Continue with Amma Pharmacies: AIADMK’s Palaniswami

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Continue with Amma Pharmacies: AIADMK’s Palaniswami

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition K. Palaniswami on Saturday demanded the DMK government to continue the Amma Pharmacy outlets that sell medicines at discounted rates.

AIADMK’s Joint Coordinator Palaniswami also wondered what the two expert committees set up by the DMK government to improve the state’s economy and also look at ways to mobilise additional funds are doing.

Citing reports about the “Stalin’s government’s plans” to close down the Amma Pharmacy outlets, Palaniswami said the government should drop its proposed move to enable private outlets to rake in huge profits.

According to Palaniswami, the DMK government is shutting down the people welfare measures of the previous AIADMK government like the Amma Canteen, selling food at subsidised rates, Amma Mineral Water (1 litre bottle sold at Rs 10), Amma Cement and others.

He said the DMK government shut down the sales of Amma Cement priced at about Rs 190 – 216 per bag and launched the Valimai brand at about Rs 350/bag.

Bommai asks US Kannadigas to promote state’s pro-industrial policy

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Bommai asks US Kannadigas to promote state’s pro-industrial policy

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday urged Kannadigas settled in the US to spread a good word about the state’s pro-industrial policy.

Speaking virtually after inaugurating Kannada Rajyotsava organised by Association of Kannada Kootas of America (AKKA), he said all Kannnadigas settled in US are ambassadors of the state.

“Kannadigas in US must educate natives on pro-industrial policies, existing facilities and convince them to invest in Karnataka. Our government will extend all support and cooperation,” he said.

He also advised them to organise and help Kannadigas to get top posts in the US.

He maintained that, besides Hindi language, among other dialects, Kannada language is the most ancient.

“It is older than Tamil language and Classical status has been awarded accordingly,” Bommai said.

He pointed out that his government is formulating a policy towards ensuring jobs in the state for local people in private industries. Attempts were made earlier but the policies were not effective.

“We are coming up with resulted oriented policy in this regard,” he announced.

AKKA is a non-profit educational, linguistic, cultural organisation formed in February 1998, under Non Profit Corporation Act of the state of Florida, to integrate, coordinate, network and unite the activities of all Kannadigas and Kannada Kootas for promotion and preservation of Kannada language and culture in North America.

Modi to attend Goa Liberation Day celebrations on Dec 19

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Modi to attend Goa Liberation Day celebrations on Dec 19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Goa Liberation Day programme to mark 60 years of the state’s freedom from Portuguese rule on December 19 in the state capital Panaji.

The coastal state was liberated from 451 years of colonial Portuguese rule on December 19, 1961 and with an eye on next year assembly elections, the BJP government has planned a grand celebration aGoa@60′, party sources said.

The sources told IANS that the Prime Minister is all set to attend the main grand event on December 19. “Details of his itinerary will be finalised in the coming days. Modi will participate and address the main event,” they said.

According to a senior BJP leader, the celebrations is not only about celebrating events, but about celebrating developments too, especially in the state’s rural areas. “The Prime Minister attending the celebrations will be one of his pre-election visits and few more may follow before the announcement of election dates,” he said.

During the year-long celebration that started last year, the BJP government held a series of exhibitions, seminars and cultural events to showcase work of the Goa government, its identity and struggle.

“Our government uses the celebration as an opportunity to strike a connection with the people ahead of the next year’s Assembly election,” a BJP leader said.

Goa Assembly polls will be held in February- March next year along with Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Manipur. The BJP has been in power in the coastal state since 2012.

In Goa, the BJP will be contesting the first election after the death of former defence minister Manohar Parrikar, one of the tallest leaders of the party in the state. The party is facing challenges from Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Congress.

Cong to celebrate ‘Kisan Vijay Diwas’ nationwide on Saturday

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Cong to celebrate ‘Kisan Vijay Diwas’ nationwide on Saturday

After the announcement of repealing all three Union farm laws by the Modi government, the Congress has decided to celebrate ‘Kisan Vijay Diwas’ on Saturday as well as organize a ‘victory rally’ across the country, thereby shifting the party’s political strategy on the issue of farmers’ protest.

After the rollback of petrol and diesel prices across the country, the repeal of farm laws is the second major decision that the Central government has taken after a mass protest by general public.

Now the Congress is all set to cash in on inflation, including all other pressing issues faced by the country. Therefore, All India Congress Committee General Secretary, K.C. Venugopal wrote a letter to all state governments on Friday, saying that after withdrawal of the three Union farm laws, ‘Kisan Vijay Diwas’ will be celebrated by the party across the country on Saturday.

The celebration on the repeal of all three farm laws by the Central government should reach out to the people and a ‘Kisan victory rally’ will be organised. All Congress state unit presidents have given instructions to all party workers right from the district to the block level to celebrate the Kisan Vijay Diwas.

Earlier, from November 14, the Congress had decided to run a ‘Jan Jagran Abhiyan’ (public awareness campaign) against the policies of the Modi government across the country. Congress had started this campaign on various issues such as hike in petrol-diesel prices, unemployment, inflation etc.

The Congress had decided to hold on foot marches and processions by party leaders and workers on similar lines of the ‘Dandi March’ undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi against the British.

After Congress’ protests, providing a relief to the general public, the Centre levied less excise duty on the prices of petrol and diesel. On Friday, the Union government finally withdrew all three Central farm laws. After such decisions taken by the Centre, the Congress, too, has changed the overall strategy of its Jan Jagran Abhiyan.

The Congress is now making preparations to force the Central government to withdraw all three farm laws in the Parliament. For this the Congress leaders will reach out to the people demanding the Union government assuring the Minimum Support Price (MSP) on crops, loan waiver, removal of GST from agriculture sector and other important issues.

On the other hand, the Congress was instrumental in making the opposition parties stand united while demanding a repeal of all three farm laws during the last Parliament session.

Right from Parliament to the streets, the opposition parties unanimously demanded the withdrawal of all three farm laws. The Commiunist Party Of India-Marxist, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal, including 20 opposition parties wrote a joint letter to the Central government demanding the withdrawal of these three farm laws.

This time, too, the Congress is trying to unite the opposition parties in the winter session. The party has entrusted this responsibility to the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge.

After the withdrawal of all three farm laws, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said, “After nearly 12 months of peaceful protests, today the struggle and will power of 62 crore ‘Annadatas’, farmers and farm labourers of the country have finally won. Today the sacrifices of more than 700 farmers’ families paid off, whose family members sacrificed their lives in this struggle for truth, justice and non-violence which ultimately won. I hope that farmers will pay attention to implementation of welfare policies, ensure crop produce at MSP rates and before taking any such step by the Union government in future, all state governments, farmer organizations and opposition parties will be taken into consideration.”

Modi hands over LCH to Indian Air Force

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Modi hands over LCH to Indian Air Force

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday handed over the indigenously developed light combat helicopter (LCH) to the Indian Air Force in Jhansi.

The Prime Minister, on the concluding day of ‘Rashtra Raksha Samarpan Parv’ in Jhansi to celebrate the 193rd birth anniversary of Rani Laxmi Bai, also laid the foundation stone for a plant under Bharat Dynamics, which will be established at a cost of Rs 400 crore to make propulsion system for anti-tank guided missiles in Jhansi.

He also laid the foundation stone for the 600 MW ultra-mega solar park in Jhansi that is designed to convert the city into a solar hub.

According to official sources, the light combat helicopter incorporates advanced technologies and stealth features for effective combat roles.

The LCH has been designed and developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It is the only attack helicopter in the world that can land and take-off at an altitude of 5,000 metres with considerable load of weapons and fuel.

The LCH incorporates advanced technologies and stealth features for effective combat roles.

The Prime Minister also handed over drones developed by Indian startups to the Army, and advanced electronic warfare suites for destroyers, aircraft carriers and frigates to the Indian Navy.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister paid tributes to Jhansi, the land of valour, and recalled the contribution of Rani Laxmibai in the freedom struggle.

“Last year on Dev Deepawali, I was in Kashi and today I am here on ‘Rashtra Raksha Samarpan Parv’. Both occasions are unparalleled for me,” he said.

The Prime Minister also paid glowing tributes to the ‘heroes’ of Jhansi, including Rani Laxmibai, Jhalkari Bai and Major Dhaynchand.

Decision to repeal farm laws a historic win for farmers, says actor Karthi

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Decision to repeal farm laws a historic win for farmers, says actor Karthi

Welcoming the decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to repeal three contentious farm laws wholeheartedly, actor Karthi on Friday said that the announcement to repeal the laws signaled a historic win for the unceasing struggle of simple farmers.

Taking to Twitter, actor Karthi, in Tamil, wrote that the announcement by the honourable Prime Minister that the government would be repealing the three farm laws was a historic win for the year-long relentless struggle of farmers.

The actor went on to thank both the government and the farmers. While he expressed his love to the farmers who staged the protest, he expressed love and gratitude to the government for understanding the issue.

Karthi, who is the younger brother of actor Suriya, has always been a vocal supporter of farmers’ rights.

While Suriya’s Agaram Foundation has helped scores of underprivileged children gain access to education, Karthi’s Uzhavan Foundation has been helping struggling farmers in Tamil Nadu.

In fact, the actor was among the first to express support for farmers in Delhi when they first sat in protest against the three farm laws that had been brought in by the Union government.

Modi slams previous govts for creating water crisis in Bundelkhand

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Modi slams previous govts for creating water crisis in Bundelkhand

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lashed out at ‘previous governments in Lucknow and Delhi’ for creating water crisis in the Bundelkhand region.

At a rally that marked the inauguration of the Arjun Sahayak project, the Prime Minister said: “The wait for water is over now. Over four lakh people will get clean drinking water. The people of Mahoba, Banda, Hamirpur and Lalitpur will benefit from this scheme.”

He said that Bundelkhand at one time, was a model for water conservation and management. Rivers like Ken, Betwa, Dhasan made the region famous and prosperous.

“The land of Bundelkhand blessed Lord Ram when he was in exile. However, those who ruled Delhi and UP never worked towards its development. Earlier governments mistreated the region,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that water problem in the region became so acute that people refused to marry their daughters in this area and this led to migration.

“The previous family-oriented government destroyed natural resources and allowed the mafia to prosper. After Yogi Adityanath came to power, the mafia was bulldozed but you should not forget what the previous governments did to you. In their regime, scams and commissions were the order of the day,” he stated.

He said that the previous government showed no interest in the Arjun Sahayak Yojana because they worked to loot and we work to serve. “Some do the politics of problem while we do the politics of solution,” he said.

Modi said that the scheme will give a new lease of life to the Bundelkhand region.

“Over 30 lakh families have benefitted from the ‘nal se jal’ scheme,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Arjuna Sahayak irrigation project worth Rs 2,655 crore, is a significant initiative to alleviate water distress in the districts like Mahoba, Hamirpur and Banda and to bring relief to the farmers of the state.

The mega project on the river Dhasan will not only provide irrigation facilities to over 1.5 lakh farmers of about 168 villages of Mahoba, Banda and Hamirpur but will also facilitate the provision of clean drinking water (potable water) to over 4 lakh families residing in water-scarce regions.

The project will play an important role in benefitting the crop growers along with other projects.

The project, which started nearly a decade ago (2009-10), will not only make Bundelkhand green but its operationalisation will also help in irrigation of around 44,382 hectares of land in the districts of Mahoba, Hamirpur and Banda.

Along with this, 15,104-hectare irrigation capacity will also be restored. In addition, 20 MCM drinking water will also be available to Mahoba from the Kabrai Dam.

Nearly 1,49,755 farmers of 168 villages will be benefitted.

According to the government spokesman, the Arjun Sahayak Project, which was started in the year 2009-10 at a cost of Rs 850 crore, was to be completed in the year 2015.

However, due to the neglect of the previous governments, not only the completion of the project was delayed but also its cost was increased to Rs 2655.36 crore.

The Bundelkhand region, for long, has been facing acute water shortage where most wells and hand-pumps have dried up due to decreasing groundwater levels. The residents in the drought-prone regions were forced to buy basic necessities such as drinking water.

In view of solving the water crisis in such regions, the government completed the Rasin Dam Project (Chitrakoot) Bandai Dam Project (Lalitpur) between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021.

In the coming days, projects like Kulpahar and Shahzad of Bundelkhand will serve as a model for the state. These are being connected to the sprinkler system. With this, more irrigation will be done in less water and the yield will also increase.

Decision only because of upcoming polls: Priyanka

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Decision only because of upcoming polls: Priyanka

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the government had agreed to repeal the three farm laws only because it had understood that they would face reverses in the upcoming elections.

“After 600-700 farmers died during the year-long agitation, the Prime Minister is now apologizing for the laws but he has not uttered a word about martyred farmers. What about Lakhimpur incident and why has the minister not been dismissed till now? We will have to understand that the government decided to change its decision only after recent surveys showed that it was slipping,” she said.

Asked why the farmers were not immediately calling off their agitation, the Congress leader said, “The farmers have been called names like ‘aatankwadi’, ‘andolanjeevi’, ‘gundey’, and ‘deshdrohi’. Why should they trust the government so blindly in a minute? Besides, the government has the option of bringing an ordinance so why is it waiting for the Parliament session?”

Priyanka further said that she was happy that the government had finally realised the strength of farmers and also the fact that no one is greater than the farmers.

“If the government is serious about what has happened then it should take necessary steps. The minister involved in the Lakhimpur incident should be dismissed. Other problems of farmers like MSP, shortage of fertilizer and other such issues, should also be addressed,” she said.

Priyanka said that she was also happy that the entire opposition had stood by the farmers during their agitation.

Vijayan applauds farmers, says credit goes to them

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Vijayan applauds farmers, says credit goes to them

Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Friday announcement of repealing the three farm laws, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leader V.D. Satheesan gave full credit to the protesting farmers.

Vijayan wrote on his Facebook post; “It was just because of the historic protests of the determined farmers which led to Modi repealing the three controversial farm laws.

“Despite facing numerous hardships and being engaged in a very long protest, the Indian farmers never wilted under pressure and held on and we give full credit for them,” said Vijayan.

Satheesan said the farmers protest will go down as the biggest protest seen in Independent India .

“It remains to be seen if this has been done for real love and concern to the farmers, or is it after finding that the Modi government is losing ground and with two key states going to the polls shortly, it was decided to withdraw the laws. The Congress party has been the backbone for the support of the farmers and all through it has been raising this issue in the parliament,” said Satheesan.

Mamata Banerjee congratulates farmers on their victory

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Mamata Banerjee congratulates farmers on their victory

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre has decided to repeal the three controversial farm laws, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday congratulated the farmers on their huge victory.

Taking to Twitter, she said: “My heartfelt congratulations to every single farmer who fought relentlessly and were not fazed by the cruelty with which @BJP4India treated you. This is your victory…

“My deepest condolences to everyone who lost their loved ones in this fight.”

Not only Banerjee, but MP and senior Trinamool Congress leader Sougata Roy said: “This is a victory for the farmers. The BJP government has decided to repeal these draconian laws because they understand that they will lose in the Assembly elections scheduled next year”.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress spokesperson and Rajya Sabha Member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said that the “Modi government has understood that they have lost the support of the people and they will be defeated in the Assembly polls in the five states scheduled next year”.

“They were afraid after the farmers threatened to go to the parliament in the next session starting from November 29.”

CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said: “I am happy, very happy because the decision to repeal the three farm laws shows that there is no alternative to the people’s movement. It shows that in democracy people speak the last word. We are happy because we were also part of this movement. Farmer leader Hannan Mollah has been with the farmers fighting for their cause. Like Narendra Modi, it is time for Mamata Banerjee to realise that however autocratic he or she might be, nothing is more powerful than the common people and all will have to bow down infront of them.”

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