Priyanka’s Secretary booked for alleged assault

TB Team
-
0
Priyanka’s Secretary booked for alleged assault

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s personal secretary, Sandeep Singh, and two other party leaders, Shiv Pandey and Yogesh Kumar Dixit, have been booked for alleged assault and snooping on a house at 7 Mall Avenue in state capital Lucknow.

The FIR was lodged at Hussainganj police station on a complaint by a driver with the estate department of the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday evening.

The complainant Prashant Singh alleged that Sandeep Singh, Pandey and Dixit were spying on his house at Mall Avenue around midnight on Wednesday.

“I saw them moving suspiciously in my house and when I objected, the trio abused and thrashed me,” he alleged.

The police said the Congress leaders named in the case were holding prime posts in the party and have been booked for criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), Central Zone, Raghvendra Mishra, said an FIR has been registered in the case and probe is underway.

Telangana CM stages dharna in Hyderabad to protest Centre’s policies

TB Team
-
0
Telangana CM stages dharna in Hyderabad to protest Centre’s policies

Demanding the Centre to enhance rice procurement from Telangana and protesting its policies, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, his cabinet colleagues, MPs and state legislators began ‘maha dharna’ here on Thursday.

Alleging that Telangana’s farmers were suffering due to the policies of the Centre, Rao described the ‘maha dharna’ as the beginning of a struggle to protect the farmers’ interests.

KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, declared that the movement will continue till the Centre relents and change its policies to procure rice from Telangana on a par with Punjab.

“This is just the beginning. If necessary we will go to Delhi. We are ready to take it to any extent,” said the Chief Minister while formally launching the mega protest at Indira Park in the heart of the city.

He alleged that the Centre’s policies were harming the farmers of Telangana at a time when they were moving on the path of prosperity and contributing to the country’s progress.

He declared that their protest was also in support of farmers of north India who have been demanding the Centre to take back new farm laws.

KCR’s entire cabinet, MPs, members of Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, other elected representatives and leaders of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) were participating in the dharna, which began at 11 a.m. and will continue till 2 p.m.

A delegation of TRS leaders will later reach Raj Bhavan to submit a representation to Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan.

Dismissing BJP’s criticism for staging protests despite being in power in the state, KCR recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sat on a 51-hour dharna when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.

The TRS chief said it was the responsibility of Narendra Modi to avoid a situation where the chief minister of a state has to sit on dharna.

This is the second protest by TRS in less than a week. State ministers, MPs and state legislators and other leaders had participated in the dharnas held in all Assembly constituencies on November 12.

The ‘maha dharna’ was held a day after KCR wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to enhance the target of rice procurement from Telangana.

KCR demanded that he ask the FCI to enhance the target beyond 40 lakh tonnes for procurement of rice during the ongoing Kharif 2021-22 to 90 per cent of the production as done in Punjab.

The Chief Minister also requested Modi to direct the FCI to complete the procurement of the balance 5 lakh tonnes of rice produced in Rabi 2020-21. He also sought direction to FCI to conform to the target of procurement of rice from Telangana during the ensuing Rabi season.

KCR wrote that FCI was following certain policies which were creating confusion in the minds of farmers as well as the state governments.

He pointed out that the FCI has not fixed the target of procurement for the entire year in one go and that even though the production is increasing year by year the procurement is not keeping pace.

“Due to these policies of FCI, it is becoming difficult for the states to plan an appropriate cropping pattern and explain the same to the farmers. For instance, even though the production of rice in Telangana during Kharif 2020-21 was 55.75 lakh tonnes, the procurement was only 32.66 lakh tonnes which is 59 per cent of the production. This was less than the 78 per cent procured in kharif 2019-20. Such wide variation in procurement levels does not allow the state to implement a rational cropping pattern,” reads the letter.

KCR pointed out that to clear these confusions and fix the appropriate target for procurement, he had personally met union minister for food and public distribution Piyush Goyal on September 25 and 26. “I requested that the annual target for procurement be fixed immediately. It has been 50 days since I have met the Hon’ble Union Minister but no policy decision has been taken and communicated to us,” he wrote.

KCR urges Modi to enhance rice procurement from T’gana

TB Team
-
0
KCR urges Modi to enhance rice procurement from T’gana

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to enhance the target of rice procurement from Telangana.

Rao wrote to the Prime Minister to ask the FCI to enhance the target beyond 40 lakh tonnes for procurement of rice during the ongoing Kharif 2021-22 to 90 per cent of the production as done in Punjab.

The Chief Minister also requested Modi to direct the FCI to complete the procurement of the balance 5 lakh tonnes of rice produced in Rabi 2020-21. He also sought direction to FCI to conform the target of procurement of rice from Telangana during ensuing Rabi season.

Rao wrote the letter amid a raging row in the state between ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the opposition BJP over procurement.

The chief minister sent the letter a day before a mega dharna by state ministers, MPs, state legislators and other TRS leaders in Hyderabad to demand the Centre to enhance rice procurement from the state. This is the second protest by the ruling party in six days.

KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, wrote that FCI, which has the mandate of ensuring food security for the people by maintaining the buffer stocks and supplying rice and wheat through the public distribution system, was following certain policies which were creating confusion in the minds of farmers ad well as the state governments.

He wrote that the FCI has not fixed the target of procurement for the entire year in one go and that even though the production is increasing year by year the procurement is not keeping pace

“Due to these policies of FCI, it is becoming difficult for the states to plan an appropriate cropping pattern and explain the same to the farmers. For instance even though the production of rice in Telangana during Khariff 2021 was 55.75 lakh tonnes the procurement was only 32.66 lakh tonnes which is 59 per cent of the production. This was less than the 78 per cent procured in kharif 2019-20. Such wide variation in procurement levels does not allow the state to implement a rational cropping pattern,” reads the letter.

KCR pointed out that to clear these confusions and fix the appropriate target for procurement, he had personally met union minister for food and public distribution Piyush Goyal on September 25 and 26. “I requested that the annual target for procurement be fixed immediately. It is 50 days since I have met the Hon’ble Union Minister but no policy decision is taken and communicated to us,” he wrote.

KCR also brought to the notice of Modi that since the formation of the state in 2014, Telangana achieved tremendous progress in agriculture sector and claimed that this was due to a series of policies and measures taken by the state government to strengthen agriculture sector.

The farmers were given encouragement in terms of investment support of Rs 10,000 per acre for year and free 24/7 quality power. The hardworking farmers of Telangana have increased the yields in a significant way, thereby constructing to the progress of the country.

KCR pointed out that before the formation of the state there was drought and hunger prevalent everywhere. Today, due to the enormous increase in irrigation facilities, Telangana is not only able to meet its food grain requirements but has become a huge grain surplus state.

“The farmers of Telangana are now able to produce for the rest of the country and this progress is also known to you,” he added.

Kamal Nath calls tribal leaders for meeting on Nov 24

TB Team
-
0
Kamal Nath calls tribal leaders for meeting on Nov 24

Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief and former chief minister Kamal Nath has called party’s MLAs and other leaders of Schedule Tribes (ST) for a meeting in the state capital on November 24 to chalk out strategy for the upcoming panchayat elections.

“All leaders and workers of all 89 tribal dominated blocks of 22 districts will be present in the meeting in view of party’s preparation for upcoming gram panchayat elections in the state,” a party spokesperson said.

Sources said that the party has also planned to organise some special events to garner tribal votes in the state.

In September too, the Congress had organised an event to bring all tribal leaders and workers on one stage.

The State Election Commission has already issued instructions to Panchayat and Rural Development Department to prepare for elections, which will be held in three phases from December 20 to January 3.

On the ther hand, the BJP-led state government on Wednesday kicked off scheme – ‘Ration Aapke Gram’ in 89 tribal-dominated areas in the state.

Priyanka to interact with women in UP’s Bundelkhand today

TB Team
-
0
Priyanka to interact with women in UP’s Bundelkhand today

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will start a direct dialogue with women in Bundelkhand under the aegis of her campaign ‘Ladki hoon, lad sakti hun’.

The meeting is slated to take place at Ramghat in Chitrakoot on Wednesday.

This is another step by the Congress to consolidate woman power for the 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.

According to state Congress president Ajay Kumar Lallu, the party is aware of the kind of challenges women are facing in their everyday life because of the faulty policies of the ruling government.

“No other party has taken up the cause of women. Our leader Priyanka Gandhi will lend a patient hearing to the plight of women in Bundelkhand region,” he said.

Political analysts stated that the selection of Chitrakoot as the venue for a dialogue with women was a carefully curated move as the Ramghat area of the district is, perhaps, one of the only other places to be close to the life of Lord Ram who has played a key role in drawing the political canvas of Uttar Pradesh in recent decades.

Lord Ram spent over 11 years of his term in exile in Chitrakoot. It is also believed to be the place where Maharishi Valmiki scripted the Ramayana. The agenda of political messaging by Priyanka becomes clear amid reports that she would be visiting the temple area and seek the blessings of Kamtanathji – the deity worshipped by Lord Ram,” said one of Congress leaders.

Earlier, the Congress had announced to give 40 per cent reservation in tickets to women candidates in the upcoming Assembly elections.

The party has also announced sops that include tabs and e-scooters to girls who pass Class 12 and Rs 10,000 as honorarium to ASHA workers.

BJP, Cong yet to finalise candidates for council elections in K’taka

TB Team
-
0
BJP, Cong yet to finalise candidates for council elections in K’taka

Even as elections to the Legislative Council known as Upper House in Karnataka legislature are nearing, major political parties — ruling BJP and opposition Congress — have not been able to finalise their candidates yet.

The elections for 25 council seats will be held on December 10 and the process of nomination has begun on Tuesday. The results will be out on December 14.

According to sources, the candidates list was supposed to be finalised by November 18 by both parties. However, competition within party leaders for tickets is delaying the process. The list is expected to be out by November 20 or 21. The BJP has decided to announce the candidates list in a phased manner.

State BJP unit has considered the elections very seriously as there is a good opportunity to rein in Council for the first time in the history.

The probable candidates list has been already finalised by the state BJP and sent for approval by the central leaders. The parliamentary board of the party is likely to finalise the list by Wednesday night and announce the list in two phases. The first list is likely to be announced on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and state party President Nalin Kumar Kateel who want to leave no stone unturned to establish majority in Council, have prepared a list on the criterion of winnability of candidates, according to sources.

November 23 is the last date for the submission of nominations. The BJP is strategising to win 18 seats from the total of 25. The BJP high command has directed the leaders to take all possible steps to ensure victory of BJP candidates.

Opposition Congress is also trying hard to quell dissent within the party. The Congress candidates represented 14 seats out of 25, which are going to elections.

Six candidates have decided not to contest the MLC elections and are eyeing MLA tickets for the 2023 Assembly elections.

Priyanka to start dialogue with women in Chitrakoot

TB Team
-
0
Priyanka to start dialogue with women in Chitrakoot

 Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will start a direct dialogue with women – “Ladki hun lad sakti hun” in Chitrakoot on Wednesday at Ramghat.

The venue has been chosen to give subtle message as Chitrakoot has religious importance and had its own identity since times immemorial. The first known mention of the place is in the Valmiki’s Ramayan, which is believed to be the first ever Mahakavya. Valmiki speaks of Chitrakoot as an eminently holy place.

The Congress General Secretary will also visit temple in the area. The Congress is making big promises to the fairer gender and hopes to make inroads in the women vote bank.

The Congress has prepared a separate manifesto for women for the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. Priyanka Gandhi had announced last month that her party will give 40 per cent tickets to women in the polls slated for early next year, saying the decision is aimed at making women, who constitute roughly half the vote bank, a “full-fledged partner in power”.

The other assurances include an honorarium of Rs 10,000 per month to ASHA and Anganwadi workers; appointment of women to 40 per cent posts according to the provisions of reservation; pension of Rs 1,000 to old widows; and opening of 75 skill schools that will be named after the brave women of the state.

The Congress is trying to consolidate women power in its favour for the Assembly polls.

She had said last month that all class 12 pass girls will be given a smartphone while all graduate girls will get an electric scooter if her party forms a government in the state.

Vice Prez to inaugurate Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021

TB Team
-
0
Vice Prez to inaugurate Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu will inaugurate the 24th edition of Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021 on Wednesday.

While Prime Minister of Israel Naftali Bennett and Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison will participate virtually, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will be present at the event.

Minister of Science and Technology, Higher Education & IT, BT of Karnataka N. Ashwath Narayan on Tuesday visited the venue to inspect the preparations. Speaking to media, he said: the 24th edition of the event which is being conducted in hybrid format will witness participation of over 30 countries.

“For the first time South Africa, Vietnam, and UAE will be participating in the BTS. It is also for the first time that mutual participation of Karnataka and Australia through BTS and Sydney Dialogue is being arranged.”

“As part of this, the Sydney Dialogue sessions will be held during the same time (November 17-19). On November 18, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually address the session, which will be streamed on the BTS platform.

He further said “India Innovative Alliance” and India US Tech Conclave initiatives have been introduced for the first time.

“BTS-2021 will bring together global leaders, Indian Corporate, R&D, and Start-Ups from electronics, IT, Deeptech & Biotech and policymakers driving the next wave of innovation into one platform.”

The event having 75+ conference sessions is expected to see the participation of 300+ speakers, 5,000+ start-up attendees, 300+ exhibitors, 20,000+ business attendees and overall digital reach to half a million tech enthusiasts, he added.

Keynote speakers at BTS include Martin Schroeter, CEO, Kyndryl, Prof Klaus Schwab, Founder and Chairman, World Economic Forum, Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, Indian-American Physician, Priya Balasubramaniam, Vice President, Operations Apple Inc., Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India, GavenStandon, Executive Partner Ecosystem, Telstra, Gil Shwed, Founder and CEO, Checkpoint among others.

Chetan Bhagat, Indian Author & Columnist will deliver a plenary talk on November 19.

Mamata likely to meet Modi next week

TB Team
-
0
Mamata likely to meet Modi next week

If everything goes according to the schedule then Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the middle of next week.

According to official sources Banerjee might go to Delhi on November 22 and is likely to return on November 25. During her two-day stay in the national capital, she is likely to meet the Prime Minister and discuss pending issues.

Sources in the CMO (Chief Minister’s Office) indicated that the discussion of the Chief Minister with the Prime Minister might revolve around the pending financial dues of the state and the recent extension of the operation area of BSF from 15 kilometres to 50 kilometres. The chief minister is also likely to meet the leaders of the opposition parties, including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

The extension of the area of operation of the BSF has triggered political controversy and several Trinamool Congress leaders have raised their voices against the Centre’s decision alleging that this is an intrusion in the federal structure of the country.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has written to the Prime Minister protesting against the Centre’s decision. Trinamool Congress have even decided to bring a resolution against this in the Assembly on Tuesday. Senior Trinamool leader Sougata Roy said that the party will raise their voice in the winter session of Parliament. So, it is expected that Banerjee will have a discussion with the Prime Minister on this issue, sources said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also been vocal regarding the pending financial dues of the state. It is expected that she will also apprise the Prime Minister about the financial dues of the state. Recently the Minister of State for finance Chandrima Bhattacharya raised the issue during a meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday.

According to the state, the Centre is increasing its income by imposing cess, but the states are not getting their share. The state’s demand was that the the authority to take a loan of 5 per cent of the GDP by the Centre was accepted at only 3.5 per cent. Not only that, the state has been alleging that they are not getting the portion of the central funds for the centre-state run projects. The Centre is also not releasing funds for the disaster affected people. These issues are likely to take the centre stage of the discussion.

In July after coming to power for the third time Banerjee went to Delhi and met several leaders, including Sonia Gandhi but things have changed in these few months. Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee have repeatedly attacked the Congress for their inability to lead the opposition against BJP.

With the Trinamool trying to spread its organisation to smaller states like Goa and Tripura, the perspective of Trinamool Congress and Mamata Banerjee have changed in the last five months. The party that was once considered to be a regional outfit is trying to emerge as an alternative to the Congress nationally. So Mamata Banerjee’s meeting with the opposition leaders will definitely have a significance.

Telangana CM pays tributes to Birsa Munda

TB Team
-
0
Telangana CM pays tributes to Birsa Munda

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday paid tributes to tribal leader and freedom fighter Birsa Munda on his 146th birth anniversary.

The Chief Minister noted that Birsa Munda had sacrificed his life at a very young age fighting for the country’s independence, for the self-respect and rights of the adivasis, tribes and found a permanent place in the history of the country’s freedom movement.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, said that under self-governance in Telangana, the government is implementing several welfare and development programmes for the adivasis, tribes and protecting their self-respect.

The Union government has declared November 15 as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas or Tribal Pride Day as a tribute to Birsa Munda.

Born on November 15, 1875, in Ulihatu village in present day Jharkhand, Birsa Munda participated in the freedom movement.

1...858687...162Page 86 of 162