Budget can be effective means to bring change in agriculture: PM

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Budget can be effective means to bring change in agriculture: PM

Emphasizing that the agriculture budget allocation this year is much more than previous years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said it is aimed at the complete modernization of the sector and suggested seven pointers from the budget provisions.

In just six years the agriculture budget has increased manifold and agriculture loans for farmers have also increased by two and half times in the last seven years, the Prime Minister said, and added that the preparation for multiple schemes that have been discussed during this budget need preparation, for which the month of March can be utilized and then, “start rolling out right from day one in the new financial year.”

If all this is done properly, the budget will not just be a numbers game but, in reality, can be an effective means to bring about change in life, change in agriculture,” he said while addressing a webinar on the positive impact of Union Budget 2022 in the Agriculture sector.

The seven important pointers from the budget that Modi mentioned started with the provision for natural farming along the Ganga banks on both sides up to five kms, including a push for herbal, medicinal plants and also for horticulture; infusion of modern technology for improving agriculture and horticulture practices; focus on Mission Oil Palm and encouragement to other oil seeds too for lessen the import burden on edible oil and incorporating new schemes under PM Gati Shakti for transportation of agriculture goods.

The other three-pointers were how agri-waste management will be better organized, how waste to energy solutions will not just help bringdown carbon emissions but also increase farmers’ income; the regular bank-like facilities that the farmers will get from across 1.5 lakh post offices across India and, last but not the least, the need for changes to be brought in for investment in agri-research along with skill development, human resources development, etc., in the education sector.

Recounting the work done by his government in previous years, Modi recalled how three years ago the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi was started, and it has benefitted almost 11 crore farmers, most of them small farmers, till date, and Rs 1.7 lakh crore has been disbursed till now under the scheme. He also talked about how his government has brought in smartness in all things related to agriculture, ‘Beej Se Bazar Tak’ (from seed stage to market stage) by improving the systems over the last seven years.

The Prime Minister also appealed to the private sector to invest in the agriculture sector and described the multiple opportunities. For instance, soil health cards are prepared by the government and there can be private labs everywhere where the farmer can get his soil tested and work on fertilizers accordingly. “We need a vast network of soil testing labs just as today we have pathology labs for human health,” he said.

Modi also recounted achievements such as micro-irrigation, which is a medium to bring down input cost and improve production and something which also helps the cause of the environment. “Saving water in today’s times is a service to mankind. More crop per drop is our motto. This field too has immense possibilities,” he appealed to the private sector.

Ethanol blending, agri-startups, agri-waste management, logistics, transport of agriculture produce, food processing, drones for agriculture, and farm equipment on rent are some of the fields that the Prime Minister pointed out wherein private investors, especially young entrepreneurs can enter to benefit from immense potentialities.

KCR vows to put India on right track

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KCR vows to put India on right track

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday vowed to put the country on the right track and said he was even ready to sacrifice his life for the purpose.

The Chief Minister, who is leading the efforts to cobble together an anti-BJP alliance, reiterated his national ambitions while inaugurating Mallanna Sagar, India’s largest man-made reservoir, in the state’s Siddipet district.

“Come what may, to put the country on the right track, if need be, I will sacrifice my last drop of blood. I will set right the country and will march forward,” he told a public meeting.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief voiced concern over the country losing its way and remarked that an “evil system” is prevailing. “Disgusting things are happening. Havoc is being created in the name of religion and caste,” he said and cited the current situation in neighboring Karnataka.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said some people including IAS officers shared with him how their children studying in Bengaluru were scared to go to schools and colleges due to the situation created there in the name of religion.

The TRS chief said that the image of Bangalore known as Silicon Valley of India took a beating due to the “hate” being spread at educational institutions. Pointing out that Hyderabad is next only to Bengaluru in terms of IT exports and was attracting huge investments, he cautioned people against the path being followed by the neighboring state.

KCR termed communalism cancer and called for rooting it out. “This evil posed a threat to the country. We should not allow this cancer to spread. We should throw it out of the country,” he said.

He said all states and regions of the country can develop and prosper if the government at the Centre is virtuous and does not divide people in the name of religion and caste. He said nobody would come to invest in a state or a country where there is communal strife and there is no peace and law and order.

He told people that since they were in public life and were determined to do good to people, they can’t be mute spectators to what was happening in the country.

“I am going ahead to impact national politics. For this, I will utilize all the strength God has given me and will use all my intellect,” he said.

KCR said despite no support from the Centre, Telangana made rapid strides in all sectors during the last seven years and has emerged as the role model for the entire country.

He listed out the schemes implemented by his government to ensure 24-hour electricity supply to all sectors, drinking water to every household, welfare of farmers, and all other sections of people.

Haryana launches prog to attract investment of Rs 25,000 cr

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Haryana launches prog to attract investment of Rs 25,000 cr

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday launched a five-year program named Programme to Accelerate Development for MSME Advancement (PADMA) that is expected to bring in investment of over Rs 25,000 crore.

PADMA is a multi-departmental and multi-agency program that would not only promote the local products but would also give ample employment opportunities to the local youth, especially to the targeted Antyodaya families.

“Based on the principles of local yet global, PADMA aims to create a dynamic, self-sustainable and thriving industrial infrastructure at the cluster level for each block of Haryana,” said the Chief Minister while formally launching PADMA at a function here.

Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala and Minister of State for Labour and Employment Anoop Dhanak were present, among others.

“PADMA, a five-year program, will not only revolutionise the industrial landscape in Haryana through the development of PADMA industrial parks across all the blocks but is also expected to bring in investment of over Rs 25,000 crore in the form of infrastructure, common facility centers, business development service centers, and set-up new industrial units in each block,” said Khattar.

He said around 10,000-15,000 new units are expected to be opened by next year in these clusters.

The Chief Minister said in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat and to support state Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), a tremendous focus has been on the development of its MSME ecosystem. “With this in mind, the Haryana government has set up a separate directorate for the MSMEs.”

“The MSMEs play a significant role in the economic landscape of Haryana, contributing over 22 percent to the Gross State Value Added (GSVA),” said the Chief Minister.

He said under PADMA, one product in each block of 22 districts, has been identified based on the locally available resources, existing micro-enterprise ecosystem, demographic profile, key opportunities, sunrise sectors, and growth potential.

“If required necessary training and skilling would also be given so as to promote this sector,” he added.

Deputy Chief Minister Chautala said with the launch of PADMA a new benchmark has been set for taking the industries forward.

“One year ago, the blueprint of this One Block One Product was prepared and a survey and study were conducted before the implementation of this program. The findings highlighted that there are various local products at block levels that have huge market potential. In a bid to give a boost to each block and their special product on a larger level, PADMA program has been launched,” Chautala, who also holds the portfolio of Industries and Commerce Departments, said.

Battle for UP: 9.10% voter turnout till 9 am in phase 4

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Battle for UP: 9.10% voter turnout till 9 am in phase 4

The voter turnout at 9 a.m. for the fourth phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls was 9.10 per cent, according to the data released by the Election Commission on Wednesday.

The Election Commission said the 9.10 percent voter turnout figure was an approximate trend as data from some polling stations takes time.

Banda registered 8.79 percent, Fatehpur 9.69 percent, Hardoi 8.09 percent, Kheri 10.45 percent, Lucknow 8.19 percent, Pilibhit 10.62 percent, Rae Bareli 8.00 percent, Sitapur 9.52 percent while Unnao registered 9.23 percent by 9 a.m.

Voters in phase-4 of polling will vote to select their MLAs from 59 seats across nine districts from amongst 624 candidates. There are a total of 2.13 crore voters, of which 1.14 crore are male, 99.3 lakh female, and 966 are transgender voters.

There are 24,643 polling booths and 13,817 polling stations with a maximum of 1,250 voters per booth, the Election Commission said.

Drive to protect mother tongue should become a people’s movement: Vice President

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Drive to protect mother tongue should become a people’s movement: Vice President

Observing that ‘language’ is a fundamental bond that unites people, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said that the drive to protect and preserve the mother tongue should become a people’s movement in the country.

“If we lose our mother tongue, we will lose our identity,” Naidu said.

Addressing an event organized by the Ministry of Earth Science on the occasion of International Mother Languages Day virtually from Chennai, the Vice President called for tailoring languages to the changing needs of our times and finding creative and innovative ways to promote them among younger generations.

“Children should be encouraged to learn the nuances of language through games and activities,” he opined and also underlined the need to improve the scientific and technical terminology in Indian languages.

Describing languages as carriers of our cultural heritage, Naidu said that a language is the vital, unseen thread that links the past with the present.

“Our languages are thus a repository of our collective knowledge and wisdom which we have amassed over thousands of years,” he said.

The Vice President suggested referring to them as ‘Indian languages’ instead of ‘regional languages’ signifying their equal status and distinct identities.

“These ‘Indian languages’ are the epitome of our long-cherished value — unity in diversity,” he said.

Noting that India is home to hundreds of languages and thousands of dialects, the Vice President termed this linguistic richness as the key to our creativity and expression.

He also expressed happiness over the fact that NEP-2020 encourages the use of mother tongue in schools and colleges and seeks to ‘Indianise’ our education system by making it holistic, value-based, and inclusive.

Commending this approach, he urged the states to implement the policy in letter and spirit.

The Vice President talked about the need to offer technical courses in Indian languages to make education truly inclusive and to unlock the full potential of our youth force. He suggested learning from their policies and strategies for the preservation and promotion of the mother tongue.

Naidu urged the state governments to take a proactive stance in implementing Indian languages in every walk of life.

“All states must use the mother tongue of the people as the language of administration and also as a medium of education,” he said.

Pointing out that colonial rule has harmed our languages, he said: “After Independence also, we have not made enough efforts to do justice to our languages.”

All eyes on results of TN urban polls as counting on Tuesday

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All eyes on results of TN urban polls as counting on Tuesday

All eyes are on the results of Tamil Nadu urban local body polls as the counting will start from 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The elections were held on February 19.

Chief Election Commissioner of Tamil Nadu, V. Palanikumar in a statement on Monday said that the commission has made elaborate arrangements at all the 268 counting centers in the state.

Palanikumar chaired a virtual session of the commission to review the arrangements for the counting of votes. This includes installation of CCTV cameras, deployment of security personnel, electricity supply, network connectivity, and other minor requirements.

The virtual meeting chaired by the Chief Election commission also discussed the arrangements made for the counting of postal ballots, adhering to Covid-19 standard protocol, declaring the election results at the earliest as well as uploading the details. The meeting discussed issuing Certificates and arranging the first meeting of elected representatives on March 2.

Tamil Nadu State Election Commission Secretary, A. Sundaravalli, Commissioner of Town Panchayats, R. Selvaraj, Director of Municipal administration, P. Ponniah, several senior officials, and district collectors were present in the virtual meeting.

Leap in higher education in TN due to AIADMK govt: Palaniswami

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Leap in higher education in TN due to AIADMK govt: Palaniswami

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Monday said that the leap in higher education in the state is due to the efforts of the AIADMK government.

In his address at the inaugural function of a private medical college owned by the former Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker, Thambidurai, at Hosur, he said that the percentage of entrants into the higher education sector in Tamil Nadu rose from 33 percent to 51 percent during the AIADMK regime.

He also said that the entry of students from modest backgrounds to medical colleges in Tamil Nadu was testimony to the efforts taken by the AIADMK government.

The AIADMK leader said that the state government’s 7.5 percent quota for medical education through NEET ensured that a large number of students from modest backgrounds could dream of medical education.

He also said that it was the AIADMK government that established 7 law colleges, 21 polytechnic colleges, 23 medical colleges, 5 veterinary colleges, and 40 government arts and science colleges.

Telangana model can be replicated across India: KTR

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Telangana model can be replicated across India: KTR

Telangana’s minister for information technology and industry K. T. Rama Rao has described the state as the most successful startup and said the Telangana model of development can be replicated across India.

The minister delivered a keynote address at the Harvard India Conference 2022 held virtually late Sunday.

During the one-hour-long session, he highlighted the all-around development of Telangana, the Hyderabad IT ecosystem, friendly industrial policies, and investment opportunities existing in the state.

Minister KTR spoke at the conference under the theme “Turbocharging India @ 2030. “If I want to talk about Turbocharging India @ 2030, I should speak about Turbocharging Telangana since 2014,” the Minister said in his opening lines.

“By 2030, I want to witness an India that leads the world, in almost every category. I strongly believe that cues for “Turbocharging India@ 2030: can be had from “Turbocharged Telangana since 2014, a said KTR.

KTR stated that the schemes and policies being executed in Telangana should be executed across the country to speed up the development wheel of India. “What Telangana has done, can be done at the national level too. Telangana Model of Development can be replicated across India, for sure,” said KTR.

“Growth should be distributed fairly across society and create opportunities for all. I think that any one-sided policy emphasis will have negative effects. Diversity is India’s greatest asset. The same diversity requires the widening of policy frameworks beyond the narrow focus,” the minister opined.

KTR stated that the Telangana government’s effective policy design & implementation, equal focus on rural and urban development, vision towards 3 I’s — infrastructure development, inclusive growth, and innovation — helped the youngest state of India achieve remarkable progress in just 7 years.

Telangana has been progressing under the visionary leadership of CM KCR. The Telangana government’s equal focus on development and welfare measures has made it a model state which is being emulated by other states, KTR said. “It used to be said earlier that what Bengal thinks today is what the country thinks tomorrow, but in the modern context it is what Telangana thinks today which influences the country tomorrow,” he added.

KTR stated that Telangana achieved the third rank in the country in terms of percentage increase in GSDP at current prices between 2014-15 and 2020-21. “The NITI Aayog report says that the Gross State Domestic Product of Telangana by provisional estimates was Rs 9.80 lakh crore, an increase of 94 percent from its 2014-15 value,” he added.

Minister KTR highlighted that despite the Covid-induced economic slowdown in 2020-21, Telangana’s Per Capita Income (PCI) of Rs 2.37 lakh at current pricing is the third highest in the country — the latest data from the Union ministry of statistics and program implementation.

“Telangana is the 11th largest state in terms of geographical area and 12th in terms of population in the country. I am proud of the fact that Telangana stood in fourth place in contributing to the economy of the country,” KTR said.

The state government’s focus on every sector — from agriculture to IT, power generation to industry, health infrastructure to quality education has brought remarkable progress in the state.

He pointed out that Telangana attracted over Rs 2.2 lakh crore investments since the launch of its innovative TS-iPASS industrial policy. These investments employed about 16 lakh people.

The minister highlighted that Hyderabad has emerged as a global hub for some of the most marquee names from the IT world. “You will be amazed to learn that the five most valued tech companies of the world, namely Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Facebook, each of them has their second-largest presence anywhere in the world outside their headquarters in the US in our city of Hyderabad,” KTR said.

“The cabins of the US President’s ‘Marine One helicopters are made in Hyderabad by Tata Sikorsky Aerospace Systems, a joint venture between the Tata Group and Sikorsky,” said the minister. He also highlighted that Hyderabad produces one-third of global vaccine output. “I take immense pride in saying that Hyderabad is the vaccine capital of the world,” he added.

He highlighted that seven villages from Telangana ranked among the top 10 under the SAGY program (Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana of Union Ministry of Rural Development).

He told the conference that Telangana is building the Kakatiya Mega Textiles Factory (KMTP), one of the world’s largest Textile Parks. KMTP is expected to house state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities with a development strategy based on the ‘Fiber to Fashion’ concept.

“IT exports of Telangana touched a new high of Rs 1.45 lakh crore in 2021. Since the formation of Telangana, we have been able to achieve a Compound Average Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.25 percent, up from Rs 57,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 1.45 lakh crore now. Employment in the IT/ITeS sector had also increased by eight percent to touch 6.3 lakhs”.

KTR stated that the government of Telangana is developing Hyderabad Pharma City as the “World’s largest integrated pharma park to promote domestic manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and to consolidate the leadership position of India in the pharmaceutical sector.

“Telangana has already built the world’s largest lift irrigation scheme, Kaleshwaram Project, in just three years. This is a record in the history of irrigation projects in India,” he said.

“Rythu Bandhu, the investment support scheme under which every landholding farmer gets Rs 10,000 per acre every year. The brainchild of CM Sri KCR, this revolutionary is one of the best reforms in the agriculture sector in the country since Independence,” KTR added.

Modi inaugurates Garuda Aerospace’s manufacturing facilities

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Modi inaugurates Garuda Aerospace’s manufacturing facilities

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has virtually inaugurated the drone manufacturing facilities of Garuda Aerospace at Manesar in Gurugram and in Chennai, said a top company official.

The Chennai-based Garuda Aerospace is a drone-as-a-service (DAAS) company.

According to Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder & CEO, Garuda Aerospace, Modi virtually inaugurated the drone manufacturing facilities in two locations and also pressed a button resulting in the taking off of 100 Kisan drones simultaneously in 100 villages.

The 100 drones commenced agriculture spraying operations in 16 different states to celebrate 75 years of Independence as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, Jayaprakash added.

“Glad to have witnessed Kisan Drones in action at 100 places across the country. This is a commendable initiative by a vibrant start-up, @garuda_india. Innovative technology will empower our farmers and make agriculture more profitable,” Modi tweeted.

Modi said the occasion will not just be a milestone for the drone sector but also open up a multitude of possibilities.

“I have been told that Garuda Aerospace has planned 1 lakh ‘Made in India’ drones in the next two years. This will give employment and opportunities to hundreds of youth,” Modi said.

The Budget announcements this year had prioritized technology and innovation and mentioned the use of Kisan drones among the varied sectors wherein drones can be used.

“Having liberalized the Drone Rules in 2021, the government has consistently been encouraging Aatmanirbhar Bharat with major policy decisions on Drone Shakthi and banning the import of foreign Drones,” Modi added.

“We have reposed our faith in the young talent and brought in new suitable policies,” the Prime Minister said and appreciated the youngsters taking risks in the new field even as he assured that the Centre will always back them.

Garuda has taken space on lease for making its drones from Defsys Solutions in Gurugram, Jayaprakash said.

According to him, Defsys Solutions’ facility is equipped with advanced design and prototype testing capabilities.

The 2.5-acre facility is a hub for drone software design, hardware structural testing, type certification, and manufacturing capacity of 40 drones per day.

Garuda’s proposed Chennai plant is located on a 20-acre facility where mass volume manufacturing capacity of 100 drones per day and manufacturing of 100,000 Kisan drones are being planned over the next two years, Jayaprakash added.

The site is also the proposed RPTO (Remote Pilot Training) facility which aims to train aspiring drone pilots.

“Having our drone facilities launched by the Prime Minister fuels Garuda’s vision to become India’s first-ever drone unicorn startup that manufactures six lakh drones and deploy one drone in each Indian village by 2025,” Jayaprakash said.

Govt committed for education, farmers’ welfare: Haryana CM

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Govt committed for education, farmers’ welfare: Haryana CM

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said keeping in mind the vision of modern Haryana, this time the state Budget will give priority to promises made to the people.

The Chief Minister was speaking during a virtual meeting with party leaders and workers in Delhi. He said the government is committed to education, agriculture, and farmers’ welfare. “Whatever will be good for the public, work is being done in that direction.”

The state is also working for the development of Haryanvi culture and tourism, he said. The government is also working for the welfare of the ex-servicemen and the soldiers.

The Chief Minister said before preparing the Budget, suggestions were invited. Pre-Budget discussions were held with major departments. “It is the effort of the government that the Budget is being prepared to keep in mind the all-around development and the future of Haryana,” an official statement quoting Khattar said.

The Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha will begin on March 2.

Telangana Congress leader drops plan to quit

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Telangana Congress leader drops plan to quit

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) working president T. Jayaprakash Reddy on Saturday dropped his plans to quit the party.

He told reporters that for now, he will not be leaving the party. He said he took the decision on a suggestion by the high command.

Jagga Reddy, as the leader is popularly known, said some people in the Congress party were running false propaganda against him and he would write a letter to the party’s national president Sonia Gandhi.

A member of the Telangana State Legislative Assembly said he also lodged a complaint with the police about social media posts against him.

Jagga Reddy had earlier announced that he will make a decision on Saturday in quitting or continuing in the party.

The MLA from Sangareddy called on senior party leader V. Hanumantha Rao, who advised him not to leave the party. Rao wanted him to fight injustice by staying in the party. The MLA told him that he would take a final decision after consulting party workers. During their meeting, TPCC general secretary B. Kishan fell at the feet of Jagga Reddy, begging him not to quit the party.

Hanumantha Rao said a misinformation campaign was being run against him and Jagga Reddy on social media. He alleged that their detractors were spreading lies that they were planning to join Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). The former MP said they have lodged a complaint with Jubilee Hills police station and will also complain to the Election Commission.

In December, Jagga Reddy had written a letter to Sonia Gandhi complaining about TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy’s style of functioning. He had urged her to direct Revanth Reddy to change his style of the functioning or appoint a new TPCC chief who works for the party’s prospects.

The MLA had taken strong exception to Revanth Reddy calling for a protest program ‘Rachabanda’ at Erravelli without prior intimation to him despite him being the local MLA. Jagga Reddy said the TPCC chief was not functioning along party lines and was instead using such programs for his own benefit.

PM Modi inaugurates Asia’s biggest Bio-CNG plant in Indore

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PM Modi inaugurates Asia’s biggest Bio-CNG plant in Indore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated Asia’s biggest Bio-CNG plant in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore via video conferencing.

Addressing the event, PM Modi said that the work is on to set up similar gobar Dhan Bio-CNG plants in 75 big municipal bodies across the country in the next two years. The campaign will help a lot in making India’s cities clean, pollution-free, clean energy, he added.

“Whether it is the wet waste that comes out of the houses in the city, the garbage from the livestock and farms in the village, all this is gobar dhan in a way. From city’s waste and livestock to gobar dhan, from gobar dhan to clean fuel and again from clean fuel to energy, the chain creates Jivan Dhan”, PM Modi said.

“Millions of tonnes of garbage have been engulfing thousands of acres of similar land for decades in cities across the country”, he said.

PM Modi added that it is also a major reason for the diseases caused by air pollution and water pollution. That’s why work is being done to deal with this problem in the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Ethanol blending in India used to be only 1-2 percent seven-eight years ago. Today, the percentage of ethanol blending in petrol is reaching around 8 percent. The supply of ethanol for blending has also been greatly increased in the last seven years, he said.

Talking about the stubble burning, PM Modi said that the government has taken important decisions in this budget. “We have taken an important decision related to it in this budget. It has been decided that stubble will also be used in coal-fired power plants. This will not only remove the problems of the farmer, but it will also generate additional income from the agricultural waste”, he also said.

There are two ways to tackle any challenge. The first is to find an immediate solution to that challenge. The second is to deal with it in such a way that everyone gets a permanent solution, said PM. He underlined that the schemes made by the government in the last seven years are meant to give permanent solutions.

The government is working to convert more and more cities into water plus. For this emphasis is being laid on the second phase of Swachh Bharat Mission, said PM Modi.

The Bio-CNG plant in Indore has been set up based on the concept of waste-to-wealth innovation in India’s cleanest city. The plant with 550 MT per day capacity is said to be the biggest of its kind in Asia.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath slams turncoats, says BJP will win 300-plus seats

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UP CM Yogi Adityanath slams turncoats, says BJP will win 300-plus seats

Launching a scathing attack on BJP turncoats, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the small-time leaders who ditched the saffron party are now struggling to secure seats.

In an exclusive interview with the news, Adityanath touched upon several issues, including his 80-20 remarks, the Samajwadi Party’s poll promises, Jinnah and Hijab rows, and forming the government in the state with 300-plus seats.

He claimed that the saffron party will win 80 percent of the seats in the state Assembly polls. “We are fighting the poll on the planks of nationalism, development, and good governance,” he told the interviewer.

“Those who have left the party are finding it difficult to secure a seat. If these people had a mass base, then they should have fought from their traditional seats, like I am contesting. All of them are leaving their seats and running,” the chief minister said.

On the charge that the Yogi government takes action against criminals on the basis of their caste, the chief minister, in a veiled attack on the Samajwadi Party, asked: “Who has given tickets to professional criminals in Kairana, Rampur, and Mau?”

Yogi claimed that SP is no longer Samajwadi, but it has become ‘mafiawadi’, ‘dangawadi’, and ‘parivaarwadi’ (the party which supports the mafia, riots, and dynastic politics).

On SP promising free ration for five years, the chief minister told in an interview: “Uttar Pradesh has not forgotten the misgovernance of SP. A food scam occurred during SP’s regime. At that time, rations meant for the poor were usurped by SP’s goons. When they could not distribute regular ration, how would they distribute it for free? People have seen SP’s work and its adventures. Now, nobody will be influenced by them.”

On SP promising money for the development of temples and maths, the chief minister said: “Saints of Ayodhya, people of the nation and ‘Ram bhakts’ (Ram devotees) have not forgotten the time when the SP regime ordered police firing on Kar Sevaks.

“The truth is that their party’s name is Samajwadi, but they are ‘dangawadi’ (provoking riots) and their mentality is ‘parivarwadi’ (dynastic). They don’t have holistic and inclusive thinking, so development, good governance, and establishing the rule of law are like a daydream for them.”

When asked that opposition parties are teaming up to defeat the BJP, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also supporting them, Adityanath said that in 2019, the SP, BSP, and RLD stitched an alliance but at that time too, the saffron party won 80 percent seats. This time the alliance is not that big and people have also seen the work of the double engine government.”

When asked that though the BJP talks about ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’ (inclusive growth for all), it has not given a ticket to any Muslim, the chief minister said that elections are based on the support and trust of people.

“Those who apply for a ticket are reviewed at the district and region levels and then their names are recommended to the high command. Those who are able to earn public trust are given tickets,” he pointed out.

When IANS asked him pointedly whether the BJP will get Muslim votes this time, the chief minister said: “The Prime Minister has played a major role in helping Muslim women get rid of malpractices such as triple talaq. Benefits of all welfare schemes under which gas connections are provided, PM Awaas Yojana and doubling rations are being extended to Muslim families too.

“Rising above caste and religion, people have voted for the BJP in the first two phases of the polls. The trend is continuing. At a few places, fanatics are trying to stop Muslim women from casting votes. The Election Commission should take cognizance of the matter.”

On the performance of SP, BSP, and the Congress in the polls, the chief minister exuded confidence that the BJP will win 80 percent of the seats, while the opposition parties are engaged in a triangular contest for 20 percent of the votes.

On the stray cattle nuisance, the chief minister pointed out that “5,500 cow shelters have been opened in the state”.

He added: “Stray cattle increased in the state as they give less milk. We are working on improving the breeds. In organic farming, cattle play an important role. The double-engine government will solve the problem. We will not let cattle go to slaughterhouses and at the same time will not let stray cows harm what the farmers produce.”

On the Jinnah and Hijab rows gathering momentum just prior to elections, the chief minister said during his conversation with IANS that to divert people’s attention from good governance and development, SP made a ‘sick’ effort to honor Jinnah on the birth anniversary of the Iron Man Sardar Patel.

“It is an insult to the freedom fighters of the country,” the chief minister told IANS. “When we were discussing welfare schemes to be extended to the sugarcane farmers of the state, SP was busy glorifying Jinnah. When we were talking about rural development, they were talking about Pakistan. SP is making futile attempts to rake up such issues and divert people’s attention from the main issues, which are development and good governance.”

On the restoration of old-age pension, the chief minister said the new pension scheme has been introduced during SP’s tenure. In the eight years they spent ruling the state, they treated government employees unjustly. They did not submit the employees’ contributions and even did not open their accounts.

On the issue of power shortages, the chief minister recalled how their genesis could be dated back to the SP-led government. “It was in their regime that there was a power shortage and now they are promising people 300 free units,” the chief minister said. “People will not get influenced by them.”

He added: “Government employees know they got an opportunity to work with a government that’s transparent. Even during the Corona pandemic, their dearness allowance and transport allowance were not deducted. The employees are with the BJP.”

When asked if there’s anything for the middle class, the chief minister said: “Our strategy for the next five years is ready. We will provide free electricity by installing a solar panel on each tubewell. Common consumers are getting electricity at slashed rates.”

When it was pointed out that the people are not angry with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, but with the public representatives of the party, the chief minister said: “Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, we have taken several important steps. In Uttar Pradesh, everyone is getting security and the benefits of development schemes, but we don’t believe in an appeasement policy.”

He added: “The government’s intentions are clear. The people have admired the government’s work. Public representatives who have done good work in their areas are getting people’s love, and those who could not live up to the expectations of common folk face their wrath.

“But the elections are being conducted to elect a government. In such circumstances, every seat is important and the BJP will get people’s love.”

On the ’80 versus 20′ remark, the chief minister said those who think positively, are nationalists, and support welfare schemes come in the 80 percent bracket, while those who like mafia rule, crime, anarchy, and corruption come in the 20 percent. He reiterated that the BJP is getting 80 percent of the votes.

Replying to another question, he said the BJP was getting 80 percent of the seats in the first two phases. People’s excitement shows that the BJP is getting their blessings. When the results are announced on March 10, the party will bag more than 300 seats.

The chief minister said that people are happy with the work done in the state relating to security, law and order, development, good governance, and public welfare schemes, and the unprecedented work in the field of respect for faith.

PM, VP pay tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary

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PM, VP pay tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday paid tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary.

Paying homage to the great Maratha king, the Prime Minister said that his outstanding leadership and emphasis on social welfare have been inspiring people for generations.

“I bow to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his Jayanti. His outstanding leadership and emphasis on social welfare have been inspiring people for generations. He was uncompromising when it came to standing up for the values of truth and justice. We are committed to fulfilling his vision,” Modi tweeted.

Also taking to Twitter, the Vice President said: “My tributes to legendary Maratha warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary. Known for his undaunted courage and exceptional warfare strategies, Shivaji Maharaj was a ruler ahead of his time. His love for our motherland continues to inspire every Indian.”

‘Without NOTA button in EVMs, TN local body polls can’t be free and fair’

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‘Without NOTA button in EVMs, TN local body polls can’t be free and fair’

Anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam, Convenor Jayaram Venkatesan on Saturday registered his unwillingness to vote in the Tamil Nadu urban local body poll here.

He was protesting against the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission’s move of not having the “None of the Above (NOTA)” button in the electronic voting machines (EVM).

Polling for urban local bodies began at 7 a.m. across the state.

“As a mark of protest against the undemocratic move of the State Election Commission to reject our fundamental right to vote with secrecy by not having NOTA in EVM, I registered my unwillingness to vote as per Section 71 of the Election Rules,” Venkatesan said.

He said a voter while voting has every right not to opt for any of the candidates during an election.

The right to reject has its origin in freedom of speech and expression. Not including NOTA in EVMs is violative of our fundamental right as well as Supreme Court’s judgment, Venkatesan said.

According to him, without the NOTA button, the poll cannot be called free and fair.

Kamal Haasan’s MNM demands repoll in booth in local body elections

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Kamal Haasan’s MNM demands repoll in booth in local body elections

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) has demanded the cancellation of the urban local body elections at a booth in Keeranur Municipality as the poster pasted outside of it did not contain the party’s ‘torch light’ symbol.

According to MNM, the non-printing of its electoral symbol in the posters pasted outside the polling booth in Keeranur Municipality Ward No.5 is an act of denying the fundamental right of its candidate.

The State Election Commission has to ensure the existence of the electoral symbol in the posters as well as in the voting machines before the start of polling, MNM said.

If this is not done then the polling in that booth should be canceled and repoll should be held, the party demanded.

Polling has been peaceful for the urban local bodies in Tamil Nadu began at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning.

About 2.79 crote voters are expected to vote in over 30,000 booths to elect their representatives in the urban local bodies.

Except for minor glitches in the Electronic Voting Machines in some booths, polling is smooth in other centers.

While several parties are in the contest, the fight is largely between the ruling DMK and the opposition AIADMK.

The counting of votes will be on February 22.

PM Modi flags off 100 kisan drones

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PM Modi flags off 100 kisan drones

In a special drive aimed at helping farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off 100 kisan drones across different cities and towns for spraying pesticides or carrying agro-products to markets.

Participating in a virtual ceremony coordinated by Manesar, PM Modi enumerated the various sectors where the drones are already being used. He cited examples of 1,000 drones displayed during the Beating Retreat, SVAMITVA scheme for surveying and documenting land records and supplying medicines, vaccines in inaccessible areas.

“Spraying of fertilizers is also being done by drones. ‘Kisan drones’ is a new age revolution. Very soon, high-capacity drones will help the farmers send fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers straight to the market. Fisherfolks can send fresh catch from lakes, rivers, or from seas directly for selling,” Modi said.

“If the farmers’ or fishers get to send their products in the shortest time with minimal damage, it will lead to an increased income for them, the Prime Minister said, and added,

“A whole lot of such opportunities are knocking at our doors. I am happy that many other companies in the country are headed in this direction.”

India is witnessing a new ecosystem for drone StartUps. Soon, they will be in thousands, he said, and asserted: “I am sure, India will lead the world in this field.”

The occasion, he said, will not just be a milestone for the drone sector but also open up a multitude of possibilities as he said: “I have been told that Garud Aerospace has planned 1 lakh ‘Made in India’ drones in the next two years. This will give employment and opportunities to hundreds of youths.”

The budget announcements this year had prioritized technology and innovations and mentioned the use of kisan drones among the varied sectors wherein drones can be used.

“We have reposed our faith in the young talent and brought in new suitable policies,” PM Modi said and appreciated the youngsters taking risks in the new field even as he assured that the Centre will always back them.

KTR to address Harvard India conference

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KTR to address Harvard India conference

Telangana’s Minister for Information Technology and Industries K. T. Rama Rao will address Harvard India Conference 2022.

The minister has received an invitation to take part in the conference being held virtually from February 18 to 20.

KTR, as the minister is popularly known, will be the keynote speaker at the conference. He will deliver the address on February 20, at 6.30 p.m.IST.

The theme of this year’s Conference is India @ 2030 – A Transformational Decade.

Minister KTR will share his thoughts on Telangana’s effective policy design and implementation, IT-driven growth of Telangana, ease of doing business, women-centric business incubators, and the developmental vision for 2030.

KTR thanked the organizers for the invitation and stated that he looks forward to sharing his ideas at the conference.

Polling underway for TN Urban polls; Superstar Vijay casts vote at Neelangari

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Polling underway for TN Urban polls; Superstar Vijay casts vote at Neelangari

Voting for the Tamil Nadu Urban local body polls got underway on Saturday morning amid tight security and strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols.

Tamil Super Star Vijay cast his vote at a booth at Neelangari in Chennai corporation.

After casting his vote, Vijay told media persons that everyone should exercise their voting rights in a democracy and called upon people to vote in large numbers.

Speculations were rife over the entry of Vijay in politics in the near future as his fans association ‘Vijay Makkal Iyyakam’ has supported several candidates in the last rural local body elections.

The state is going for polls after a gap of eleven years. The election commenced at 7 a.m and will continue till 6 p.m. However, the last one hour of voting from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. has been reserved exclusively for Covid -19 patients.

About 57,770 candidates are in the fray for over 12,500 ward member posts in 21 corporations, 138 municipalities, and 489 town panchayats across the state.

Tamil Nadu State Election Commissioner V. Palanikumar said that of the 30,735 polling booths set up across the state, 5,960 were categorized as sensitive booths.

Polling in the sensitive booths is being streamlined live and CCTV cameras are installed in 268 counting centers.

Palanikumar said voters cannot carry mobile phones in the booths. Other than electoral voter ID cards, voters can use 11 other documents as identity proof.

Meanwhile, voting was delayed for more than an hour at ward 24 in Ambur municipality due to malfunctioning of the Electronic Voting machine. Confusion prevailed in several wards of Chennai corporation as booth slips were not available for voters.

Heavy rush is seen in several districts of Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Madurai, Erode, Salem, Tirunelvelli, and Kanniyakumari.

The ruling DMK-led front is in a direct fight with the opposition AIADMK-led front in the elections.

The AIADMK front is weakened following the PMK and the BJP announcing that they were contesting the polls alone but the party has its strength in several urban constituencies of the state and hence according to poll pundits, it will not be easy for the DMK.

The counting of votes will take place on February 22.

President to witness Fleet Review in Vizag

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President to witness Fleet Review in Vizag

President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Odisha on Saturday and Andhra Pradesh on Sunday when he will witness the Naval Fleet Review and Flypast at Visakhapatnam.

On February 20, he will inaugurate the three-year-long celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Srimad Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami Prabhupad, the founder of Gaudiya Math and Mission in Puri, a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Friday.

On February 21, the President will witness the Fleet Review and Flypast at Visakhapatnam. “The President of India as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces reviews the Indian NavalA Fleet once in his/her term as part of the ‘President’s Fleet Review’,” it added.

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