K’taka contractor suicide: Cong to meet Guv; BJP seeks report

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K’taka contractor suicide: Cong to meet Guv; BJP seeks report

The Karnataka Congress has decided to intensify agitation against the ruling BJP government in connection with the suicide case of a contractor and BJP worker, Santhosh K. Patil.

The delegation of top Congress leaders, including party General Secretary and state in-charge Randeep Surjewala, is meeting Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Wednesday demanding the termination of Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj K.S. Eshwarappa.

The delegation will also demand to lodge corruption and murder charges against Minister Eshwarappa and further stress his immediate arrest. Along with Surjewala, state Congress President D.K. Shivakumar, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, Opposition leader in Legislative Council B.K. Hariprasad, Campaign Committee Chairman M.B. Patil, and others would meet the Governor and submit a memorandum in this regard.

Santhosh K. Patil, a contractor from Belagavi had stated in his message to the mediapersons that “he was committing suicide as Minister Eshwarappa was not releasing funds for Rs 4 core worth projects that he had executed. He also said that he was being asked to give 40 percent cuts to him.” Patil’s body was recovered from Udupi lodge later on Tuesday.

The Congress since Tuesday launched protests against the government demanding the sacking of Minister Eshwarappa. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had lodged a police complaint against him in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, the BJP high command has sought a report from its state unit in connection with the suicide case.

The development has proved to be a setback for the ruling BJP which has been riding high on the Hindutva agenda in the state for quite some time. Congress party, which was neutral on a series of issues of communal polarization and was on a fix, has come out aggressively on the issue. The deceased Santhosh had earlier written letters to the top central BJP leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 40 percent commission demand by Minister Eshwarappa.

Sources in Congress said that the party has decided to raise the issue all across the state and at the national level. They also said the party would question Prime Minister Modi, who charged the erstwhile government of Siddaramaiah as a ’10 percent commission government’.

PM Modi writes to beneficiary of PM Awas Yojana, says pucca house is foundation of better tomorrow

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PM Modi writes to beneficiary of PM Awas Yojana, says pucca house is foundation of better tomorrow

Narendra Modi has composed a letter to a recipient of PM Awas Yojana and said that a pucca house is the groundwork of a superior tomorrow.

“House isn’t simply a design made of blocks and concrete, however our sentiments, our desires are appended to it.
The limit dividers of the house give us security, yet in addition, impart in us the certainty of a superior tomorrow,” Prime Minister Modi kept in touch with Sudhir Kumar Jain of Sagar area of Madhya Pradesh, praising him for getting a pucca house under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

He noticed that the satisfaction of getting one’s own home is precious.

“The fantasy of your own home has materialized through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Your feeling of fulfillment after
this accomplishment can undoubtedly be felt by your words in the letter. This house resembles another establishment for the stately existence of your family and a superior future for both your kids,” the Prime Minister additionally composed.

Crores of recipients have their pucca houses under the PM Awas Yojana up to this point, he added.

“The public authority is submitted towards the objective of giving houses to each poor family. The public authority is putting forth earnest attempts to acquire positive changes the existences of the comrades through different public government assistance plans,” Modi said.

In the letter, the Prime Minister additionally said that these paramount minutes in the existence of recipients like him give him motivation and energy to keep working energetically and constantly for the help of the country.

Sudhir had got his own pucca house as of late under the PM Awas Yojana and had composed a letter to Prime Minister saying thanks to him.

In his letter, Sudhir portrayed the PM Awas Yojana as a help for destitute unfortunate families.

Sudhir composed that he was residing in a leased house and had changed houses 6-7 times. He likewise sympathized with his aggravation of changing houses as often as possible.

Telangana farmers dump paddy in front of BJP MP’s house

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Telangana farmers dump paddy in front of BJP MP’s house

Some farmers in Telangana’s Nizamabad district on Tuesday dumped paddy in front of BJP MP Dharampuri Arvind’s residence to protest against the Centre’s refusal to procure paddy from Telangana.

A group of farmers dumped a tractor load of paddy in front of Nizamabad MP at Armoor. They were carrying placards and raising slogans against the Central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The farmers, including women, demanded that the Centre should procure entire paddy grown in Telangana during the ongoing Rabi season. One of the farmers alleged that the BJP government at the Centre is discriminating against Telangana.

The farmers demanded that the BJP MP fulfill his assurance given to them that the Centre will procure paddy.

This is the first such protest by farmers in Telangana since ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) launched an agitation over the issue.

This came a day after Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, his entire state Cabinet, TRS MPs, state legislators, and other party leaders staged a protest in Delhi, demanding the Centre procure paddy from Telangana as was done from other states.

The chief minister has set a 24-hour deadline for the Narendra Modi government to take a decision over the state’s demand.

The State Cabinet is scheduled to meet in Hyderabad later in the day. It is likely to chalk out a future course of action.

For the last two weeks, the TRS has been staging protests across Telangana to press its demand.

The BJP also staged a counter-protest in Hyderabad on Monday, blaming the TRS government for the current situation. It demanded that the chief minister either procure paddy from farmers or quit his post.

Punjab Guv, CM review preparedness along Pakistan border

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Punjab Guv, CM review preparedness along Pakistan border

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday held a series of meetings here to take stock of the important issues concerning the border district of Fazilka, which impacts national security.

The meeting was attended by senior officers of Central government agencies posted along with the Pakistan border, including the BSF, the Intelligence Bureau, the Narcotics Control Bureau, the National Investigation Agency, the Military Intelligence of the Indian Army, besides senior officers of the state government.

Major issues of the border district impacting national security were taken up and detailed discussions were held with all the agencies, an official statement said.

Earlier, both the Governor and Chief Minister addressed a meeting with sarpanches and local residents.

The Governor in his address called upon the people to be the eyes and ears of border security forces. He said the past incidents of air-dropping of arms and ammunition into Punjab have necessitated all concerned to be on vigil.

He said the security forces are doing their part but the local input and support could go a long way in checking the influx of contraband weapons and drugs into the state.

He said it has been observed that in many cases the modus operandi for the proliferation of firearms and weapons as well as consignments of drugs has been ‘conceal and clear’ wherein the cross-border smugglers use high-tech technology like drones to drop the consignment into the Indian territory.

So. it is pertinent that the villagers should be careful of the antecedents of all the new entrants into the village and should be on guard against any attempt to misuse their innocence by the anti-national elements.

He said the concept of security over the years has broadened. Along with traditional threats to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state, the security now also envisages the non-traditional threat in the form of organized crime, illegal migration, arms, drug trafficking, etc.

He said that the border districts are vulnerable to this menace of contraband arms smuggling. Therefore, it is the duty of the people to extend support to the Central security forces and the state police.

The thrust of the Governor’s address was also on the fact that all the agencies, central and state, should work together in tandem with a regular exchange of intelligence and inputs.

Congress compromised with interests of Himachal: Nadda

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Congress compromised with interests of Himachal: Nadda

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda on Saturday said the Congress has compromised with the interests of Himachal Pradesh whereas the saffron party has not only safeguarded the interests but also provided developmental projects and incentives to the state.

Speaking at the “Abhinandan Samaroh” here, his first visit after the BJP’s victory in four states in the recently concluded Assembly polls, Nadda said this was not just his honor but the regard of every party worker who worked to strengthen the party’s base in the country.

He said the feat was possible due to the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who ensured that the country regains its lost pride and glory and everyone can live with dignity and pride.

He said it was the Prime Minister who ensured the weaker sections of society and those deprived of welfare benefits get their dues ensuring the BJP’s victory in four states. He said it was after 38 years that any government succeeded in repeating its government in Uttar Pradesh.

Nadda, who belongs to Himachal Pradesh, said the Congress lost its security deposit in a stunning 389 of the 399 seats it contested in the just-concluded Uttar Pradesh. It was for the first time that any government succeeded in repeating its government in Uttarakhand.

Nadda said nine food parks of multinational companies have been established and the state has emerged as a pharmaceutical hub with 12 companies exporting products worldwide.

He said the status of a special category state was also restored by Prime Minister Modi and accepted various demands like restoring financial assistance for development projects in the ratio of 90:10.

The BJP chief said on the completion of the four-year tenure of the state government, Modi laid foundation stones and dedicated projects of Rs 11,500 crore.

He said projects such as IIM and AIIMS were sanctioned to the state during the BJP’s tenure in the Centre.

Appreciating the efforts of the government headed by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Nadda said 9.37 lakh farmers were being provided Rs 6,000 per year under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojna.

He said Rs 194 crore was provided by the Union government for the Smart City Project for Shimla, whereas Rs 190 crore was provided by the state.

Chief Minister Thakur said it was only the BJP where a common party worker could rise to the topmost position in the party, whereas all other political parties are headed by families.

Thakur said the Prime Minister also consider Himachal Pradesh his second home and was always considerate towards the developmental demands of the state.

The Chief Minister said the Union government has provided special assistance of Rs 800 crore to the state so that the pace of development goes uninterrupted.

Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur said by winning all the four states under the able leadership of Nadda would surely win in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh as well.

He appreciated the efforts of the state in pioneering the country in achieving the target of cent vaccination of the population ineligible age groups.

All are equal in Karnataka government’s view, says CM Bommai

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All are equal in Karnataka government’s view, says CM Bommai

Making an oblique referrence to the social unrest situation prevailing in Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said that “all are equal in the government’s view and maintaining law and order in the state is our objective.”

The government has nothing to do with the campaign to ban the Wakf Board, he told media persons before heading to participate in a program in Basavakalyan.

Replying to a question on Sri Ram Sena founder Pramod Mutalik’s call for a campaign to ban the Wakf Board, Bommai said: “People do practice their respective traditions. The government is being run in accordance with the laws. The government has nothing to do with these campaigns.”

“I am very happy to be in the land of Basavanna. I have come with hopes of comprehensive development of the region,” he added.

Earlier, CM Bommai announced that an anchor bank would be established within a month to meet the financial needs of the members of women’s self-help groups in the state. It would herald a revolution in employment in the state, he said.

Language chauvinism will boomerang: KTR

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Language chauvinism will boomerang: KTR

Reacting to Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that Hindi should be accepted as an alternative to English, and not local languages, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday warned that language chauvinism and hegemony in the country will boomerang.

Highlighting unity in diversity as India’s strength, KTR, as Rama Rao is popularly known, tweeted: “India is a union of states and a true ‘Vasudhaika Kutumbam’. Why don’t we let people of our great nation decide what to eat, what to wear, who to pray to, and what language to speak! Language chauvinism/hegemony will boomerang.

“I am an Indian first, a proud Telugu and Telanganaite next. Can speak in my mother tongue Telugu, English, Hindi and a little bit of Urdu too. To impose Hindi and diss English will be a great disservice to the youngsters of this nation who have global aspirations. #stopHindiImposition.”

This is the first reaction by a leader from the two Telugu states to Shah’s statement.

Leaders from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and other non-Hindi-speaking states have already reacted strongly to the Home Minister’s statement saying they will not accept Hindi imposition.

Three more ministers inducted in Pramod Sawant cabinet

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Three more ministers inducted in Pramod Sawant cabinet

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expanded his cabinet on Saturday with the induction of three more ministers who were administered the oath of office by Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai at the Raj Bhavan here.

The new ministers are Sudin Dhavalikar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Subhash Phaldesai, and Nilkanth Halarnkar both from the BJP.

The fresh induction on Saturday takes the number of ministers in Sawant’s cabinet to 12, including the Chief Minister.

Cabinet approves extension of Atal Innovation Mission till March 2023

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Cabinet approves extension of Atal Innovation Mission till March 2023

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), till March 2023.

The AIM shall work on its intended target of creating an innovation culture and entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country.

This will be done by AIM through its various programs and under intended targets that will be achieved by AIM are: establishing 10,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), establishing 101 Atal Incubation Centres, establishing 50 Atal Community Innovation Centres, and supporting 200 start-ups via the Atal New India Challenges.

Briefing the media on Friday, the Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur said that the total budgeted expenditure of Rs 2,000+ crore shall be incurred in the process of the establishment and supporting the beneficiaries.

The objectives of the AIM are to create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country via interventions at school, university, research institutions, MSME, and industry levels.

The AIM has focused on both infrastructure creation and institution building and it has created bilateral relations with various international agencies for building synergistic collaboration on innovation and entrepreneurship.

Rivals can cause no harm to me: Andhra CM Jagan

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Rivals can cause no harm to me: Andhra CM Jagan

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday asserted that his rivals can cause no harm to him as long as he enjoys the mercy of God and the blessings of people.

Addressing a public meeting in Nandyal, he said though the opposition parties and a section of media were creating problems for him, nothing can unsettle and scare him.

“With God’s mercy and your blessings, I, Jagan, have come to this position. As long as I have God’s mercy and your blessings they can do no harm to me,” he told the meeting amid loud cheers.

Referring to the malicious reports carried by a section of the media, he stated that they were unable to see the reforms and thus deliberately took up false campaigning to defame the government.

Jagan Mohan Reddy also slammed the Opposition and a section of the media for drawing controversy over the packaging of peanut chikki, which is being distributed in mid-day meals, and advised them not to be so jealous, as it can be fatal.

He said that the previous government had only spent Rs 500 crore on mid-day meals, while at present healthy, nutritious, and tasty meals are being provided at an expenditure of Rs 1,990 crore.

Asserting that poverty should not deprive a child of pursuing higher education, he credited Rs 1,024 crore into the bank accounts of mothers of 10,68,150 students under the second installment of Jagananna Vasathi Deevena for the academic year 2021-22.

He stated that only education has the power to change the world, and eradicate poverty and backwardness of the society, which is why no child has to be deprived of education. In order to provide quality education for the students and to ease the financial burden on parents, the government has come up with Vidya Deevena reimbursing the college fees and Vasathi Deevena for boarding and hostel fees to the students.

He stated that many revolutionary reforms were brought in the education sector, right from improvising midday meals under Goru Buddha, to revamping infrastructure in schools through Nadu-Nedu, introducing bi-lingual textbooks, and many more. Reiterating that the previous government had neglected the fee reimbursement scheme that was started by his father Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy said that the current government is doing more than promised, fulfilling every need.

Affirming that Vasathi Deevena would benefit nearly 10.68 lakh students in the state, the chief minister said Rs 3,329 crore was spent alone on the scheme since the formation of the YSRCP government and Rs 6,969 crore towards Vidya Deevena, besides clearing pending dues of Rs 1,778 crore of the TDP rule.

He revealed that the Gross Enrolment Ratio in colleges has increased to 35.2 per cent in Andhra Pradesh, registering a growth of 8.64 per cent against the national growth of 3 per cent.

FB group to conduct poetry competition on Mamata Banerjee

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FB group to conduct poetry competition on Mamata Banerjee

A Facebook group that is reportedly backed by the Trinamool Congress, has announced a poetry competition on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

According to the group called ‘Banglar Gorbo Mamata’, participants can submit their poetries with the hashtag #PoetryForDidi.

The participants can also directly send their poetries to the group’s inbox.

The group owners promise to feature the selected poetries on their timeline page.

“Here is a golden opportunity for the well-wishers of Didi. Write poetries with Didi as the subject. The selected poems of good literary quality will be featured on the page of Banglar Gorbo Mamata,” says a notification from the page.

A Trinamool Congress source said that following the advice of the vote-strategist Prasant Kishor’s I-PAC, Banglar Gorbo Mamata was floated to highlight the popular developmental schemes undertaken by the West Bengal government since it won the 2021 elections.

When contacted, state Water Resources Minister, Manas Ranjan Bhunia told IANS that there might be some specific reasons for this initiative which he is not aware.

“I do not handle these affairs and hence I am not in a position to comment on it,” he said.

Yogi govt to start basic course in MSME

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Yogi govt to start basic course in MSME

To inculcate and encourage business development skills in youth, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh will soon start an online course in entrepreneurship.

The course will be conducted at the college level and will fetch a certificate for the participants on completion. The certification will be given by the MSME and export promotion departments.

Additional Chief Secretary, MSME, Navneet Sehgal, said that the course curriculum and modalities are being worked out.

“The idea is to make youth self-reliant by empowering them so that they don’t just become job-seekers but job creators,” he said.

Sehgal also said that besides providing the certificate, the 10-day course will also provide exposure visits and bank linkages for loans to translate ideas into action.

Joint commissioner MSME (exports and Lucknow Zone) Pawan Agarwal said that the certification opportunity will be included in the departmental app called MSME Sarthi.

“Two main reasons prompted the department to think about this. The chief minister’s priority to create jobs in the state is the first reason while demand for training and experience in certain schemes of Skill Development Mission and bank conditions to disburse loans is the second.”

The course will have general certifications besides advanced courses in specific areas like food processing, agricultural production, organic farming, and mechanical work in subsequent stages.

The department has also envisaged the idea of introducing entrepreneurial skills at the senior secondary level so that the foundation of their self-reliance is laid in the formative years.

In addition to the certification program, the MSME department has decided to double the seats under Mati Kala Board and Vishwakarma Shram Samman Scheme.

Three Bhumihar candidates of RJD win MLC elections

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Three Bhumihar candidates of RJD win MLC elections

While RJD national president Lalu Prasad Yadav did the politics of MY equation (Muslim-Yadav equation) and ruled the state for 15 years, his son Tejashwi is looking for new equations with the participation of upper caste people in Bihar.

One such reflection comes from Bihar when 3 RJD candidates belonging to Bhumihar (upper caste) won the MLC elections on Thursday.

Kartik Kumar alias Kartik Master, the RJD candidate of Patna won the election defeating JD-U candidate Valmiki Singh with an impressive margin on Thursday.

Kartik is said to be very close to Bahubali MLA Anant Singh of Mokama. He is currently lodged in Patna’s Beur jail under the Arms Act. Kate belongs to the Bhumihar caste.

Patna is known as a stronghold of the BJP with two MPs Ravi Shankar Prasad and Ram Kripal Yadav winning from Patna Sahib and Patliputra constituencies respectively in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Besides, a number of MLAs and ministers of the NDA government in Bihar belong to Patna.

In West Champaran, RJD candidate Saurabh Chaudhary won the MLC election defeating the BJP candidate. West Champaran is known as a BJP stronghold, being the home district of party state president Sanjay Jaiswal and deputy chief minister Renu Devi. They are expected to give an explanation to the BJP central leadership about the party’s poor performance in their home district.

The West Champaran MLC seat was occupied by the BJP for 18 years. Saurabh Chaudhary belongs to the Bhumihar caste and managed to win it.

Ajay Kumar Singh, another RJD candidate from the Munger-Jamui-Lakhisarai MLC constituency, defeated JD-U candidate Sanjay Prasad. Singh belongs to the Bhumihar community.

Besides the RJD, candidates belonging to the Bhumihar caste also won in other places as well. Rajiv Singh of the Congress party won the election from the Begusarai seat. Begusarai is considered a bastion of the BJP and its firebrand leader Giriraj Singh was elected as MP in 2019 defeating Kanhaiya Kumar of the left party. Now, Kanhaiya Kumar is a Congress leader.

Sachidanand Rai, an independent Bhumihar candidate also won the election from Saran. He was earlier a BJP leader but as the party did not give him a ticket, he contested independently from Saran.

‘Govt should use CBI, ED to check hoarding, not against political opponents’

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‘Govt should use CBI, ED to check hoarding, not against political opponents’

Criticizing the Central government, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said the Union government should use the central probe agencies like CBI and ED to control inflation and check to hoard, instead of using them against political opponents.

“The Central government is not doing anything to control inflation in the country. The prices of petrol, diesel, cooking gas, and other essential commodities including life-saving medicines are increasing every day. The Union government is totally silent about the sufferings of the people because of this exorbitant price rise. The central probe agencies like CBI and ED should be used to check to hoard and control inflation instead of using them for harassing the opposition parties,” Banerjee told the mediapersons after chairing a meeting of the state’s task force for controlling the price of essential commodities, here at the state secretariat ‘Nabanna’.

She described the recent rise in the price of petrol and diesel as the BJP’s “return gift” victory — in the recent assembly polls, in four out of five states.

The Trinamool Congress chief also slammed the Central government for alleged denial of payment of Goods and Services Tax (GST) dues to the state governments, especially to0 the non-BJP-ruled states.

“Our government alone has around Rs 90,000 crore of GST dues from the Union government. If the GST dues are not paid over a long period of time, I doubt that in the coming days, many such state governments would not be able to pay the salaries to the state government employees,” she said.

Banerjee also said the Central government should waive off toll tax.

“The carriages carrying essential items should be kept out of the toll tax ambit since this tax is yet another reason for an exorbitant price rise for essential items,” the chief minister said.

Responding to Banerjee, West Bengal unit Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and party MP, Sukanta Majumdar wondered if the Central government has to take all the remedial measures, then “what is her government supposed to do?”

“These are all baseless demands,” he said.

The state BJP leadership has already said that the West Bengal government should reduce the state tax on oil to bring down the price of petrol and diesel.

President Kovind calls for new age relationship between India and the Netherlands

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President Kovind calls for new age relationship between India and the Netherlands

Calling for a new-age partnership between India and the Netherlands, President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday said it can focus on three broad elements and can combine resources, expertise, and knowledge with the skills to address contemporary challenges, add strategic direction to the cooperation and maximize benefits for both countries.

“First, we become knowledge and innovation partners with our people joining hands to undertake pioneering work in the fields of digital technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and fintech. Second, as two responsible members of the international community, we play a more proactive role in addressing common global challenges including climate change and adaptation. Third, India and the Netherlands, as key partners in defense and security work for a stable global order,” he said in response to remarks by the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte at a lunch the latter hosted in his honor.

The President, who is on a visit to the Netherlands and will return to India on Thursday, said the two countries are long-standing partners with historical ties of friendship and collaboration.

“In the 75 years of our diplomatic ties, we have worked together in wide-ranging areas of mutual interest. These include our cooperation in water, agriculture, healthcare, science and technology, urban development, and smart cities. Our partnership has been both meaningful and impactful, contributing to improving the lives of our people,” he said.

On the third day of his stay in the Netherlands, President Kovind met Prime Minister Rutte, President of the Senate, Jan Anthonie Bruijn; and President of the House of Representatives, Vera Bergkamp, a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

During interaction with the Presidents of the Senate and House of Representatives, he said that he was happy to be in the Netherlands in this special year of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.

The President said that parliamentary exchanges between the two countries would help in promoting mutual understanding and exchange of ideas. He also said, there is a need for more regular exchanges among their Parliaments. India would be happy to receive a visit by a parliamentary delegation from the Netherlands and a similar goodwill delegation could visit the Netherlands at a mutually convenient time, he said.

Amit Shah to be in Bengal on April 16-17

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Amit Shah to be in Bengal on April 16-17

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to be on a two-day visit to West Bengal on April 16 and April 17, a BJP leader said on Wednesday.

This will be Shah’s first-ever visit to the state since the disappointing performance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the last year’s West Bengal Assembly polls.

A BJP source told an interview that on April 16, the Home Minister would visit north Bengal, and the next day, attend several government and party programs in state capital Kolkata.

“He will hold meetings with all the elected party MPs and MLAs from the state, as well as the members of the newly formed state committee of the party. He is expected to seek details on the internal evaluations of the state committee on the election disaster,” he said.

Confirming this, West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said Shah will attend the party’s organizational meetings, besides attending government programs.

“The state committee will also hand over an organizational report to the Home Minister,” Majumdar said.

Meanwhile, state BJP sources said there is also a possibility of Shah holding a meeting with the rebel sections in the party’s state unit, and suggesting solutions to bring an end to the infighting.

Venkaiah Naidu praises RS MPs for showing patience during discussion on 2 bills

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Venkaiah Naidu praises RS MPs for showing patience during discussion on 2 bills

Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday praised the Members of the House for showing patience during the debate on the Chartered Accounts Bill and the Bill for re-unifications of the Delhi Municipal Corporations.

“I am so happy to see the patience shown by Deputy Chairman(Harivansh)and Members, cutting across the party lines. The Ministers who piloted the replies to the Bill were sharp but at the same time brief. I felt happy and also made a note to include it in my memoirs,” Naidu said.

He also said the debates were very impressive and others called him up to know about them.

While mentioning the cultural program held at his residence on the occasion of retirement of 72 Members of the Upper House on March 31, he said that the performance of the six Members was very impressive. “I enjoyed the performance of the six Members and yesterday Sansad TV broadcast the program. Those who could not attend the event can see it on the Youtube channel of Sansad TV, he said.

The Chairman also said that some of the members are very talented.

While moving ahead with the proceedings of the House, the Chairman also informed that the notices given by the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, Sushmita Dev, Nadimul Haq, and other Members gave notices under rule 267 to suspend the business of the House to discuss various issues including price hike, stand rejected.

Amid the commotions of the Opposition Members, the Chairman reiterated that if they give notice every day that was not correct as the chair has already stated its decision.

However, Leader of Opposition Kharge said that he a given notice regarding the hate speeches and harassment of some journalists. In many religious assemblies, the leaders of one community threat a minority community, but he was interrupted by the Chair who asked him to refrain from taking the name of a particular minority community.

TN to hold Global Investors Meet in Dec 2023: Stalin

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TN to hold Global Investors Meet in Dec 2023: Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Wednesday said the Global Investors Meet will be organized in December 2023.

Announcing this in the state Assembly, Stalin said the investors’ meeting will be organized by the government in December 2023 and attract more industrial investments.

He said the government has signed 130 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with several investors involving an investment of Rs 68,375 crore.

According to him, the government will spread out industrialization in the state.

Stalin said the MoUs signed by his government with the investors will get converted into actual investments providing jobs to several people.

Telangana government insulted office of Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan

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Telangana government insulted office of Governor: Tamilisai Soundararajan

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Wednesday alleged that the state government is insulting the office of governor.

The Governor, who called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital, is believed to have apprised him of the recent incidents in the state including violation of the Governor’s protocol and the state government doing away with the Governor’s address from the Budget session of the state Legislature.

Talking to reporters after meeting with the Prime Minister, she referred to the recent incidents and said that the Constitutional post of the Governor should be respected.

Soundararajan, however, said she was not feeling offended and was leaving it to the people of Telangana to judge how the state government was behaving toward her.

“This is an open thing. Even media people, everyone knows. There is no need to report these things,” she said when asked if she reported to the Prime Minister about the incidents.

The meeting comes amid the growing chasm between Governor Soundararajan and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in recent months.

She said that though she has Constitutional powers, she doesn’t want to enforce them. She claimed that she wants to maintain good relations with the government.

She denied that she politicized anything or took any controversial decision. She defended the decision taken on the government’s recommendation to nominate P. Kaushik Reddy as a member of the Legislative Council.

“They can’t force me. I have already explained it. It’s the Governor’s quota and the provision is for the service category. When I am not satisfied with the candidature, it’s my right to tell. It’s not that everything should be accepted. It’s not that I am opposed to everything and I wanted to create a controversy,” she said.

Soundararajan argued that it was not a political decision but a Constitutional one.

“When they wanted to have a problem chairman of the Council once again, I pointed out the Constitutional provision as protem chairman is an interim arrangement. It should be accepted with an open heart or it could be discussed. Ministers or Chief Ministers can come to Raj Bhavan and discuss. I am for open discussion,” she said.

“If something is not accepted it does not mean that the Governor’s office should be insulted. Maybe some decisions of the Governor are not accepted. Does that mean the Governor’s office should be insulted, Governor’s protocol should be violated and Governor is not taken care of when she goes for a tour,” she asked.

She pointed out that the district and SP did not receive her when she went to Medaram Jatara, a tribal fair held in February.

She, however, said she didn’t care about these protocol violations. “I am concerned about the office of Governor. It should not be repeated. The office of the Governor should be respected. I am here today but somebody else may come tomorrow,” she said.

The Governor also mentioned the Chief Minister and ministers not attending the pre-Ugadi celebrations hosted by her at Raj Bhavan. She said others who were invited but were unable to come called her and explained why they couldn’t attend. “Even that response did not come (from the Chief Minister and ministers),” she said.

PM, Sonia pay tributes to Jagjivan Ram

TB Team
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PM, Sonia pay tributes to Jagjivan Ram

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday paid tributes to freedom fighter and Dalit icon Babu Jagjivan Ram on the occasion of his 115th birth anniversary.

Paying tributes to the former deputy Prime Minister, Modi posted on Twitter: “Tributes to Babu Jagjivan Ram Ji on his birth anniversary. Our nation will always remember his remarkable contribution be it during the freedom movement or after Independence. He was widely admired for his administrative skills and concern for the poor.”

The Prime Minister also posted an old picture in which he is seen offering tributes to Jagjivan Ram along with former finance minister Arun Jaitley.

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi also led the grand old party in paying tributes to Jagjivan Ram.

He had quit the Congress because of differences and joined the Janata Party alliance.

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