Congress pledges laws to rein in hate crimes

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Congress pledges laws to rein in hate crimes

The Congress, in its draft political resolution, on Saturday pledged to bring in laws to prevent hate crimes in the country, if voted to power.

This comes against the backdrop of rising incidents of hate crimes and lynching, the latest being the burning alive of two people in Rajasthan.

The resolution said, “In the last eight-and-a-half years under the BJP Government, the politics of hate has assumed alarming proportions and religious polarisation has reached its peak. Hate crimes and atrocities have increased manifold.

“Vigilante right-wing groups incite violence on various trivial issues. These groups operate with impunity and have started acting like police, spreading anarchy and fear. This fear in the minds of minorities is the aim of the BJP/RSS regime.”

During the course of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, it was clear that the majority of Indians yearn for love, peace, and harmony, it added.

The Congress said it believes in our civilizational principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ which means “The World Is One Family”. Minorities form about a
fifth of India’s population. Neglecting, marginalizing, and alienating them is
inhuman, and hits at the unity and integrity of India.

“The culture of hatred nurtured and propagated by BJP, RSS and their acolytes violates the tenets of all religions. We need to create a sense of security among each and every Indian, regardless of their region, religion, caste, class or gender,” it further said.

It also said that crimes against weaker sections of society have also increased. Atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs) have increased by 1.2 percent in 2021, according to the NCRB. Violence against Dalit and Adivasi women has also risen. Cases of rape against SC women, including shockingly, minors, account for 7.64 percent and ST women account for 15 percent of the total cases reported.

“Congress will pass a new law to prevent and punish hate crimes,” it concluded.

After full-blown chaos, MCD’s Standing Committee to be re-elected on Monday

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After full-blown chaos, MCD’s Standing Committee to be re-elected on Monday

Following ruckus for the third straight day, the House of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was on Friday adjourned till Monday morning with Mayor Shelly Oberoi announcing that re-election to pick the Standing Committee members will be held at 11 am on February 27.

All hell broke loose on Friday after Oberoi stalled the recounting of votes for electing the members of the all-powerful MCD Standing Committee following objections raised by AAP.

It was free for all in the MCD House with BJP and AAP councilors trading blows at each other, showing scant disregard for the sanctity of the House.

Protesting against the Mayor’s decision to stall the recounting process, BJP councilors started breaking mikes, tearing ballot papers, and even damaging the polling booths amid sloganeering.

“The poll to elect the members of the Standing Committee will be held on February 27,” Oberoi said amid sloganeering by councilors from both sides in the House.

“Today is a most unfortunate day. The House’s reputation was not taken care of. Before the Standing Committee election, we heard BJP’s demands and made sure that they were met. But when the counting started and they (BJP) realized that they are losing, BJP councilors created a ruckus,” Oberoi said while addressing the media after the House was adjourned.

“They have not just targeted me, but other women councilors were also targeted. They are not just disrespecting the House, but the Chair of the Mayor too. Today, I want to appeal to the BJP to accept defeat,” said Oberoi.

AAP leader Atishi said, “I appeal to the BJP to accept the mandate of the people of Delhi. The people have thrown them away and let AAP run the show. If the Mayor is not safe, how can the other women feel safe?”

On BJP’s allegations, Atishi showed a video and said, “You can see all the videos chronologically and you’ll see who started the ruckus. AAP councilors who were standing up, I was trying to back them off. After this presser, we will go to the Kamla Market police station and file an FIR against the BJP for the ‘murder attempt’ on a women councilor of AAP.”

Oberoi later tweeted: “Requested an urgent appointment with the @DelhiPolice Commissioner tomorrow regarding the attack on me by BJP Councillors in the MCD House.”

Earlier, Oberoi had said while stalling the recounting process that one party is ready for the process, while the other is not.

“So I am stopping the recounting process,” Oberoi said.

PM Modi terms Yediyurappa’s farewell speech ‘inspirational’

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PM Modi terms Yediyurappa’s farewell speech ‘inspirational’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the spirit and farewell speech of former chief minister and BJP Central Parliamentary Committee Member B.S Yediyurappa in the Karnataka Assembly.

“Being a karyakarta (active member) of BJP, I felt that this speech (by Yediyurappa) is inspirational. The speech imbibes the ethics of the party. This will definitely give inspiration to other party workers,” Narendra Modi stated on his social media handle.

He also shared the post by BJP Karnataka’s social media handle containing Yediyurappa’s speech.

On February 22, the former CM declared on the floor of the House that he will never contest elections in the future and that this would be his last session. “This is my last speech. You can also consider this as my farewell speech. I have already declared that I won’t contest elections. I will not come back to this session,” an emotional Yediyurappa reiterated.

He was participating in the discussion on the budget and stated that in political circles, opposition parties are claiming that Yediyurappa is sidelined and neglected. “I have not been neglected either by the BJP or by the Prime Minister,” he maintained.

The party has given him good opportunities, he asserted, adding that he will work for the party until his last breath. “BJP has also given me an opportunity to become Chief Minister four times. It is not possible to silence Yediyurappa. We will come back to power,” he stated.

BJP is coming to power in the state for sure, he said. “I will take up a state-wide tour. After this session, I will go across Karnataka. I will have to convey to the people the schemes of the BJP. The ruling BJP government has given more programs than any other government,” Yediyurappa stated.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka attend wedding of Jitendra Singh’s daughter in Alwar

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Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka attend wedding of Jitendra Singh’s daughter in Alwar

Hundreds of members of erstwhile royal families and prominent politicians including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as well as Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, attended the wedding celebrations of former Union Minister Jitendra Singh’s daughter in Alwar.

Jitendra Singh’s daughter Manavika got married to Avijit Singh, a member of the former royal family of Pali, on Wednesday night.

In view of the ceremony, police security was increased outside the Circuit House, helipad and the wedding venue Phool Bagh.

Prominent guests from India and abroad reached Alwar for the royal wedding.

A helipad was prepared at Kendriya Vidyalaya. A large number of policemen were deployed from here to Phool Bagh. Most of the hotels in the city were booked for the wedding.

Preparations for the wedding were made at Phool Bagh Palace, also the residence of Jitendra Singh. The procession of Avijit Singh reached Alwar on Tuesday.

The erstwhile royal family members who attended the marriage were from Nepal, Tripura, Nabha (Patiala), Rajkot (Gujarat), Datia (Madhya Pradesh), Pathankot (Punjab), Jodhpur, Karauli, Dholpur, Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh), Jaisalmer, Kishangarh (Ajmer).

While Raje arrived at 12 noon on Wednesday to attend the wedding ceremony. Priyanka Gandhi reached with her entire family at around 4.30 p.m.

Meanwhile, Gehlot reached at around 6 p.m. He was accompanied by several MLAs and leaders including Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshi, Cabinet Ministers Tikaram Julie, and Shakuntala Yadav.

Goa CM welcomes Mhadei PRAWAH, opposition terms it ‘farce’

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Goa CM welcomes Mhadei PRAWAH, opposition terms it ‘farce’

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has welcomed the union cabinet’s decision to approve the creation of Mhadei PRAWAH (Mhadei Water Authority). However, the opposition called it a gimmick to divert attention.

“I thank the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving the establishment of the PRAWAH in the cabinet meeting. This has been one of our primary demands and we wholeheartedly welcome the decision,” Sawant said.

Sawant said that the establishment of the authority will help in preventing the illegal diversion of water. “It also reaffirms the fact that the Centre will not allow any injustice on Goa,” he said.

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had tweeted “PM Sh. @narendramodi led cabinet today has approved the creation of Mahadayi PRAWAH. This will enable the compliance and implementation of the award & decisions of the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal.”

“It will also aid in building mutual trust and understanding among party states Goa, Karnataka & Maharashtra thereby ensuring the right use of water resources of this region for its overall development.”Shekhawat further said.

However, Congress Goa chief Amit Patkar reacting to the new development said that it is a move of the BJP to give all powers to authority controlled by the central government.

“With the creation of Mhadei PRAWAH Authority, this BJP government is only willing to give all powers and control to an Authority controlled by the Central government, where every Goan will suffer and they will sell and destroy our state sitting in Delhi,” Patkar said.

“By this move, the Goa government has accepted that there will be an illegal diversion of Mhadei and the setting up of Authority is a farce only meant to deviate, Goans who are trying to stop the diversion,” Patkar said.

Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai said that while Karnataka is diverting water from Mhadei, the central government is diverting attention. “Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is complicit in both. No Mhadei Water Authority will distract us from our non-negotiable demand. Government should withdraw permission given to the Detailed Project Report of Karnataka. All else you do is a smokescreen designed to buy time and delay justice to Goa,” Sardesai said.

Ever since Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced that the Centre has cleared the much-disputed Kalasa-Banduri dam project in his state, people have started holding public meetings against the Central government’s decision.

Goa and Karnataka are currently battling out a dispute over the Kalasa-Banduri dam project across the water of the Mhadei river at a central tribunal.

Mhadei originates in Karnataka and meets the Arabian Sea in Panaji. While the river traverses 28.8 km in Karnataka, it is 81.2 km in length in Goa.

Karnataka plans to construct dams on the river, aimed at diverting the water into its water-starved Malaprabha basin in North Karnataka.

YSR Telangana party Cheaf YS Sharmila has appoligied to trangenders community.

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YSR Telangana party Cheaf YS Sharmila has appoligied to trangenders community.

YSR Telangana Party leader chief Y.S. Sharmila has apologized after the transgender community rally over they feel she insulted us in some way while referring to BRS.

Talking to the media, Sharmila said, “Y.S. Sharmila doesn’t have an ego in her mind over the transgender community and It is not my opinion to be angry about them and damage those communities with unconditional words. Shanker Naik who is present in MLA there has used bad words regarding my character and then I lost my control.  Hijras have their own special place and we always respect them as sisters I was criticizing the MLA only. My focus is on MLA at that time, not on you all sisters. I will definitely take care of your problems and I see your welfare. KCR and BR’s government has not done much for your community.”

In a speech during her padayatra in Mahabubabad, she referred to MLA Shankar Naik as ‘Kojja’, a derogatory Telugu term, and hit out at him for not fulfilling promises to the people of Telangana.

In Mahabubabad’s speech, Y.S. Sharmila used the word ‘Kojja’ to insult the MLA Shankar Naik because not fulfilling the promises which were given to the public before the elections, So that the Telangana transgender committee in Warangal and Hyderabad objected to the word and They need an apology from her.

” We are living in this society in an honest and proper way with respect too. We have the right to speak when we have trouble, we are also respectable citizens as you are in the nation.” The team leader of the transgender community told the media on a local channel.

PM to address 12 post-budget webinars

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PM to address 12 post-budget webinars

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, starting from Thursday and till March 11, will address 12 post-budget webinars, which would focus on key priority areas outlined in the budget like green growth, skill development, and ease of living through technology, among other aspects.

The webinars will be focussed on synergizing efforts of various ministries and departments and all concerned stakeholders towards the preparation of action plans with quarterly targets so that the implementation is front ended and smooth with the timely achievement of intended outcomes, a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

The webinars will be attended by Union Ministers concerned, key stakeholders from government departments, regulators, as well as academia and trade and industry associations.

The webinar on green growth would be held on February 23, while the one on agriculture and cooperatives will be held on February 24.

The webinar on “Harnessing Youth power-Skilling and Education” would be held on February 25, and the one on “Reaching the last mile. Leaving No Citizen Behind” would take place on February 27.

Another webinar touching upon the subject “Unleashing the Potential: Ease of living using Technology” would be held on February 28, while another one on “Urban Development with focus on Planning” would take place on March 1.

The remaining webinars would be as per the following schedule: “Developing Tourism in Mission Mode” on March 3, “Infrastructure and Investment: Improving logistic efficiency with PM Gatishakti National Master Plan” on March 4, health and medical research on March 6, the financial sector on March 7, women empowerment on March 10, and on the PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman (PM VIKAS) on March 11.

Arunachal important state from strategic viewpoint: President Murmu

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Arunachal important state from strategic viewpoint: President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Monday said Arunachal Pradesh is a “very important state” from a strategic and geographical point of view, adding a good infrastructure is essential for the national security and economic development of the state.

Addressing the 37th Statehood Day celebrations of Arunachal Pradesh in Itanagar, the President said the Central government has approved schemes worth over Rs 44,000 crore for the development of the national highways in the state.

Murmu said the country’s easternmost frontier state has become a power surplus one with the commissioning of 600 MW Kameng Hydro Power Station.

She expressed confidence that the recently inaugurated all-weather Donyi Polo Airport would improve the connectivity of the state and also give a boost to trade and tourism.

Saying that the development of any society cannot be inclusive without the development of women, she noted that about 47 percent of representatives of Panchayats in Arunachal Pradesh are women.

The President said that women of Arunachal Pradesh are achieving success in every field and expressed confidence that women from across the country would take inspiration from Anshu Jamsenpa who is the first woman to summit Mount Everest twice in five days and Tage Rita Takhe who is promoting women’s participation in enterprise and taking local agro-based products of Arunachal Pradesh to the international market.

The President, who arrived in Itanagar on a two-day visit to the northeastern state, said that in India, the first rays of the Sun fall on Arunachal Pradesh.

The different tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, their cultural heritage, and their unity in diversity, inspire all of us. It can be said that the society of Arunachal Pradesh is the microcosm of India, she pointed out.

Noting that it is enriched with mountains, dense forests, lakes, waterfalls, and flora and fauna, this state is a rich biodiversity zone. Expressing her satisfaction that the Arunachal Pradesh government has adopted the “Pakke Declaration” to meet the challenges of climate change and conserve biodiversity, she said that it is also happy to note that drone technology is being used by the state government for agriculture, horticulture, health services, and environment protection.

She said these are important steps for environmental conservation.

The President said that the entire northeastern region, including Arunachal Pradesh, is playing an important role in India’s development.

Several meetings of the G-20 are also being held in the northeastern states, the President said, adding that she was confident that these meetings would give a boost to the culture and tourism of the region and generate investment opportunities in the region.

On Tuesday, the President will address the special session of the state Assembly. Arunachal Pradesh became a full-fledged state on February 20, 1987.

PM condoles death of BJP leader, former Governor O.P. Kohli

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PM condoles death of BJP leader, former Governor O.P. Kohli

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condoled the death of former Governor and BJP leader O.P. Kohli.

In a tweet, the PM said: “Saddened by the passing away of Shri OP Kohli Ji. He played a key role in strengthening our Party in Delhi. As MP and Governor, he focused on issues of public welfare. He was also passionate about the education sector. My thoughts are with his family. Om Shanti.”

Kohli passed away earlier on Monday. He was 87. The Governor of Gujarat from 2014 to 2019, he also held charge of Madya Pradesh and Goa.

A former Rajya Sabha member and ex-president of BJP in Delhi, he was also an academician.

Upendra Kushwaha resigns from primary membership of JD

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Upendra Kushwaha resigns from primary membership of JD

JD(U) rebel leader Upendra Kushwaha on Monday resigned from the primary membership of the party.

The decision was taken after a two-day meeting of his supporters in Patna’s Sinha Library and the announcement was made at a press conference, during which Kushwaha also said that he will soon resign from the post of MLC as well.

“I have requested the speaker of Bihar Vidhan Parishad to give me the time so that I can hand over the resignation letter to him. As far as the primary membership of the party is concerned, I have informed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and national president Lalan Singh,” he told reporters.

Kushwaha also hinted that he will form a new political party in the state, adding that his supporters have authorized him to select a name and flag.

“When I merged my party RLSP with the JD(U), the initial period in the party was good. Nitish Kumar then announced to hand over his political legacy to Tejashwi Yadav in 2025. I informed him that it would deeply hurt JD(U). The party will be destroyed after Tejashwi becomes the Chief Minister of Bihar but he ignored my suggestion. I do not want the boat of JD(U) to drown but Nitish Kumar has already drowned it,” he said.

“The Samata Party and JD(U) emerged against the ‘Jungle Raj’ of Lalu Prasad Yadav. Now, Nitish Kumar has joined hands with him. The moves of Nitish Kumar will destroy his political legacy in Bihar. He is taking decisions only on the suggestions of two to four leaders who are surrounding him.”

Reacting to his relationship with the BJP, Kushwaha said that he has learned from his elder brother (Nitish Kumar).

“He (Nitish Kumar) did the meeting with the party’s alliance partners (BJP) in the evening. After one hour, he held a meeting with the RJD and formed the government the next day at 10 a.m.”

Kushwaha, for the last month, had shown a rebellious attitude against Nitish Kumar.

He had raised strong objections over the announcement of Nitish Kumar who said to hand over his political legacy to Tejashwi Yadav in 2025.

Kushwaha claimed that the Lav-Kush equation of JD(U) will be badly hit after his decision as the Lav-Kush people are arch-rivals of the Yadavs in Bihar.

Kamal Haasan tells cadre to hoist MNM flags at their homes on Founding Day

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Kamal Haasan tells cadre to hoist MNM flags at their homes on Founding Day

South Indian superstar and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder President Kamal Haasan has called upon his cadres to hoist the party flags in their homes on February 21 to mark Founding Day.

“Like beautiful white clouds let our Maiam flags fly across Tamil Nadu,” he said in a statement on Monday while also urging the MNM cadres to visit villages where the party has not developed

He said that with the feeling of ‘our party, our flag’, the cadres of MNM must fly the party flag at more places than those of other political outfits.

Kamal Haasan launched MNM on February 21, 2018, in Madurai as a political alternative to the DMK and the AIADMK.

However the superstar did not taste success in any of the electoral hustings for the party and in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and in the 2021 Assembly elections, the party lost miserably.

Kamal Haasan also lost in Coimbatore to Vanathi Sreenivasan, the BJP Mahila Morcha leader. He has now extended his support to the DMK, and Congress combine.

The actor-politician campaigned actively for the Congress leader EVKS Elangovan for the February 27 Erode East bypoll.

Ahead of presenting K’taka budget, CM Bommai offers special worship

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Ahead of presenting K’taka budget, CM Bommai offers special worship

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai offered special worship before presenting the budget for the financial year 2023-24, the last budget of the ruling BJP government in Karnataka on Friday.

CM Bommai visited Srikanteshwara temple located in Muthappa Block of R.T. Nagar and Maruthi temple near Balabruyi in Bengaluru.

He got special worship done for the people of the state at the temples and sought blessings. Later, he waved at the media and showed the victory symbol before entering the Assembly. “I prayed to God for the wellbeing of the people of the state,” he said before presenting the budget.

Sources reveal that CM Bommai and the party have made it a popular budget and the party is all set to pitch the budget presented as the assurance for the upcoming elections.

CM Bommai presented a Rs 2,65,720 crore budget last year. The government had claimed that it had reached 91 percent targets and ensured 75 percent progress. BJP insiders said that the size of this budget is going to be Rs 3 lakh crore.

The Chief Minister was a member of the GST Council and presently he is the President of the Group of Ministers for GST Reforms. He had taken strict steps to ensure meeting tax targets. He is also likely to announce community-based major schemes in view of the upcoming elections.

Yogi govt to appoint Udyami Mitras to implement investment proposals

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Yogi govt to appoint Udyami Mitras to implement investment proposals

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh will be appointing Udyami Mitras (friends of entrepreneurs) soon for the implementation of Rs 33.52 lakh crore investment proposals received through the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit-2023 that was held in Lucknow from February 10 to 12.

The Udyami Mitras will be appointed by Invest UP under the Mukhya Mantri Udyami Mitra Yojana, and the CEO of the department.

According to the official spokesman, the Udyami Mitras will contact investors, listen to their problems, get them solved, and explain to them in detail about the facilities available to them.

As many as 105 Udyami Mitras will be appointed on a one-year contract in the first phase, according to a press release. Seventy of these posts will be for the districts, 10 for the Invest UP office and headquarters, and 25 posts for working with various industrial development authorities.

They will be given an honorarium and allowances of Rs 70,000 per month each.

The candidates will be able to apply online on the Invest UP website or on the portal developed for the purpose. The Udyami Mitras must have an MBA degree with at least 60 percent marks and be in the 25-40 year age group. The candidate should be fluent in Hindi and English, and should also know typing in both languages.

Apart from this, preference will be given to the candidates knowing a foreign language. The candidate must have good knowledge of computers and experience in Microsoft Office.

Those applying should have an MBA degree with a minimum of one year of experience as a management trainee/ analyst/ associate in a banking/consulting/market research organization, or investor-friendly related private or public company.

They should also have studied or have work experience in infrastructure and industrial development, defense, aerospace, civil aviation, warehousing, and logistics, information technology (IT), information technology-enabled services (ITES), data center, data science, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, machine learning, data governance, startups, handloom, and textile.

Lakshman Prasad Acharya takes oath as Sikkim Governor

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Lakshman Prasad Acharya takes oath as Sikkim Governor

Lakshman Prasad Acharya on Thursday took oath as the new Governor of Sikkim during a ceremony at Raj Bhawan here.

Sikkim High Court’s Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder administered Acharya the oath of office and secrecy in the presence of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, cabinet ministers, and other dignitaries inform a State government Press release.

The new Governor signed the solemn oath/affirmation for the assumption of office.

After the swearing-in ceremony, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang introduced the Governor to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Deputy Speaker, the Council of Ministers, Members of Parliament for Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Judges of the High Court of Sikkim, and other dignitaries present.

The newly sworn-in Governor was given a ceremonial guard of honor by Sikkim Police. Acharya succeeds Ganga Prasad as the 17th Governor of Sikkim.

As per the government release, Acharya is the former State Vice-President and Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) of the Bharatiya Janata Party from the Varanasi Division Graduates Constituency in the Varanasi district.

Punjab CM keen to replicate Telangana irrigation model

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Punjab CM keen to replicate Telangana irrigation model

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on Thursday that he is looking to replicate the successful irrigation model of Telangana in his state to recharge groundwater and properly channel river water.

On a day-long visit to Telangana to study some irrigation projects in the state, he said that Punjab needs to properly harness river waters to ease the pressure on groundwater due to paddy cultivation

Mann, who along with officials visited Siddipet district, told reporters that the groundwater level in some parts of Punjab depleted to alarming levels due to overutilization of groundwater resources for growing paddy.

He said 3,800 liters of water has been drawn from the ground to grow one kilogram of paddy. “We have reached a situation where 80 percent of the places have gone into a dark zone,” he said.

He said though Punjab is a state of rivers, the state’s canal system was built before partition and this needs to be upgraded.

Stating that Punjab is number one in the country in paddy production, he said his government was taking steps for crop diversification. However, as the Centre provides no Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops other than paddy and wheat, farmers were reluctant to switch to alternate crops.

Praising Telangana for developing a good system for the recharge of groundwater, he said he would return to Punjab with a lot of learning from here. He was impressed with Telangana’s success in groundwater recharge and building check-dams.

He said if Telangana’s successful model is replicated in Punjab, the state can save money on electricity subsidies and use the same for the welfare of farmers.

The Punjab Chief Minister visited the Kondapochamma Sagar reservoir, built as part of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), which is claimed to be the largest lift irrigation project in the world. The officials of the irrigation department briefed him about the various aspects of the mega project. With the help of maps and charts, the officials explained to him how the water from the Godavari River is being lifted.

Bhagwant Mann enquired about the working of the entire system built under KLIS and was impressed with the planning and execution by the authorities.

He also visited check-dams constructed at Erravelly to understand the artificial recharge structures developed by the Irrigation department

The chief minister also visited Pandavula Cheruvu in the Gajwel constituency and studied the tank restoration works taken up under Mission Kakatiya.

Neglected tribal glory now being brought to mainstream: PM Modi

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Neglected tribal glory now being brought to mainstream: PM Modi

Taking forward his pitch for tribal welfare, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that what was once considered remote and neglected, is now being brought into the mainstream by the government.

Modi aired these views while inaugurating the ‘Aadi Mahotsav’, a 10-day festival showcasing tribal art, cuisine, culture, and traditions organized by the Union ministry of tribal welfare.

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, the prime minister further said that events like Aadi Mahotsav have become a movement in the country and he himself participates in many of them.

“Welfare of tribal society is also a matter of personal relationship and emotions for me,” he said.

Underlining the contributions of the tribal society in the struggle for India’s Independence, Modi lamented the attempt for decades to cover up the glorious chapters of the sacrifice and valor of the tribal community in the pages of history.

He said that for the first time, the nation has finally taken steps to bring these forgotten chapters of the past to the fore.

“For the first time, the country has started celebrating Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas on the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda,” Modi said.

The prime minister emphasized the efforts of the government to promote tribal arts and skill development for the tribal youth.

Referring to the budget for 2023-24, Modi informed that the PM Visvakarma Yojna has been introduced for traditional craftsmen, where economical assistance will be provided apart from skill development and support in marketing their products.

He illustrated this by citing the aspirational districts and blocks scheme where most of the target areas have a tribal majority.

“In this year’s budget, the budget given for Scheduled Tribes has also been increased by five times as compared to 2014,” the prime minister informed.

Modi highlighted that the spotlight has been on the journey of tribal society in the last 8-9 years of his government, adding that it has been a witness to the change where the country is giving priority to equality and harmony.

He highlighted that this is the first time in 75 years of India’s Independence that the leadership of the country is in the hands of a tribal woman who is making India proud at the highest office in the form of President.

The prime minister said that tribal history is getting much-deserved recognition in the country for the first time.

Andhra HC stays show-cause notice issued to employees’ body

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Andhra HC stays show-cause notice issued to employees’ body

Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday granted a stay on the show-cause notice issued by the state government to leaders of the Government Employees Association (APGEA) for meeting the state governor to seek his intervention to ensure payment of salaries and pensions on time.

Hearing a petition filed by APGEA leaders challenging the show-cause notice, Justice Ravinath Tilahari granted a stay and directed the government to file a counter.

A delegation of APGEA leaders led by its president K. R. Suryanarayana met Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan on January 19 and submitted a memorandum to him on the problems faced by the employees.

The delegation requested the governor to issue necessary advice to the government as he is a competent authority as per the Article 309 of the Constitution to intervene in the affairs of the government employees.

After the meeting, APGEA leaders told media persons that they were compelled to meet the governor as all their efforts to resolve the grievances through the state government had failed.

However, taking serious note of the action of APGEA leaders, the government issued a show-cause notice on January 23 asking them to explain why their association should not be derecognized.

Suryanarayana had challenged the show-cause notice in the high court. On the court on January 31 directed the government not to take action against the APGEA.

During the previous hearing, the judge had posed several questions to the government. He wanted to know if the rights guaranteed by Article 19 of the Constitution are not applicable to APGEA. He asked the government if it mentioned in the show-cause notice what rules the APGEA violated while speaking to the media.

Petitioner’s counsel Ravi Prasad told the court that according to the 1990 Financial Code, salaries to government employees should be paid on the last working day of every month but employees are not getting the current month salaries till the 15th of next month.

Suryanarayana alleged that the state government is not honoring the commitment to pay salaries and pensions on the first of every month. The AGEA leader said the government also withdrew the GPF amount of Rs.415 crore from the accounts of over 90,000 employees without their permission. He termed this a “serious” financial fraud.

ED arrests Kerala ex-principal secy M.Sivasankar in Life Mission case

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ED arrests Kerala ex-principal secy M.Sivasankar in Life Mission case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s former principal secretary M. Sivasankar in connection with a Prevention of Money Laundering case pertaining to alleged fund irregularities in the state’s flood relief.

He was arrested on Tuesday night.

Sivasankar was summoned by the central agency to join the investigation into the matter on Monday and placed under arrest late on Tuesday night after two days of intense questioning. There are allegations that he was paid a bribe of Rs one crore.

“He was called by the ED to join the investigation on January 31, the day he retired from his service. Sivasankar had sought time to appear after which he was summoned to join the probe in the second week of February,” the source said.

Sivasankar allegedly helped the Unitech builder to get a contract in the life mission case.

Now he will be produced before a Special PMLA court. The ED is likely to seek his two weeks’ custodial remand.

NSA for those using unfair means in exams: CM Yogi

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NSA for those using unfair means in exams: CM Yogi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked officials to impose National Security Act (NSA) against those involved in unfair practices in the upcoming UP Board 2023 exams for Class 10 and 12, beginning from February 16.

Moreover, FIRs will also be lodged against room invigilators and center administrators found involved in the activities of cheating.

According to the government spokesman, the chief minister has ordered the officers that static and sector magistrates should be appointed at each examination center by the district magistrates.

Last year, the board suffered a major embarrassment after the English language question paper of Class 12 got leaked in 24 districts.

The spokesman said, “They will be required to report to the district inspector of schools along with the district magistrate after the examination is over so that daily activities can be monitored. On the other hand, for the first time, a separate room will be made apart from the principal’s room for monitoring the exam.”

In addition, the copies will be kept in a double lock cupboard and a CCTV camera will be placed for its monitoring round the clock.

After the appointment of room inspectors in all districts, they will be given strict training before the exam. The sector and static magistrates, center administrators, and external center administrators will also be trained in the district.

Yogi Adityanath has directed that a separate strong room should be made for the safety of question papers having 24-hour deployment of two armed policemen with their CCTV monitoring.

He has also called for installing voice-equipped CCTV, digital voice recorders, router devices, and high-speed broadband connections at examination centres.

“Strict action should be taken against anyone who is absent during this period. In such a situation, the permission of the district magistrate or the additional district magistrate will be necessary while opening the question paper,” the guidelines said.

This year, a total of 58,85,745 students, including 31,16,487 for Class 10 and 27,69,258 for Class 12, have registered for high school and intermediate examinations.

UP Board secretary Divyakant Shukla said that of the total students, 32,46,780 are male and the number of female candidates is 26,38,965.

These candidates will take the exam at 8,753 exam centres, including 540 government, 3,523 private, and 4,690 unaided colleges, spread across the state, he said.

Also, 170 candidates are inmates lodged in different prisons who too have registered for the exams. Of them, 91 have registered to appear in Class 12 exams while 79 have enrolled for Class 10 exams.

Meanwhile, a total of 936 examination centres have been identified as sensitive while another 242 centres have been declared highly sensitive by the board.

Arrangements have also been made for live monitoring through webcasting.

Besides, STF of UP Police and the local intelligence unit (LIU) have also been roped in for monitoring sensitive and highly sensitive examination centres.

Their courage motivates us to build strong India: PM Modi pays tribute to Pulwama heroes

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Their courage motivates us to build strong India: PM Modi pays tribute to Pulwama heroes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and several BJP leaders on Tuesday paid tributes to the CRPF personnel who lost their lives in a terror attack on their convoy in Pulwama on this day in 2019.

PM Modi tweeted, “Remembering our valorous heroes who we lost on this day in Pulwama. We will never forget their supreme sacrifice. Their courage motivates us to build a strong and developed India.”

Shah tweeted, “I pay homage to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the ghastly terror attack in Pulwama on this day in the year 2019. The nation can never forget their sacrifice. Their valour and indomitable courage will always remain an inspiration in the fight against terrorism.”

BJP chief J.P. Nadda said, “I pay a heartfelt tribute to all those brave hearts martyred in Pulwama on this day and recall their supreme sacrifice and dedication to our country. Their valour and selfless service to the nation is a source of inspiration for every citizen and will always be remembered”, in his tweet.

On this day in 2019, at least 40 CRPF jawans lost their lives after a suicide bomber drove a car laden with explosives into the convoy. The attack was carried out by the Pakistani terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, which is led by Masood Azhar based in Bahawalpur (Pakistan).

India avenged the Pulwama terror attack by carrying out airstrikes on Jaba Top in Pakistan’s Balakot, destroying Jadish’s terror training camps.

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