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.

PM hosting prominent Sikhs will benefit in Punjab polls, feels BJP

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The BJP believes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with prominent Sikhs from across the country might help the party in the Punjab assembly polls. Two days before the polling for the Punjab Assembly, Modi on Friday hosted them at his official residence here.

The BJP claimed the Prime Minister hosting the prominent Sikhs will help the party by sending a message to the people of Punjab that he is deeply connected with the community and understands their concerns and issues.

“First of all let me make it clear that it was an ‘apolitical’ meeting and it has nothing to do with the Punjab assembly polls. But meeting prominent citizens of any community helps the government and the party to reach out to them. A Prime Minister hosting prominent Sikhs from across the country would most probably help the BJP to win the support of the community and might help in the assembly polls. But the political benefit of the interaction will only be known after the declaration of results,” a BJP leader said.

Another party leader aware of Punjab politics said that the interaction will help the BJP to dispel the anti-Sikh misconception built around it.

“Some people with vested political interests created a perception that the BJP is anti-Sikh. We hope that meetings of prominent Sikhs from across the country will help in clearing the misconception. It might also help the party in the Punjab assembly polls,” he said.

Some in the BJP, however, doubt any major political benefits from the meeting. “We don’t really know what will be the political benefits of meeting prominent Sikh citizens just two days before the polling,” another BJP leader said.

In a series of tweets after the interaction, Prime Minister Modi said, “This morning, I met a wide range of people from the Sant Samaj and Sikh community. These are distinguished individuals who are at the forefront of popularising Sikh culture and serving society. I was humbled by the kind words from the distinguished members of the Sikh community on various efforts of the Central Government. I consider it my honor that the respected Sikh Gurus have taken Seva from me and their blessings have enabled me to work for society,” the Prime Minister said.

In the morning the Prime Minister hosted the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee Harmeet Singh Kalka, Padma Shri Baba Balbir Singh Ji Sichewal, Mahant Karamjit Singh, President Sewapanthi from Yamuna Nagar, Baba Joga Singh from Dera Baba Jang Singh (Nanaksar) Karnal, Sant Baba Major Singh Waa from Mukhi Dera Baba Tara Singh Waa, Amritsar.

The other prominent Sikhs were Jathedar Baba Sahib Singh (Kar Sewa Anandpur Sahib), Surinder Singh Namdhari Darbar (Bheni Sahib), Baba Jassa Singh Shiromani Akali Budha Dal, Panjwa Takht, Dr. Harbhajan Singh, Damdami Taksal, Chowk Mehta, and Singh Sahib Giani Ranjit Singh, Jathedar Takht Sri Patna Sahib.

Congress promises Rs 1,100 per month to women, eight LPG cylinders in Punjab

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Congress promises Rs 1,100 per month to women, eight LPG cylinders in Punjab

With less than two days to go for the polling in Punjab, the state’s ruling Congress on Friday released its manifesto, promising one lakh government jobs and Rs 1,100 per month to women with eight free cooking gas cylinders per year.

The party also promised to end the mafia raj by creating corporations for the sale of liquor and sand mining.

State party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu said the party’s government would procure oilseed, pulses, and corn from farmers. Sidhu said the party’s 13-point agenda reflects Rahul Gandhi’s vision.

“Anybody can be the pilot when the sea is calm, but when there’s a storm, we should be able to convert adversity into opportunity. That’s the aim of this manifesto,” Sidhu told the media here.

The manifesto also talks about free education for all needy students and bringing 170 services online for the people of the state.

The manifesto has many promises which Sidhu had listed under his Punjab model with a focus on the youth, skilling, and entrepreneurship.

“The youth, skilling, and rntrepreneurship program can change the face of the state. It’s time to be a part of this change and create the future we want the next generation to live in,” he added.

The campaign for the Assembly election ended Friday evening and will go to the polls for 117-member Assembly on February 20 and the counting of ballots on March 10.

Amarinder effect, infighting could cost Cong dear in Punjab

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Amarinder effect, infighting could cost Cong dear in Punjab

The Congress is fighting a high-pitched battle in Punjab and the Aam Aadmi Party has surprised everyone with the tough challenge it has mounted against the incumbent government led by chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Congress leaders privately admit that former CM Amarinder Singh is harming the party and the interference from Delhi in the affairs of the state has made matters worse.

Sources in the Punjab Congress and various MPs say that the infighting has intensified since the elevation of former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu as party state president. Amarinder floating his own political outfit has affected the party’s prospects in the state, the state.

The Congress leaders who are opposed to Sidhu have also objected to the party’s decision to expel many leaders including Kewal Singh Dhillon. “Shocked to read @KewalDhillonINC summarily expelled from @INCIndia without even as much as a notice. When no one was prepared to invest a penny in Punjab during days of terror he brought @PepsiCo to Punjab in the 1980s. He was a Congressman when it was an invitation to assassination” Congress MP Manish Tewari said.

The party is facing an onslaught from Amarinder Singh who is contesting in alliance with the BJP. Congress leaders have been saying privately that Amarinder is damaging the party and can defeat the party candidates in two dozen seats. However, Congress has rubbished the claims, saying that Amarinder is a spent force in the state and that Congress will emerge victoriously.

The state is going to the polls on Sunday and two days before it the Congress has tried to corner the AAP over the statements made by former AAP leader and founder Kumar Vishwas. Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal has termed it as a comedy and compared himself with Bhagat Singh which the Congress is terming as an insult to freedom fighters.

Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said: “While Shaheed Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life for the nation, Arvind Kejriwal is not willing to give up even one of his posts. He is both CM and National Convenor of AAP due to his lust for power. Kejriwal comparing himself to Bhagat Singh is an insult to our freedom fighters & reflects his desperation for votes.”

The Punjab Congress is witnessing turmoil since the party’s central leadership gave prominence to Navjot Singh Sidhu as many in the party are opposed to him.

Traditional parties conspiring against me: Kejriwal

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Traditional parties conspiring against me: Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said all the three traditional parties — the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the Congress, and the BJP — are conspiring against him and have come together to defeat his party.

“Under a well-thought-out strategy, all the corrupt people are assembling and calling me a terrorist,” he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal said the British had called freedom fighter Bhagat Singh a terrorist because they were afraid of him.

“These corrupt people are afraid of ending their business of loot and corruption, that’s why everyone is calling me a terrorist,” he claimed.

Addressing the media here, he said all the parties were opposing the AAP because it is talking about building good schools and hospitals for the people of Punjab. The AAP is talking about providing good education and medical facilities to the people. It is talking about arranging free electricity, water, and free treatment for the common people.

“There is talk of setting up ‘mohalla’ clinics and village clinics. We are talking about giving employment to the youth by taking them out of the clutches of drugs, talking about improving the condition of the farmers, and paying them on time. We are talking about giving Rs 1,000 every month to empower women and we are talking about ending corruption and mafia from Punjab.

“On the other hand, the Akali Dal, the Congress, and the BJP only talk about defeating us. In fact, these parties have no issues left to seek votes. All they care about is forming their government at any cost and looting the tax money of the public. Now the loot of these people is about to end. That is why these people have gathered in anger against us.”

Kejriwal said in the last 70 years, these corrupt parties together looted and indebted Punjab to the tune of Rs 3 lakh crore.

Punjab is scheduled to go to the polls on February 20.

CBI probe exposes YSRCP leaders in Vivekananda Reddy murder case: TDP chief

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CBI probe exposes YSRCP leaders in Vivekananda Reddy murder case: TDP chief

TDP National President and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu have alleged that the Jagan Mohan Reddy government was badly exposed following what he called shocking revelations in the CBI probe in the Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy murder case.

Naidu claimed that it was clearly established that YSRCP MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy was the first person to visit the murder spot and to tamper with the evidence. Though facts were revealed about the YSRCP leaders’ involvement, CM’s Advisor Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy was wrongly saying that the CBI was targetting the victims.

The TDP chief said the ruling YSRCP leaders were expecting all sections of the people to blindly believe like sheep in whatever they would say and do. “How could Sajjala say that the YSRCP leaders were the victims in the Viveka murder? It was because of his daughter’s court petition that the CBI probed and cracked the Viveka murder mystery,” he said.

Naidu blamed the present YSRCP leaders for the brutal killing of Paritala Ravindra and the subsequent elimination of witnesses in that murder case. They also tried to kill their party MP Raghu Rama Raju but the courts saved him. The YSRCP rule was more horrifying than that of terrorists and demons. Jagan Reddy was aiming to perpetuate his misrule forever through a reign of terror.

Chandrababu Naidu recalled how DGP Gautham Sawang was unceremoniously removed after misusing his services for harassing political opponents. The DGP said, in the beginning, there was no ganja trade in the city but he himself ordered the burning of Rs 1,500 crore of ganja. It was after the TDP exposed the CM’s ‘use and throw’ mindset that the transferred DGP was now reportedly given posting in the APPSC.

The TDP chief said that their party strongly protested against the appointment of tainted jailor Varuna Reddy at Kadapa Central Prison. Just like the witnesses in the Paritala Ravi murder, they hatched conspiracies to kill witnesses in the Viveka murder. Following the TDP’s objections, Varuna Reddy was transferred out of Kadapa.

Naidu said in the murder case of his own uncle, Jagan Reddy first petitioned the court for a CBI probe but later withdrew his petition saying there was no need for that. The YSRCP leaders first reported the Viveka death as a natural death due to a heart attack but were forced to change their story.

Chandrababu Naidu deplored that the Jagan regime targetted and tried to suppress the employees just like he was suppressing political opponents. When the NGOs and teachers’ Chalo Vijayawada became a success, the CM became angry and sent Sawang home. The TDP would not support what Sawang did in the past but his humiliation was yet another testimony to the absence of rule of law in Andhra Pradesh, he added.

Rahul Gandhi to release 1st part of Stalin’s autobiography on Feb 28

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Rahul Gandhi to release 1st part of Stalin’s autobiography on Feb 28

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will release the first part a ‘Ungalil Oruvan’ (One among you), the autobiography of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on February 28.

This was announced by the Chief Minister’s office in a statement on Thursday night.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and leader of opposition in Bihar Legislative Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav will also attend the function.

Senior DMK leader and Minister for Water Works in M.K. Stalin’s government, S. Duraimurugan will preside over the function. Tamil actor Satyraraj will introduce the book.

Stalin in his book, according to information, has mentioned his foray into politics as a schoolboy and also mentioned how he learned the basics of politics and service to society through great leaders like Periyar, C.N. Annadurai, and his father Kalaignar Karunanidhi.

In the book, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also has mentioned the struggles undertaken by the founding leaders of the Dravidian movement including Periyar, Annadurai, and Karunanidhi.

He also has, in the book written about the growth of the DMK after long struggles for the people’s causes.

Stalin to coordinate with non-BJP CMs for national platform against BJP

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Stalin to coordinate with non-BJP CMs for national platform against BJP

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader M.K. Stalin will coordinate with non-BJP Chief Ministers and other opposition leaders, including from the Congress and the CPM, to form a national platform against the saffron party.

Stalin has already floated the All-India Federation of Social Justice, in which he invited even his political rival and AIADMK leader, O. Panneerselvam.

It may be recalled that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had requested Stalin to take the charge in coordinating with non-BJP CMs in the country as well as non-BJP political parties, including the Congress and the CPM.

Senior DMK leader and state Water Works Minister S. Duraimurugan told IANS, “Our Chief Minister is an icon of Dravidian struggle and he has an excellent rapport with almost all the national leaders. He has already commenced speaking to these leaders for a national platform against the BJP and after the urban local body polls are over on February 19, the momentum of this coordination will increase and a national platform against the BJP will soon emerge.”

Subramanian Ramaswamy, former professor of political science at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, who is also a political observer, told IANS, “Stalin is the apt choice for such coordination as he has good rapport with the Congress, CPM, CPI, and other political parties.

“With regard to Mamata Banerjee, both the Congress and the CPM are skeptical about her. But being a seasoned politician, Banerjee knows well that if she allows Stalin to take the centre stage, things would happen, and for the larger interest, she seems to have decided to play the second fiddle.”

Former General Secretary of CPI-M, Prakash Karat, who is also the party’s politburo member, said in a statement that the broader alliance or rather a broader coordination of opposition political parties will take place only with the presence of the Congress and excluding Congress is not a good move.

This was a direct attack on Banerjee and hence she seems to have taken a back seat and pushed Stalin to take the lead for the coordination.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, according to sources close to him, has already telephoned all the senior leaders, including the Chief Ministers of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. Sources also said that Stalin has spoken to senior leaders, including Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, and others.

However, the list of opposition leaders does not include Aravind Kejriwal for the time being.

With Stalin taking the centre stage, he is reminding one of his late father M. Karunanidhi, and his odysseys to Delhi as a kingmaker, in both the NDA and UPA rule at the Centre.

Woman raped in Jammu, accused absconding

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Woman raped in Jammu, accused absconding

A woman was allegedly raped in Jammu and Kashmir’s Jammu city by a 32-year-old man from Chhattisgarh early this week.

Police sources said a 20-year-old woman was allegedly raped on Monday when she was alone in a rented accommodation in the Rehari old city area.

“Her parents were out for work when the accused, identified as Mohan Singh, a car washer from Chattisgarh, who lived in the same locality, forced his entry and raped the victim.

“An FIR has been lodged in the Pucca Danga police station after medical examination of the victim.

“A manhunt has been started to nab the absconding culprit”, sources said.

President, PM greet KCR on his birthday

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President, PM greet KCR on his birthday

Wishes poured in from top political leaders, followers, and friends for Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao as he turned 68 on Thursday.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally called up to greet KCR, as Rao is popularly known. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, the President and Prime Minister personally called up the Chief Minister and conveyed their birthday greetings to him.

Modi also tweeted to convey the greetings. “Birthday wishes to Telangana CM Shri KCR Garu. Praying for his long and healthy life,” tweeted Narendra Modi.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin also called up KCR to greet him on his birthday. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and other leaders also greeted KCR.

KCR’s son and key cabinet minister K.T. Rama Rao and daughter and state legislator K. Kavitha also took to Twitter to wish him.

“To a man, who can only dream Big, who has made impossible art of the possible, One who leads with a heart full of compassion, One who defines courage & challenges status quo. A man who I proudly call my leader & my father. May you live long & stay blessed,” wrote Rama Rao.

“Happy birthday daddy. Every day, I learn something new from you. You are an institution in itself. Wishing for your long, healthy, and prosperous life,” tweeted Kavitha, a member of the Telangana Legislative Council.

She also offered prayers for her father at the Balkampet temple. KCR’s nephew and minister for finance and health T. Harish Rao, several other ministers, and top leaders of the TRS greeted him.

Megastar and former Union Minister K. Chiranjeevi also extended birthday wishes to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief. He wished him a long and healthy life to achieve his goals and continue to serve the people.

Telangana’s BJP unit chief Bandi Sanjay also greeted KCR. In a message, the BJP leader wished him a long and healthy life.

Modi declares trinity of environmental efforts for improving global commons

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Modi declares trinity of environmental efforts for improving global commons

The three global alliances floated by India as part of climate action — CDRI, IRIS, and LIFE — will form the trinity of India’s environmental efforts for improving the global commons, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday.

“Coalition of Disaster Resilient (CDRI), Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) and LIFE, the one-word mantra of ‘Lifestyle for Environment’, will be a coalition of like-minded people across the world who will promote a sustainable lifestyle.

“I call them 3Ps — pro-planet people. This global movement of pro-planet people is the coalition for life. These three global coalitions will form the trinity of our environmental efforts for improving the global commons,” Modi said.

India launched CDRI at the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019 while IRIS was launched at the COP26 in Glasgow last year, where Modi also gave the LIFE mantra as an appeal for combined climate action.

The Prime Minister was speaking at the inaugural event of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS2022) organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

The theme for this year’s event is ‘Towards a Resilient Planet: Ensuring a Sustainable and Equitable Future.

Equitable energy access to the poor has been the cornerstone of India’s energy policy. Environmental sustainability can only be achieved through climate justice.

Stating that energy requirements of the people of India are expected to double in the next 20 years, the Prime Minister said, “Denying this energy to them will be denying life itself to millions.”

Successful climate action policy needs adequate finance for which every country needs to fulfill their commitments on finance and technology, he said.

For this, developed countries need to fulfill their commitments for climate finance and technology.

Modi also recounted the various steps taken by India as part of its climate action. They are land restoration, Ujwala Yojana, LED bulbs, renewable energy, including solarisation of agriculture pumps, among others.

He also spoke of a whole of the world approach and highlighted the International Solar Alliance. Modi reminded the world about how India’s tradition ensured living life in harmony with nature.

Earlier, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said that despite the adverse impacts of the pandemic on the economy, India has enhanced its climate ambition.

“India is spearheading one of the most ambitious clean energy transitions in the world. The inclusive and sustainable macro-economic development of India requires that both adaptation and mitigation objectives of the country are uniformly and equitably responded, within the larger goal of meeting our people’s aspirations and needs,” Yadav said, adding, “Our latest Union Budget has reaffirmed our determination to go down this path.”

Reminding the developed countries to ‘respond on their part with due ambition’, Yadav said, “They must meet both their promises — of reducing emissions drastically by changing their lifestyles, and providing the developing countries with increased finance and technology support.”

Michael Rubern Bloomberg of the Bloomberg Philanthropies received the Sustainable Development Leadership Award at the end of the inaugural event.

Bihar heading for mid-term polls, says Chirag Paswan

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Bihar heading for mid-term polls, says Chirag Paswan

Lok Janshakti Party (R) president Chirag Paswan has again said that Bihar is heading for a midterm poll.

“Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is looking for issues to separate from the BJP. The situation is similar to 2017 when he separated from the Mahagathbandhan. At that time, he was saying till the last moment that there was no dispute with the RJD. His operation was so secret that many veterans learned about the development when his convoy went to Raj Bhavan for resignation,” Paswan said.

“Every time he makes a surprise decision, he goes to Rajgir, Paswan said.

Sources have said that Nitish Kumar is waiting for the Uttar Pradesh election result. If BJP loses, the chances of a midterm poll will be high in Bihar. The relation between JD-U and the BJP is at its lowest ebb and this is obvious from the statements by leaders of both parties.

Chirag Paswan said: “Nitish Kumar can go anywhere to retain the chief minister’s post. If he negotiates with other parties, he will replicate his move of 2017.”

“Nitish Kumar always blames the 15 years rule of Lalu Prasad. I believe that this is a decade-old story. If we live in the past, we cannot secure our future. I firmly believe that we have to live in the present to make our future better. There are so many challenges like unemployment, inflation, law and order situation which need to be addressed to make our present and future better,” Paswan said.

“We have started Bihar Bachao Yatra from Tuesday and will go in every district to inform people about the failure of Nitish Kumar government,” Paswan said.

MHA accords security cover to more BJP candidates in UP, Punjab

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MHA accords security cover to more BJP candidates in UP, Punjab

After analyzing the threat perceptions during the five states assembly elections, the Ministry of Home Affairs has till now provided central security cover to 23 BJP candidates and leaders in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab till the election gets over.

Sources said that BJP candidate and Union Minister S.P.S. Baghel has been provided a ‘Z’ category security cover in Uttar Pradesh by Central Industrial Security Force while other BJP MP Dr. Ramesh Chand has been given an ‘X’ category security cover.

Similarly in Punjab, 21 sitting MLAs who are contesting elections have been given ‘Y’ category security cover from Central Reserve Police Force. The prominent among them are Avtar Singh Zira, Nimisha T. Mehta who recently joined the saffron party, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Sardar Kanwar Veer Singh Tohra, Sardar Didar Singh Bhatti, Sardar Kanwar Veer Singh Tohra, Sardar Gurpreet Singh Bhatti, Sardar Hariot Kamal while Sukhwinder Singh Bindra has been given ‘Y+’ security.

Sources quoting officials said that some of the BJP candidates already have security cover from the state police but even then they have been provided with central security cover.

This security cover will be given to these candidates till the assembly elections and the continuation of the security will be decided after a review of the situation.

The Centre’s move to provide security cover to the BJP leaders and candidates is akin to the decision taken by the MHA during the Bengal polls last year wherein the central government provided security covers to many BJP leaders and candidates during the election period and subsequently withdrawn after the election process was over.

Earlier, the Union Home Ministry has already accorded VIP security cover to some of the leaders of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and other religious outfits in Punjab.

Recently, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat’s security cover was also upgraded from the Y category to the Z category during his stay in Delhi and Punjab. Shekhawat is the BJP election in charge of the upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab.

The other turncoats who joined BJP like former Akali Dal’s youth wing leader Parminder Singh Brar, Manjinder Singh Sirsa got ‘Z’ category security while Gurmit Singh Sodhi’s security cover was upgraded from the ‘Y’ category to the ‘Z’ category. Sodhi had also joined BJP with Sirsa in December.

The Centre’s move came after the input by the intelligence agencies that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has activated all of its terror wings to disrupt Punjab’s election process. Intelligence inputs, according to sources within the security set up, indicate that ISI-sponsored Sikh terror outfits may attempt to target election rallies in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarkhand, and also try to target some important leaders or VIPs.

New rules for Zilla Parishad president election in Odisha

TB Team
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New rules for Zilla Parishad president election in Odisha

The State Election Commission (SEC) is going to implement the new anti-defection rule for election to the post of Zilla Parishad President and Vice-President, which will be held on March 13 and 25, respectively.

The State Government has recently amended the Odisha Zilla Parishad (ZP) Election Rules, 1994 by adding another clause. The new clause provides for the appointment of agents by every political party and the election officer will allow the authorized agents to verify the vote cast by the elected Zilla Parishad member of their respective parties as is being done during Rajya Sabha elections, SEC officials said.

As per the new norms, during the in-direct election to Zilla Parishad president and vice-president posts, all the members will have to show their votes to the political agent appointed by their own party before dropping it in the vote box.

The political parties will have to submit details on the appointment of authorized agents in a prescribed form to the concerned electoral officer by 5.30 p.m. of the previous day of the election, the officials said.

As per schedule, an interested elected Zilla Parishad member can submit his/her nomination paper for the president or vice-president poll between 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. on the election day.

The nominations will be scrutinized in the next one hour while the candidates can withdraw their nominations by 1 p.m. If required, voting will be held from 1.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and then the result will be declared.

Sasikala maintains studied silence on TN urban polls

TB Team
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Sasikala maintains studied silence on TN urban polls

Former interim general secretary of the AIADMK V.K. Sasikala, the close aide of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, is keeping a studied silence in the run-up to the urban local body polls.

Speculations are rife in political and journalistic circles of the state that Sasikala is maintaining a silence only to speak after the results of the Urban polls.

Just before the 2021 Assembly elections, Sasikala had come out of Bengaluru Central prison and reached Tamil Nadu with a convoy of more than a thousand vehicles.

The AIADMK leadership did not budge and she announced her retirement from active politics and called for the people to vote for the AIADMK and not to allow the ‘misrule’ of DMK in Tamil Nadu.

However, it was the political party floated by her nephew T.T.V Dhinakaran, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) that ate up the vote of the AIADMK in the 2021 polls in 20 odd assembly constituencies of South Tamil Nadu. The vote captured by AMMK in these 20 constituencies was more than the difference in vote share between the two major Dravidian parties, AIADMK and DMK. The division of votes in several constituencies of South Tamil Nadu was the main reason for AIADMK losing power after a gap of ten years in Tamil Nadu.

Sasikala, according to sources in the AMMK, is keeping silent as the possibility of DMK winning the Urban local body polls are much higher and after the results are out she would try and make a move to capture the AIADMK.

The former interim general secretary conducted a separate program at the MGR residence during the AIADMK formation day in October while the AIADMK official faction led by O. Panneerselvam and Edappadi K. Palaniswami conducted programs at the party headquarters.

Sasikala was also actively engaging the party sympathizers and estranged leaders by making calls to them from her Chennai residence and a team was working for her in this exercise.

Dr. Umamaheswari, a Political scientist and Professor of Political science at a private College in Chennai while speaking to IANS said: “The Thevar community of Sasikala is strong and has the ability to tilt votes in South Tamil Nadu. This is her trump card and will try and use this to regain control of AIADMK after the urban poll results are out. This will work only if AIADMK loses the polls badly and she is expecting a rapprochement with the OPS faction as both Sasikala and OPS are Thevars and the community intervention is in all likelihood to take place in her favor.

The results of the Urban local body elections will be the next arena for a possible war to gain control of the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu with Sasikala definitely trying to make a move in this regard.

Envoys of 4 nations present credentials to Prez

TB Team
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Envoys of 4 nations present credentials to Prez

President of India Ram Nath Kovind accepted credentials from the High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania and Ambassadors of the Republic of Djibouti, Republic of Serbia, and the Republic of North Macedonia at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.

Those who presented their credentials were Anisa K. Mbega, the High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania; Isse Abdillahi Assoweh, Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti; Sinisa Pavic, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia, and Slobodan Uzunov, the Ambassador of the Republic of North Macedonia, a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

Following the presentation of credentials, the President interacted with the four envoys separately. He congratulated them on their appointments and highlighted the warm and friendly relations that India shared with the countries and the multifaceted relationship that India enjoyed with each of them.

The President also wished them success in strengthening bilateral ties and for their well-being and progress and prosperity of the friendly people, the communique said.

Through the High Commissioner and the Ambassadors, the President also conveyed his personal regards to their leaderships. Envoys present at the event reiterated their commitment to work closely to strengthen their ties with India.

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