Modi to respond to Oppn’s allegations in 2nd week of Budget Session

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Modi to respond to Oppn’s allegations in 2nd week of Budget Session

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hit back to the allegations and issues raised by the Opposition leaders including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, in the second week of the Parliament’s Budget Session, in Rajya Sabha as well as in Lok Sabha.

A discussion was underway in both the houses on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address and during this, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, and many MPs of opposition parties have criticized the Narendra Modi-led Central government fiercely on the floor of the House.

Starting the discussion on behalf of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on February 2, Rahul Gandhi had fiercely targeted the Central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress leader has accused the Modi government of ending employment opportunities in the country, eliminating small and medium industries, increasing the inequality gap between the poor and the rich, posing a serious threat to national security due to “wrong policies” on China and Pakistan border.

Besides making allegations, questions were also raised on the economic, industrial, strategic, foreign, internal, and external security policies of the government.

Rahul Gandhi had also made a scathing attack on the Prime Minister over the issues related to federalism and constitutional institutions.

Slamming the government, he also said that the UPA government had brought 27 crores, people, out of poverty during its 10-year tenure while the NDA government pushed 23 crore people back into poverty.

In the Rajya Sabha too, MPs of all opposition parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress, NCP, RJD had targeted the policies of the Modi government in the first week of the budget session.

In the second week of the budget session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to respond to the leaders of all Opposition parties including Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi might reply to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks at the President’s address in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

During his speech, PM Modi, referring to the history of the tenure of the Congress-led government, will make a sharp counterattack on the allegations of Rahul Gandhi, as well as respond to the allegations of MPs of other opposition parties.

Referring to the achievements of his government on all fronts including economic, strategic, foreign, security, and industrial policy, PM Modi might answer each and every charge of the opposition parties.

On Tuesday, the very next day after his speech in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Modi may also reply to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha.

He will also be seen trying to deliver a political message to the voters of the five poll-bound states — Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, and Goa.

President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the joint session of both the Houses of Parliament on January 31, the first day of the budget session.

Battleground Uttarakhand: BJP banking on ‘Brand Modi’

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Battleground Uttarakhand: BJP banking on ‘Brand Modi’

In the run-up to the Assembly elections in Uttarakhand scheduled on February 14, the BJP is banking heavily on ‘Brand Modi.

The saffron party is prominently using Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image in several publicity videos, theme songs,s, and hoardings across the state, projecting him and his government’s achievements.

Modi and the images of his visit to Uttarakhand are prominently displayed in all the campaign videos, including the theme song for the Assembly polls.

The party is highlighting the Central government’s development and welfare initiatives taken under the leadership of Modi, such as ‘Kisan Samman Nidhi’ and several other schemes.

The BJP is also reminding the people that it was the government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee that ensured the formation of the state.

At the start of one video, the Prime Minister could be heard mentioning how Vajpayee ensured the formation of Uttarakhand.

The BJP is also highlighting the redevelopment of Kedarnath, showing images of the Prime Minister’s several visits to the holy shrines of the state.

On November 5 last year, the Prime Minister had inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple key infrastructure projects in Kedarnath.

Uttarakhand BJP spokesperson Ravinder Jugran told in an interview that Modi is a ‘brand’ of trust in today’s politics.

“People believe that the BJP and ‘Brand Modi’ are delivering and will continue to deliver. The Prime Minister has built this trust by continuously serving the people for over two decades. He is also the most popular leader in the country. So there is nothing wrong in using Prime Minister Modi’s images or words because he is the most popular leader and the lead campaigner of the BJP,” Jagran said.

Another party leader said that people easily connect with Modi and ‘Kamal’ (Lotus, BJP symbol).

“The Prime Minister is more popular than any of the candidates fielded by the party. And the party is using this popularity of the Prime Minister to come out trumps in the polls,” a party insider said.

The 70-member Uttarakhand Assembly will go to the polls on February 14, while the counting of votes will be taken up on March 10

PM Modi reaches Hyderabad, Telangana CM stays away

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PM Modi reaches Hyderabad, Telangana CM stays away

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Saturday on a six-hour visit but Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao stayed away from welcoming him.

Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, union minister for tourism and culture G. Kishan Reddy, and state minister for animal husbandry Talasani Srinivas Yadav received the Prime Minister at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, Director General of Police M. Mahender Reddy, and other top officials welcomed Modi.

Chandrasekhar Rao, who has been openly attacking the Prime Minister, stayed away from receiving him.

Rao had nominated minister Srinivas Yadav as the Minister-in-Waiting to receive and see off the Prime Minister.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, is also not likely to share the stage with Modi when the latter will unveil the 216-feet-high Statue of Equality at Muchintal near Shamshabad in the evening.

After landing at the airport, the Prime Minister left for Patancheru in a helicopter.

He will inaugurate the golden jubilee celebrations of the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). He will also launch ICRISAT’s Climate Change Research Facility on Plant Protection and Rapid Generation Advancement Facility and unveil a specially designed logo and a commemorative postal stamp.

After the program at ICRISAT, Modi will arrive at the airport at 4.50 p.m. and leave for Chinna Jeer Swamy’s ashram at Muchintal by road. He will spend three hours there to participate in pooja and dedicate the statue of Saint Ramanujacharya.

Modi calls J&K L-G after quake

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Modi calls J&K L-G after quake

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday to inquire about the situation following the earthquake that hit the Union Territory earlier in the day.

Officials said the Prime Minister called Sinha immediately after the moderate intensity earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale jolted Jammu and Kashmir.

Information collection on any casualty or damage to property that might have occurred due to the temblor, is still going on by the officials.

The quake also led to the tilting of the minaret of the famous Sufi Shrine at Chrar-e-Sharief town in Budgam district.

Telangana CM not likely to receive PM on Hyderabad visit

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Telangana CM not likely to receive PM on Hyderabad visit

In what is being seen as a politically significant move, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is not likely to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the latter’s visit to Hyderabad on Saturday.

The Chief Minister has nominated Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy Development, and Cinematography Minister T. Srinivas Yadav to receive and see off the Prime Minister during his visit.

According to a communication from the Chief Minister’s office to the Principal Secretary, General Administration Department (Political), the Chief Minister has agreed to the proposal for nominating Srinivas Yadav to be the minister-in-waiting to receive and see off the Prime Minister on arrival and departure.

This may be the first time since he became Chief Minister in 2014 that KCR will not be receiving the Prime Minister on his visit to Hyderabad.

The last time Modi had visited Hyderabad was on November 28, 2020, when he went to Bharat Biotech, the pharma company that developed India’s first Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin. However, at that time the Chief Minister was informed by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) that he need not come to the airport to receive the PM.

The Telangana Chief Secretary, the DGP, and a couple of other officials had received the Prime Minister. The visit had come amid the elections for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) which saw a bitter war of words between BJP and TRS leaders.

Modi is visiting Hyderabad on Saturday to attend two programs, both on the outskirts of the city. He will visit the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) campus in Patancheru to launch its 50th-anniversary celebrations.

Later, he will dedicate to the nation the ‘Statue of Equality at a ceremony to be held at Ramanujacharya Ashram at Muchintal. The 216-feet tall statue commemorates the 11th-century Bhakti Saint Sri Ramanujacharya.

The Chief Minister is also not likely to share a dais with the Prime Minister at the ashram. Dropping hints to this effect, he visited the ashram on Thursday to participate in Ramanuja Sahasrabdi Samaroh celebrations and went around the giant statue.

KCR’s move not to receive the Prime Minister is significant in view of his scathing attack on the latter after the presentation of Union Budget 2022-23 in Parliament on Monday.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief went ballistic while lashing out at the Centre for ignoring all the demands of the state and termed the budget “golmal” and “useless”.

At the same news conference when KCR was asked whether he would receive the Prime Minister, he remarked “it’s automatic. It goes without saying”.

“Whenever the Prime Minister is there in any state, the Chief Minister goes and welcomes. It’s a routine thing. It’s a protocol requirement. Nothing special about it,” he had said.

KCR, however, was evasive when asked if he would be sharing the dais with the PM. The TRS leader had defended his attack on PM. “This is my policy. Even while sitting along with Mr. Narendra Modi in his helicopter, I will say the same thing,” he said.

At his two-and-half hour-long news conference, KCR had made a bitter attack on Modi, mocking his ‘Gujarat Model’ and the different outfits he chose for elections in different states.

The TRS chief has also announced that he would play a role in national politics to bring a qualitative change in the country as both Congress and BJP have failed to meet the aspirations of people.

Bengal transport dept to acquire all truck terminals along state’s borders

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Bengal transport dept to acquire all truck terminals along state’s borders

In an effort to increase the revenues of the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the state transport department will acquire all the truck terminals functioning along the borders.

The Chief Minister alleged that some people were taking money from the truck terminals functioning along the borders. She added that the takeover of all the truck terminals will be completed before February 7.

“I shall not allow this to continue,” the chief minister said at an administrative meeting. “The District Magistrates and the Superintendents of Police should know this. The money from the truck terminals is going to some local people. There are some political parties and some government officers who are involved in the whole process. So we have decided to hand over all the truck terminals functioning along the border to the transport department,” she added.

“There will be nothing private. It should be fully owned and controlled by the state government. We want the revenue to go to the government coffers and not distributed among some individuals,” Banerjee said. She asked Chief Secretary H K Diwedi to explain the whole plan to the DMs and SPs of the concerned districts.

“Recently I had a meeting with the DMs and SPs of the seven bordering districts. It is a fact that the money from these truck terminals is not adding up to the government revenue. There are two truck terminals at Bongaon in North 24 Parganas and there are four in other districts as well. It is true that the local municipalities get some money from these places but the state government gets nothing. The entire money is locally distributed. It is not helping the government,” Diwedi informed the chief minister.

The chief secretary said the Bongaon municipality has already given a NoC (No Objection Certificate) to the state government but it is not written properly. We need to get another NoC from the municipality.

Minister of State for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Chandrima Bhattacharya said, “It is written in a poor and faulty language. This is not an NoC at all”.

The chief minister then asked Bhattacharyay to arrange for NoCs from the concerned municipalities. “Tell them what to write. If they refuse to give the NoC you know what to do,” she said. Banerjee asked all the concerned departments to complete the whole process within 72 hours and hand over the terminals to the transport department. “There should be an advertisement on the 8th of this month,” the chief minister told state transport minister Firhad Hakim.

“We need a lot of money and it will come from the bordering areas. This will increase the revenue of the state government. There are projects like Lakshmi Bhandar and Students Credit Card where we need money. Where will the money come from? We need to run these projects. We will have to be proactive,” she said.

Modi govt did not create even a single PSU but privatised 23: Congress

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Modi govt did not create even a single PSU but privatised 23: Congress

The Congress on Thursday attacked the Narendra Modi government on its economic record, saying that it had not created even a single Public Sector Unit (PSU) but it has privatized 23 of them.

Participating in the debate in the Rajya Sabha on the Motion of Thanks on the President’ Address, Congress member Ripun Bora said: ” (Prime Minister) Rajiv Gandhi created 16 PSUs, no privatization, (Prime Minister Atal Bihari) Vajpayee created 17 PSUs, (Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh created 23 PSUS, only three privatized, but the Modi government did not create a single PSU and he privatized 23 PSUs so far.”

Noting that the economy was badly devastated by the pandemic, he said that nearly 84 crore people’s income has come down drastically during it but the President’s address did not mention anything about it. Under the UPA government, 27 crore people were pulled out of poverty, he added.

Claiming that around five crores more people have been pushed below the poverty line recently, he said the President’s speech did not mention a single word on how to tackle price rise which has led to individual consumption drastically declining.

Bora also brought up the issue of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) and the killings of civilians in Nagaland’s Mon killings. “Normally the military is used against foreign aggression, but our military has killed our own people.”

He also said that Naga peace talks have also been derailed.

Congress member Digvijaya Singh said that after ‘Suit Boot Sarkaar’, came, the direct tax decreased from 55.39 percent to 46.43 percent while the indirect tax increased from 44.61 percent to 53.57 percent, indicating that the government is taxing the rich less and the poor more.

“In this Budget, the Modi government has reduced subsidies by 27 percent, why do not you increase taxation on the super-rich?” he asked, terming the government of “being against the poor and the farmers of this country”.

“This government is antipoor and anti-farmer. The first ordinance they brought was the Land Acquisition Act. “They ignore the strength and unity of farmers,” he said.

Referring to the Dharma Sansad which was held at Haridwar recently, Digvijaya Singh said that calls were given for genocide and no one from the government said anything about this hate speech. “During Amrit Mahotsav, you have never mentioned those who took part in the freedom struggle. You may not like Congress leaders like Nehru, Patel, but you could have mentioned Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad,” he added.

Taking a dig at the treasury benches, Singh also said that when Article 370 was included in the Constitution, Syama Prasad Mookerjee was part of the Cabinet, @but you mislead that he opposed it”. “In Bhima Koregaon case, it was alleged that there was a conspiracy to kill PM Modi, but it has been more than three years and no charge-sheet has been filed.

TRS MP K. Keshava Rao, quoting a media report, says there was an increase in hate speech and there is an urgent need to bring a special law to deal with the same.

He also alleged that the southern states were being ignored and the distribution of funds to states by the BJP-led government fails to provide an incentive.

TN police start probe after arrest of BJP leader, two cops in idols theft case

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TN police start probe after arrest of BJP leader, two cops in idols theft case

Tamil Nadu Police has started a detailed probe into the source of seven idols that were recovered from a group of people on Wednesday in Madurai.

The Idol theft squad of the police have already arrested a BJP minority wing leader T. Alexandar and two cops – head constable Ilankumaran (44) of Jokilpatti police station in Aruppukottai and constable Nagendran (38) of Armed Reserve police from Dindigul.

Another person, P. Karuppusami (36) of Kooraikundu in Virudhunagar was also arrested. However, two other persons, Rajesh of Ramanathapuram and Ganeshan of Virudhunagar are on the run.

The idol theft squad on receiving a tip-off apprehended Alexandar from whom idols were recovered. A senior police officer told the interview that it has to be ascertained whether the idol is panchaloha or not.

The seven idols that were recovered from Alexandar include, Natarajar (2 ft), Natarajar (1.25 ft), Nagakanni (1.5 ft), Kaali (1 ft), Murugan(0.75 ft), Vinayagar (0.5 ft) and Nagadevathai (0.5 ft). The idols, according to police were recovered from a water body in Koorisathanar Ayyanar temple, Ramanathapuram.

Alexander on interrogation told the investigating officers that the idols were given to him by Ilankumaran and Karuppasamy. The duo informed the role of Nagendran and Ganeshan in the case.

Idol theft squad officers said that the four had threatened a group of smugglers a few years ago stating that they were from the Idol theft squad and took in possession the seven idols that were later concealed in the water body.

Police said that the four of them were trying to sell the idols for an amount of Rs 5 crore when the Idol theft squad got a tip-off and arrested all the four accused. The Idol theft squad officers told in an interview that an investigation is on to ascertain from where these smugglers had got the idols and if these idols were stolen from some temples.

A senior officer of the idol theft squad told in an interview, “We have already arrested four people and identified two more in the gang who had concealed the idols in a water body at Ramanathapuram. However, we have to get the details of the origin of these idols and to ascertain whether these idols were stolen or whether they were replicas of some idols.”

Kamal Haasan seeks donations for his political party

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Kamal Haasan seeks donations for his political party

Superstar turned politician, Kamal Haasan has announced that he would seek donations from the public for his political party, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM).

The actor-turned-politician in a statement said that he was seeking donations for changing the lives of people. He said that he was not seeking money not only for the well-being of people but also to ensure good livelihood for the next generation.

Kamal Haasan said that donations are being sought from the public for maintaining politics honestly. He said that he was pumping in his earnings after tax into the political party, but that was not enough to challenge the ‘corrupt rats’ in politics.

He said that many in the film industry used to address him as a prophet, but added that he doesn’t believe in prophecies but in convictions and work.

The MNM has already fielded candidates in most of the Corporations and municipalities and is expected to win a few seats in the Urban body polls, but the party has not yet got as many candidates to contest in town Panchayat seats.

The decision of Kamal Haasan to seek donations was earlier not welcomed by the general public and his own party men, but the superstar is pitching in for money from the public to carry forward the political party and its activities.

Congress, BJP condemn KCR’s call for new Constitution

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Congress, BJP condemn KCR’s call for new Constitution

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s call for rewriting the Constitution has evoked strong reactions from both Congress and BJP, which called for protests against his remarks.

A day after the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) mooted the idea of a new Constitution to bring a qualitative change in the country, both the opposition parties expressed their strong displeasure and alleged that he insulted the architect of the Indian Constitution Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

State Congress chief A. Revanth Reddy announced a 48-hour protest program from February 3 and called upon the party cadre to participate in it in large numbers.

Revanth Reddy, who is also an MP, said the demonstrations would include the burning of the CM’s effigy in front of Ambedkar’s statues across the state.

The Congress leader alleged that KCR spoke the language of BJP as the saffron party has the plans to bring a new Constitution to deprive Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of reservations. Revanth Reddy also demanded that the Chief Minister should apologize for his remarks.

The Congress leader also questioned KCR’s backing of AIMIM President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi for fielding his party candidates in Uttar Pradesh elections. He alleged that the TRS leader has brokered a deal for ensuring the BJP’s win in UP.

Meanwhile, BJP state chief and MP Bandi Sanjay alleged that KCR insulted the Constitution and announced that he will sit on a protest at the BJP state office in Hyderabad on Thursday.

He alleged KCR’s talk of the new Constitution is a ploy to deny reservations for SCs and STs. “BJP abides by Dr.B.R Ambedkar’s Constitution and will never allow it to become vulnerable to the machinations of megalomaniacs like KCR,” Sanjay said.

“KCR’s behavior is bordering on insanity. In his frustration, which has reached a peak, he even insulted Dr.B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of our Constitution,” the BJP leader said.

He also strongly condemned the abusive language allegedly used by KCR against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy has also slammed KCR for using objectionable language against the PM. He said the Chief Minister’s remarks show that he was feeling insecure ever since the defeat of TRS in by-elections to the Huzurabad Assembly seat.

The BJP leaders reminded KCR that he and his party are enjoying power due to the vision of Ambedkar who incorporated the right for the creation of smaller states in the Constitution.

They said even after seven years KCR has not fulfilled its promise to install a 125-feet statue of Ambedkar in Hyderabad.

“Telangana CM is anti-Dalit as he has not made a Dalit the Chief Minister has promised, denied them three acres of land, removed a Dalit Deputy CM, and has deceived them further with his non-starter Dalit Bandhu scheme. Even boycotting the President’s address to both houses of Parliament is showing disrespect to the first citizen of the country who is a Dalit,” he said.

Meanwhile, TRS leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari lashed out at BJP leaders calling them successors of Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.

He said the successors of Godse had no right to talk about Dr. Ambedkar. He said KCR called for rewriting the Constitution to meet the aspirations of people and to ensure that the country develops at a rapid pace and emerges as a superpower.

Srihari said there should be a nationwide debate on the need for a new Constitution and pointed out that many countries rewrote their Constitutions in tune with the changing times and needs.

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