest lift irrigation scheme, Kaleshwaram Project, in just three years. This is a record in the history of irrigation projects in India,” he said.

“Rythu Bandhu, the investment support scheme under which every landholding farmer gets Rs 10,000 per acre every year. The brainchild of CM Sri KCR, this revolutionary is one of the best reforms in the agriculture sector in the country since Independence,” KTR added.

Modi inaugurates Garuda Aerospace’s manufacturing facilities

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Modi inaugurates Garuda Aerospace’s manufacturing facilities

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually inaugurated the drone manufacturing facilities of Garuda Aerospace at Manesar in Gurugram and in Chennai, said a top company official.

The Chennai-based Garuda Aerospace is a drone-as-a-service (DAAS) company.

According to Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder & CEO, Garuda Aerospace, Modi virtually inaugurated the drone manufacturing facilities in two locations and also pressed a button resulting in the taking off of 100 Kisan drones simultaneously in 100 villages.

The 100 drones commenced agriculture spraying operations in 16 different states to celebrate 75 years of Independence as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, Jayaprakash added.

“Glad to have witnessed Kisan Drones in action at 100 places across the country. This is a commendable initiative by a vibrant start-up, @garuda_india. Innovative technology will empower our farmers and make agriculture more profitable,” Modi tweeted.

Modi said the occasion will not just be a milestone for the drone sector but also open up a multitude of possibilities.

“I have been told that Garuda Aerospace has planned 1 lakh ‘Made in India’ drones in the next two years. This will give employment and opportunities to hundreds of youth,” Modi said.

The Budget announcements this year had prioritized technology and innovation and mentioned the use of Kisan drones among the varied sectors wherein drones can be used.

“Having liberalized the Drone Rules in 2021, the government has consistently been encouraging Aatmanirbhar Bharat with major policy decisions on Drone Shakthi and banning the import of foreign Drones,” Modi added.

“We have reposed our faith in the young talent and brought in new suitable policies,” the Prime Minister said and appreciated the youngsters taking risks in the new field even as he assured that the Centre will always back them.

Garuda has taken space on lease for making its drones from Defsys Solutions in Gurugram, Jayaprakash said.

According to him, Defsys Solutions’ facility is equipped with advanced design and prototype testing capabilities.

The 2.5-acre facility is a hub for drone software design, hardware structural testing, type certification, and manufacturing capacity of 40 drones per day.

Garuda’s proposed Chennai plant is located on a 20-acre facility where mass volume manufacturing capacity of 100 drones per day and manufacturing of 100,000 Kisan drones are being planned over the next two years, Jayaprakash added.

The site is also the proposed RPTO (Remote Pilot Training) facility which aims to train aspiring drone pilots.

“Having our drone facilities launched by the Prime Minister fuels Garuda’s vision to become India’s first-ever drone unicorn startup that manufactures six lakh drones and deploy one drone in each Indian village by 2025,” Jayaprakash said.

Govt committed for education, farmers’ welfare: Haryana CM

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Govt committed for education, farmers’ welfare: Haryana CM

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said keeping in mind the vision of modern Haryana, this time the state Budget will give priority to promises made to the people.

The Chief Minister was speaking during a virtual meeting with party leaders and workers in Delhi. He said the government is committed to education, agriculture, and farmers’ welfare. “Whatever will be good for the public, work is being done in that direction.”

The state is also working for the development of Haryanvi culture and tourism, he said. The government is also working for the welfare of the ex-servicemen and the soldiers.

The Chief Minister said before preparing the Budget, suggestions were invited. Pre-Budget discussions were held with major departments. “It is the effort of the government that the Budget is being prepared to keep in mind the all-around development and the future of Haryana,” an official statement quoting Khattar said.

The Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha will begin on March 2.

Telangana Congress leader drops plan to quit

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Telangana Congress leader drops plan to quit

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) working president T. Jayaprakash Reddy on Saturday dropped his plans to quit the party.

He told reporters that for now, he will not be leaving the party. He said he took the decision on a suggestion by the high command.

Jagga Reddy, as the leader is popularly known, said some people in the Congress party were running false propaganda against him and he would write a letter to the party’s national president Sonia Gandhi.

A member of the Telangana State Legislative Assembly said he also lodged a complaint with the police about social media posts against him.

Jagga Reddy had earlier announced that he will make a decision on Saturday in quitting or continuing in the party.

The MLA from Sangareddy called on senior party leader V. Hanumantha Rao, who advised him not to leave the party. Rao wanted him to fight injustice by staying in the party. The MLA told him that he would take a final decision after consulting party workers. During their meeting, TPCC general secretary B. Kishan fell at the feet of Jagga Reddy, begging him not to quit the party.

Hanumantha Rao said a misinformation campaign was being run against him and Jagga Reddy on social media. He alleged that their detractors were spreading lies that they were planning to join Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). The former MP said they have lodged a complaint with Jubilee Hills police station and will also complain to the Election Commission.

In December, Jagga Reddy had written a letter to Sonia Gandhi complaining about TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy’s style of functioning. He had urged her to direct Revanth Reddy to change his style of the functioning or appoint a new TPCC chief who works for the party’s prospects.

The MLA had taken strong exception to Revanth Reddy calling for a protest program ‘Rachabanda’ at Erravelli without prior intimation to him despite him being the local MLA. Jagga Reddy said the TPCC chief was not functioning along party lines and was instead using such programs for his own benefit.

PM Modi inaugurates Asia’s biggest Bio-CNG plant in Indore

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PM Modi inaugurates Asia’s biggest Bio-CNG plant in Indore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Asia’s biggest Bio-CNG plant in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore via video conferencing.

Addressing the event, PM Modi said that the work is on to set up similar gobar Dhan Bio-CNG plants in 75 big municipal bodies across the country in the next two years. The campaign will help a lot in making India’s cities clean, pollution-free, clean energy, he added.

“Whether it is the wet waste that comes out of the houses in the city, the garbage from the livestock and farms in the village, all this is gobar dhan in a way. From city’s waste and livestock to gobar dhan, from gobar dhan to clean fuel and again from clean fuel to energy, the chain creates Jivan Dhan”, PM Modi said.

“Millions of tonnes of garbage have been engulfing thousands of acres of similar land for decades in cities across the country”, he said.

PM Modi added that it is also a major reason for the diseases caused by air pollution and water pollution. That’s why work is being done to deal with this problem in the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Ethanol blending in India used to be only 1-2 percent seven-eight years ago. Today, the percentage of ethanol blending in petrol is reaching around 8 percent. The supply of ethanol for blending has also been greatly increased in the last seven years, he said.

Talking about the stubble burning, PM Modi said that the government has taken important decisions in this budget. “We have taken an important decision related to it in this budget. It has been decided that stubble will also be used in coal-fired power plants. This will not only remove the problems of the farmer, but it will also generate additional income from the agricultural waste”, he also said.

There are two ways to tackle any challenge. The first is to find an immediate solution to that challenge. The second is to deal with it in such a way that everyone gets a permanent solution, said PM. He underlined that the schemes made by the government in the last seven years are meant to give permanent solutions.

The government is working to convert more and more cities into water plus. For this emphasis is being laid on the second phase of Swachh Bharat Mission, said PM Modi.

The Bio-CNG plant in Indore has been set up based on the concept of waste-to-wealth innovation in India’s cleanest city. The plant with 550 MT per day capacity is said to be the biggest of its kind in Asia.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath slams turncoats, says BJP will win 300-plus seats

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UP CM Yogi Adityanath slams turncoats, says BJP will win 300-plus seats

Launching a scathing attack on BJP turncoats, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the small-time leaders who ditched the saffron party are now struggling to secure seats.

In an exclusive interview with the news, Adityanath touched upon several issues, including his 80-20 remarks, the Samajwadi Party’s poll promises, Jinnah and Hijab rows, and forming the government in the state with 300-plus seats.

He claimed that the saffron party will win 80 percent of the seats in the state Assembly polls. “We are fighting the poll on the planks of nationalism, development, and good governance,” he told the interviewer.

“Those who have left the party are finding it difficult to secure a seat. If these people had a mass base, then they should have fought from their traditional seats, like I am contesting. All of them are leaving their seats and running,” the chief minister said.

On the charge that the Yogi government takes action against criminals on the basis of their caste, the chief minister, in a veiled attack on the Samajwadi Party, asked: “Who has given tickets to professional criminals in Kairana, Rampur, and Mau?”

Yogi claimed that SP is no longer Samajwadi, but it has become ‘mafiawadi’, ‘dangawadi’, and ‘parivaarwadi’ (the party which supports the mafia, riots, and dynastic politics).

On SP promising free ration for five years, the chief minister told in an interview: “Uttar Pradesh has not forgotten the misgovernance of SP. A food scam occurred during SP’s regime. At that time, rations meant for the poor were usurped by SP’s goons. When they could not distribute regular ration, how would they distribute it for free? People have seen SP’s work and its adventures. Now, nobody will be influenced by them.”

On SP promising money for the development of temples and maths, the chief minister said: “Saints of Ayodhya, people of the nation and ‘Ram bhakts’ (Ram devotees) have not forgotten the time when the SP regime ordered police firing on Kar Sevaks.

“The truth is that their party’s name is Samajwadi, but they are ‘dangawadi’ (provoking riots) and their mentality is ‘parivarwadi’ (dynastic). They don’t have holistic and inclusive thinking, so development, good governance, and establishing the rule of law are like a daydream for them.”

When asked that opposition parties are teaming up to defeat the BJP, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also supporting them, Adityanath said that in 2019, the SP, BSP, and RLD stitched an alliance but at that time too, the saffron party won 80 percent seats. This time the alliance is not that big and people have also seen the work of the double engine government.”

When asked that though the BJP talks about ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’ (inclusive growth for all), it has not given a ticket to any Muslim, the chief minister said that elections are based on the support and trust of people.

“Those who apply for a ticket are reviewed at the district and region levels and then their names are recommended to the high command. Those who are able to earn public trust are given tickets,” he pointed out.

When IANS asked him pointedly whether the BJP will get Muslim votes this time, the chief minister said: “The Prime Minister has played a major role in helping Muslim women get rid of malpractices such as triple talaq. Benefits of all welfare schemes under which gas connections are provided, PM Awaas Yojana and doubling rations are being extended to Muslim families too.

“Rising above caste and religion, people have voted for the BJP in the first two phases of the polls. The trend is continuing. At a few places, fanatics are trying to stop Muslim women from casting votes. The Election Commission should take cognizance of the matter.”

On the performance of SP, BSP, and the Congress in the polls, the chief minister exuded confidence that the BJP will win 80 percent of the seats, while the opposition parties are engaged in a triangular contest for 20 percent of the votes.

On the stray cattle nuisance, the chief minister pointed out that “5,500 cow shelters have been opened in the state”.

He added: “Stray cattle increased in the state as they give less milk. We are working on improving the breeds. In organic farming, cattle play an important role. The double-engine government will solve the problem. We will not let cattle go to slaughterhouses and at the same time will not let stray cows harm what the farmers produce.”

On the Jinnah and Hijab rows gathering momentum just prior to elections, the chief minister said during his conversation with IANS that to divert people’s attention from good governance and development, SP made a ‘sick’ effort to honor Jinnah on the birth anniversary of the Iron Man Sardar Patel.

“It is an insult to the freedom fighters of the country,” the chief minister told IANS. “When we were discussing welfare schemes to be extended to the sugarcane farmers of the state, SP was busy glorifying Jinnah. When we were talking about rural development, they were talking about Pakistan. SP is making futile attempts to rake up such issues and divert people’s attention from the main issues, which are development and good governance.”

On the restoration of old-age pension, the chief minister said the new pension scheme has been introduced during SP’s tenure. In the eight years they spent ruling the state, they treated government employees unjustly. They did not submit the employees’ contributions and even did not open their accounts.

On the issue of power shortages, the chief minister recalled how their genesis could be dated back to the SP-led government. “It was in their regime that there was a power shortage and now they are promising people 300 free units,” the chief minister said. “People will not get influenced by them.”

He added: “Government employees know they got an opportunity to work with a government that’s transparent. Even during the Corona pandemic, their dearness allowance and transport allowance were not deducted. The employees are with the BJP.”

When asked if there’s anything for the middle class, the chief minister said: “Our strategy for the next five years is ready. We will provide free electricity by installing a solar panel on each tubewell. Common consumers are getting electricity at slashed rates.”

When it was pointed out that the people are not angry with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, but with the public representatives of the party, the chief minister said: “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, we have taken several important steps. In Uttar Pradesh, everyone is getting security and the benefits of development schemes, but we don’t believe in an appeasement policy.”

He added: “The government’s intentions are clear. The people have admired the government’s work. Public representatives who have done good work in their areas are getting people’s love, and those who could not live up to the expectations of common folk face their wrath.

“But the elections are being conducted to elect a government. In such circumstances, every seat is important and the BJP will get people’s love.”

On the ’80 versus 20′ remark, the chief minister said those who think positively, are nationalists, and support welfare schemes come in the 80 percent bracket, while those who like mafia rule, crime, anarchy, and corruption come in the 20 percent. He reiterated that the BJP is getting 80 percent of the votes.

Replying to another question, he said the BJP was getting 80 percent of the seats in the first two phases. People’s excitement shows that the BJP is getting their blessings. When the results are announced on March 10, the party will bag more than 300 seats.

The chief minister said that people are happy with the work done in the state relating to security, law and order, development, good governance, and public welfare schemes, and the unprecedented work in the field of respect for faith.

PM, VP pay tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary

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PM, VP pay tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday paid tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary.

Paying homage to the great Maratha king, the Prime Minister said that his outstanding leadership and emphasis on social welfare have been inspiring people for generations.

“I bow to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his Jayanti. His outstanding leadership and emphasis on social welfare have been inspiring people for generations. He was uncompromising when it came to standing up for the values of truth and justice. We are committed to fulfilling his vision,” Modi tweeted.

Also taking to Twitter, the Vice President said: “My tributes to legendary Maratha warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary. Known for his undaunted courage and exceptional warfare strategies, Shivaji Maharaj was a ruler ahead of his time. His love for our motherland continues to inspire every Indian.”

‘Without NOTA button in EVMs, TN local body polls can’t be free and fair’

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‘Without NOTA button in EVMs, TN local body polls can’t be free and fair’

Anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam, Convenor Jayaram Venkatesan on Saturday registered his unwillingness to vote in the Tamil Nadu urban local body poll here.

He was protesting against the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission’s move of not having the “None of the Above (NOTA)” button in the electronic voting machines (EVM).

Polling for urban local bodies began at 7 a.m. across the state.

“As a mark of protest against the undemocratic move of the State Election Commission to reject our fundamental right to vote with secrecy by not having NOTA in EVM, I registered my unwillingness to vote as per Section 71 of the Election Rules,” Venkatesan said.

He said a voter while voting has every right not to opt for any of the candidates during an election.

The right to reject has its origin in freedom of speech and expression. Not including NOTA in EVMs is violative of our fundamental right as well as Supreme Court’s judgment, Venkatesan said.

According to him, without the NOTA button, the poll cannot be called free and fair.

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