Amarinder Singh to form ‘Punjab Vikas Party’: Sources

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Amarinder Singh to form ‘Punjab Vikas Party’: Sources

Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh is soon going to announce a new party. According to sources, the name of Captain’s new party will be ‘Punjab Vikas Party’.

According to sources, Amarinder Singh will convene a meeting of leaders close to him in a few days to consider the formation of his new party, which will include all the leaders of the anti-Sidhu faction.

Earlier, the Captain had said that his first goal is to defeat former Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu. In such a situation, a strong contender will be fielded in the upcoming Assembly elections against Sidhu from his newly-formed party.

Meanwhile, Singh will also contact all the farmers’ leaders of Punjab. He will also get in touch with small parties, sources said.

On Thursday, Amarinder Singh said: “I have been in politics for 52 years, but they treated me like this. At 10.30 Congress President Sonia Gandhi asked me to resign. I did not ask any question. At 4 o’clock I went to the Governor and submitted my resignation. If you still doubt me after 50 years… My credibility is at stake and there is no trust, then there is no point in being in the party.”

After this statement, he announced that he was quitting the Congress. He made it clear that he was leaving the Congress, but will not join the BJP. He also said that he was deeply hurt by the humiliation that he had to face from the top leadership of the Congress.

It is not the first time that Amarinder Singh has announced to quit the Congress party.

In 1980 he won the Lok Sabha elections on the Congress symbol, but after the Operation Blue Star in 1984, he left the Congress to join the Akali Dal. He rejoined the Congress in 1998.

Andhra CM holds strategy meet on Badvel assembly bypoll

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Andhra CM holds strategy meet on Badvel assembly bypoll

With the Badvel Assembly bypoll set to witness a keenly fought electoral battle, the ruling YSRC Party is leaving no stone unturned to retain this seat. On Thursday, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy took stock of the situation and drew up battle plans to win the bypoll which is being projected as a referendum on his party’s performance.

The Badvel assembly bypoll, scheduled for October 30, was necessitated by the death of the ruling party MLA Dr Venkata Subbaiah in March this year. In Thursday’s meeting, Reddy directed the party leaders to ensure that voting percentage is increased.

Of late, with the opposition raising strident voices against the ruling party’s actions, the bypoll has acquired the contours of a referendum. The assembly bypoll comes after the Tirupati Lok Sabha bypoll held in April, which the YSRCP had won conclusively.

The chief minister directed the leaders to visit each house at least three to four times and encourage voters to vote. Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy has been put in-charge for the by-election. The MPs, MLAs and other leaders have been told to focus on Badvel bypoll and start the party activities from Monday. He instructed the leaders to publicise the welfare schemes being implemented after YSRCP came to power.

“In 2019, the YSRCP had won with a majority of over 44,000 votes, and it should be more than that in the by-election” the chief minister told aides, adding that voting percentage should be higher than the 77 per cent polled in 2019.

While the YSRCP is fielding Dr Sudha, wife of deceased MLA, the opposition TDP is repeating its 2019 assembly poll candidate Dr Obulapuram Rajasekhar for the bypoll.

Those present in Thursday meeting include deputy Chief Minister (minority affairs) Amzad Basha, Panchayat Raj Minister Peddireddy Rama Chandra Reddy, Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh, Agriculture Minister Kurasala Kannababu, Civil Supplies Minister Kodali Venkateswara Rao (Nani), government chief whip Gadikota Srikanth Reddy, and government advisor (public affairs) Sajjala Rama Krishna Reddy.

UP launches self-reliant farmer integrated development scheme

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UP launches self-reliant farmer integrated development scheme

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched the Self-Reliant Farmer Integrated Development Scheme.

The Rs 722.85 crore scheme will benefit more than 27 lakh farmers associated with the Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) by increasing their income substantially in the next five years.

According to the government spokesman, the government will spend the amount to provide facilities and resources to farmers at every level, from farm to market.

In the current financial year, the state government has earmarked Rs 100 crore for this scheme. Under this scheme, 2,725 FPOs will be formed benefiting 27.25 lakh shareholder farmers directly.

According to the agriculture department officials, the government has decided to set up at least one FPO in every block to increase the income of farmers in the state.

At present, a total of 693 FPOs have been formed in 408 blocks of 824 blocks of the state. About 500 to 1,000 farmers are associated on an average with an FPO.

FPOs give bargaining power to the small and marginal farmers in the sale of their crops.

According to officials, the FPOs will help enhance income of farmers selling their produce directly to traders, or companies, and also those doing contract farming.

Institutions related to agricultural development will be able to reduce the cost of farming and increase the income of the farmers by developing agricultural infrastructure.

According to the plan, a loan of Rs 5 lakh per year will be given to cluster based business organisations for five years for forming FPOs and Rs 6 lakh to the newly formed FPOs for three years.

Loans will be provided to FPOs for creation of post-harvest infrastructure facilities at the rate of three per cent, which will benefit at least 500 to 1,000 farmers associated with FPOs. It will also lead to creation of 3,000 jobs every year.

Besides, a plan of Rs 140 crore has been prepared for the creation of post-harvest storage and management infrastructure in 27 mandis of Krishi Utpadan Mandi Parishad.

T’gana Cong to launch agitatation against unemployment on Oct 2

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T’gana Cong to launch agitatation against unemployment on Oct 2

The opposition Congress in Telangana announced on Wednesday that it will launch an agitation on October 2 to highlight the problem of unemployment in the state.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President A. Revanth Reddy said that ‘Vidyarthi Nirudyoga Jung Siren’ will be undertaken from October 2 to December 9.

As part of the 65-day-long agitation, protests will held in all the universities across the state. Reddy appealed to every student and unemployed persons to participate in the agitation.

He said the party would highlight how the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) ‘betrayed’ the students and the unemployed. He alleged that the TRS government led by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, popularly known as KCR, failed to fulfil the dreams of those students and youth who laid down their lives for the Telangana state.

Reddy recalled that in its election manifesto in 2014, the TRS had promised free education from KG to PG and a job for every household. He alleged that after coming to power, KCR shut down 4,368 primary schools in the remote areas of the state, which resulted in the poor getting deprived of education.

Reddy also claimed that the TRS government did not recruit teachers. The government is not releasing funds for fee reimbursement to students and as a result, the poor students are committing suicide.

He also held KCR responsible for the suicides of students.

He recalled that the Congress had introduced free reimbursement to make higher education accessible to the poor. He alleged that due to the negligence by KCR, the dues under fee reimbursement mounted to Rs 4,000 crore.

He pointed out that the TRS government did not even fulfil the promise of paying unemployment allowance, claiming that the government owes Rs 1 lakh to each of the 60 lakh unemployed people in the state.

Claiming that there are 1.9 lakh vacancies in government departments, Reddy said the number of vacancies has gone up as compared to when the Telangana state was formed in 2014.

The announcement of the protest programme came a day after the Election Commission of India declared the schedule for the by-election to the Huzurabad Assembly constituency.

The bypoll will be held on October 30 while the counting of votes will be taken up on November 2.

This will be the second protest programme to be undertaken by the Congress after Reddy took over as the state unit chief in July.

Earlier, the party had undertaken a ‘Dalit Girijan Atmagaurava Dandoora’ programme to highlight how the TRS government ‘betrayed’ Dalits and tribals by going back on the promises made to these sections.

Cong to launch UP campaign with Priyanka rally on Oct 9 from Varanasi

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Cong to launch UP campaign with Priyanka rally on Oct 9 from Varanasi

The Congress in Uttar Pradesh is expected to launch its poll campaign for the 2022 Assembly elections on October 9 with party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressing a public rally in Varanasi.

Former Varanasi MP Rajesh Mishra confirmed that preparations for the rally have begun and added that the event was being organised to give a message of change to the people across the state.

The Congress has also decided to bet on young candidates for the 2022 Assembly elections and sources said that the party may give 60 per cent of its tickets to those in the age group of 30 to 40 years.

Priyanka, who is in Lucknow on a five-day visit, is said to have given her consent for this.

The Congress is inviting applications from prospective candidates till October 10.

“Focus on the youth and their issues is clear in various strategy, election, campaign and manifesto meetings. The leadership feels that this is the group which has suffered most at the hands of the myopic vision of the BJP government and, therefore, wants change. Putting up good candidates with whom the public can relate is a natural thought,” a party functionary said.

Veterans in the party, however, believe that the Congress needs more than a formula for its revival in Uttar Pradesh.

“The party is still struggling to put things in an affirmative and clear perspective. The formula may not find many buyers in a highly caste and religion sensitive UP unlike Kerala where development and candidates are considered over traditional factors,” said a party veteran.

War of words continue between Pawan Kalyan, Andhra ministers

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War of words continue between Pawan Kalyan, Andhra ministers

The war of words between actor-politician Pawan Kalyan and leaders of YSR Congress Party continued on Tuesday with the Jana Sena leader slamming Andhra Pradesh’s ruling party for what he calls its “policy terrorism”.

Pawan Kalyan tweeted that YSRCP’s “policy terrorism” is destroying all sectors and all communities and remarked that the time has come to counter it.

For the second time in a day, the Jana Sena leader took to Twitter to launch another attack on the YSRCP government led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, this time targetting it for attacks on Hindu temples.

He wrote that there were not one or two but 140 attacks on Hindu temples and idols of Hindu deities. “This is the progress made in Andhra Pradesh during two-and-a-half years of rule of the YSRCP,” he remarked and alleged that those involved are safe.

Tuesday’s tweets further intensified the war of words going on between Pawan Kalyan and the YSRCP leaders since the former lambasted Andhra Pradesh government during the pre-release event of movie “Republic” starring his nephew Sai Dharam Tej. He criticised the Jagan government over the proposed online movie ticket booking system and alleged that the government is trying to profit from movie tickets.

Andhra Pradesh’s ministers including Information and Public Relations Minister Perni Nani countered Pawan’s criticism saying his view does not represent the view of Tollywood. While pointing out the government already consulted the Tollywood elders on the proposal, they also remarked that Pawan Kalyan’s movies have not done well commercially for the government to make any attempt to benefit from them.

This triggered a bitter war of words. In a tweet on Monday, Pawan Kalyan compared YSRCP leaders to dogs. He also posted the video song “Who let the dogs out” with the comment that this is one of his favourite songs.

Perni Nani hit back at the actor for his “culture of marriages” and compared him to a pig. The minister also posted a video of Pawan Kalyan with the song “Who let the dogs out” in the background.

Meanwhile, government advisor and YSRCP General Secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said on Tuesday that the state government is trying to do good for the film industry by being a facilitator with the online ticket system.

He said that some prominent people in the film industry consider Pawan Kalyan as a huge burden to the industry and fear that they may get into trouble by being with him. He said that the state government is ready to cooperate with the film industry and even distributors, and exhibitors were happy with the online ticketing system as this would bring transparency. If the film industry still has any doubts, it can meet the Chief Minister any time and get them clarified, he added.

PM launches 35 climate-resilient crop varieties

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PM launches 35 climate-resilient crop varieties

Launching 35 climate-resilient crop varieties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday suggested states and NGOs to conduct various programmes and create a task force for the promotion of millets.

“As part of traditional farming, India had farmers growing different crops according to different climatic conditions. In dry climate, flood-prone areas, even in snow, different varieties of crops were grown, which also had more nutrition value, especially the coarse grains, the millets. These millets are beneficial for health. Therefore, given today’s lifestyle diseases, millets are much in demand,” Modi said during a virtual event to launch the 35 crop varieties.

The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation the newly constructed campus of National Institute of Biotic Stress Management at Raipur in Chhattisgarh and distributed the ‘Green Campus Awards’ to agricultural universities. Before launching the crop varieties, he interacted with select farmers, who use innovative methods in farming.

Stating that it was due to India’s efforts that 2023 has been declared as the International Year of Millets by the UN, Modi said, “This is a good opportunity to showcase our tradition of millet farming on the international platform. But we will need to start working right away. I appeal to all the NGOs to arrange food festivals on the theme of millets, and conduct competitions on millet recipes. We will need to innovate if we want to take this to global platform in 2023.”

Observing that creating awareness about millets is necessary and suggesting that websites can be developed for millets, wherein people can contribute how and what all can be made from millets and also list its health benefits, Modi said: “I will also ask all the states to form a task force comprising experts from agriculture universities, scientists and progressive farmers and think about how India can lead and bring benefits to its farmers in 2023. You might as well start preparing for it now.”

“With the help of science and research solutions, it is now imperative to develop millets and other similar coarse grains. The aim is to grow millets in different parts of India as per requirement. The crop varieties launched today have a glimpse of this effort,” Modi said, as he stressed on a balance of ‘Back to Basic’ and ‘March for Future’ in agriculture.

Terming climate change as a big challenge not just for agriculture, but the entire ecosystem, the Prime Minister said that livestock and agriculture sectors are bearing its brunt and “the 35 varieties launched today are part of our efforts aimed at meeting that challenge”.

The crop varieties with special traits have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to address the twin challenges of climate change and malnutrition. Thirty-five such crop varieties with special traits like climate resilience and higher nutrient content have been developed this year. These include a drought tolerant variety of chickpea; wilt and sterility mosaic resistant pigeon pea; early maturing variety of soybean; disease resistant varieties of rice and biofortified varieties of wheat, pearl millet, maize and chickpea, quinoa, buckwheat, winged bean and faba bean.

Earlier, the Prime Minister spoke with five farmers from across India and lauded their efforts, sought to know their problems, and asked if they benefitted from government efforts.

The farmers were Zaitoon Begum from Ganderbal district in Jammu & Kashmir; Kulwant Singh from Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh; Darshana Pednekar from Bardez in Goa; Thoiba Singh from Manipur; and Suresh Rana from Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarakhand.

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also spoke on the occasion.

SIT to probe allegations of anti-Hindu propaganda by UP IAS officer

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SIT to probe allegations of anti-Hindu propaganda by UP IAS officer

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe charges of anti-Hindu propaganda by senior IAS officer Mohammad Iftikharuddin.

According to a statement by the Home Department, the two-member SIT will be headed by DG CB-CID G.L. Meena and ADG zone Bhanu Bhaskar.

The SIT has been asked to submit its report within seven days.

It may be recalled that the national vice president of Math Mandir Coordination Committee, Bhupesh Awasthi, had alleged that Iftikharuddin was indulging in anti-Hindu propaganda.

Iftikharuddin is presently serving as the Chairman of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation.

Awasthi released videos of religious programmes of the officer who was then the Kanpur Zone Commissioner.

It is alleged that in these videos, Iftikharuddin is telling people about the benefits of adopting Islam as a religion.

The purported videos also show a religious leader sitting besides the IAS officer.

In another video, Iftikharuddin is seen sitting on the ground when a Muslim speaker is purportedly giving radical lessons at his official residence.

After the video surfaced, Kanpur Police Commissioner Aseem Arun asked Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Somendra Meena to investigate the matter.

“The investigation of the viral video taken at Kanpur Commissioner’s residence has been entrusted to ADCP East, Police Commissionerate Kanpur Nagar. It is being investigated whether the video is authentic and if there is any crime in it,” the official said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had summoned the Police Commissioner Aseem Arun to Lucknow on Tuesday in this regard.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said: “This is a serious matter. If there is any truth in it, it will be taken seriously.”

Bypolls to 3 LS and 30 assembly seats on Oct 30, counting on Nov 2

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Bypolls to 3 LS and 30 assembly seats on Oct 30, counting on Nov 2

The Election Commission of India on Tuesday announced the schedule for bypolls to 3 Lok Sabha and 30 assembly seats in various states on Tuesday. The counting will take place on November 2.

For Assembly Constituency of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Telangana and Parliamentary Constituency of UT of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, the notification for the by-election will be made on October 1, last day of nomination will be October 8, scrutiny of the paper will be done on October 11, withdrawal of the nomination on October 13, polling will be held on October 30 and the counting of votes will be on November 2.

For the by-election in Assam, Bihar and West Bengal, the poll schedule will be the same except the date of withdrawal will be October 16.

The ECI also said that all election related activities will be strictly complied as per the Covid-19 guidelines issued by competent authorities. Social distancing and use of mask, sanitizers, thermal scanning, face shield, hand gloves, etc, as per Covid-19 protocol, have to be complied with. SDMA is responsible for all preventive and mitigation measures to ensure adherence to Covid protocol. Chief Secretary and DG and district level authorities will be responsible for monitoring, supervision and compliance of Covid-19 guidelines.

The commission also said that all polling personnel and election officials including the private persons engaged in the election duty shall be double vaccinated before taking their services.

If a candidate or political party violates any of the above guidelines, no more permission shall be given to the concerned candidate/party for rallies, meetings. If any star campaigner violates the Covid protocols, he shall not be allowed to campaign further in that constituency/district, the commission said.

Candidate/election agent/polling agent counting agent/driver etc whoever is coming in contact with the public or election officials have to be double vaccinated.

One health worker will be appointed as Covid nodal officer for each Polling Station. While the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police shall take enough preventive measures and make necessary arrangements to ensure that no poll related violence occurs.

Jitin Prasada gets technical education portfolio

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Jitin Prasada gets technical education portfolio

The newly appointed cabinet minister Jitin Prasada, has been allotted the technical education portfolio by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The portfolios were announced by the chief minister, late on Monday night.

The technical education portfolio was earlier held by Kamal Rani Varun who passed away last year due to Covid.

Jitin Prasada has also been allotted the 9 Kalidas Marg bungalow that was earlier occupied by Kamal Rani Varun.

Among junior ministers, Paltu Ram has been given sainik kalyan, home guard, Prantiya Rakshak Dal and civil defence. The chief minister is the cabinet minister of these departments.

Sangeeta Balwant Bind has been made junior minister for cooperatives under Mukut Bihari Verma and Dharmavir Prajapati has been sent to industrial development under Satish Mahana.

Chahtrapal Singh Gangwar has been made an MoS in revenue department while Sanjeev Gond has been given social welfare and scheduled caste-scheduled tribe welfare.

Similarly, Dinesh Khatik is now a junior minister in the department of Jal Shakti and flood control.

Meanwhile, Jitin Prasada has dismissed the narrative that his Brahmin identity gave him an advantage after he joined the BJP switching over to the BJP.

“The party and I believe in ‘Sabka saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ and I will take along people from all sections of the society,” he said.

Gulab impact: Telangana CM takes stock of situation

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Gulab impact: Telangana CM takes stock of situation

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday took stock of the situation in the state due to heavy rains under the impact of cyclone ‘Gulab’ which weakened into deep depression after crossing Andhra-Odisha coast overnight.

The chief minister reviewed the situation with Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and other top officials. He directed the chief secretary to take all necessary precautions against any loss of life or property as heavy rains across the state are likely to continue for another two days due to the impact of ‘Gulab’. The CM wanted revenue, police, and other departments to work in coordination.

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar once again held a teleconference with district collectors in the wake of heavy rains in the state. Apart from CS, DGP Mahender Reddy, Special Chief Secretary, Roads and Buildings, Sunil Sharma, Secretary, Panchayati Raj, Sandeep Kumar Sultania and Secretary, Disaster Management, Rahul Bojja were also present in the conference.

Somesh Kumar said collectors have been directed to remain vigilant in the wake of warnings from the Meteorological Department that there will be heavy rains for another two days across the state. He said the Revenue, Police, Panchayati Raj, Irrigation and Fire departments in the district should work in coordination.

The chief secretary asked officials to take adequate measures to prevent loss of life and property. If necessary, services of NDRF teams in Hyderabad, Kottagudem and Warangal should be utilised. He said that a separate control room should be set up in each district collectorate office and information should be provided to the control room set up in the Secretariat.

He said that the situation should be reviewed by appointing special officers at problematic areas such as inland areas, ponds, ditches and bridges.

DGP Mahender Reddy said he had directed the police commissioners and SPs to work in coordination with the district collectors. He said a teleconference had been held with police officers to this effect.

CSIR should re-invent itself for future challenges: Vice President

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CSIR should re-invent itself for future challenges: Vice President

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday advised the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to reinvent itself and turn futuristic while pursuing the science of the highest order.

Participating in the CSIR’s 80th Foundation Day celebrations here, he said that he wanted CSIR laboratories and institutes to address challenges that require long-term scientific and technological solutions.

Citing climate change, drug resistance, pollution, epidemic and pandemic outbreaks, among the challenges that need the focus of the scientific community, Naidu said: “I want CSIR to bestow greater attention on agricultural research and come out with new innovations, techniques and solutions to address the problems faced by farmers.”

Union Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh asked the CSIR and all the science departments to explore S&T innovations needed in the next ten years to make India globally competitive, a Science and Technology Ministry release said.

As the nation is celebrating the Azadi ka Amrit Mahostav, the combined strength of the CSIR, Department of Bio-Technology, Department of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Earth Sciences, along with other science ministries, can indeed transform the entire country in the next 25 years as the entire progress is going to remain heavily technology-dependant, he said, adding, 25 years later, India should be a global leader ranging from defence to economics with strong scientific and technological inputs.”

Lauding the 80-year successful journey of CSIR, he said that it is heartening to see the evolution of the CSIR from developing India’s first indelible ink used in elections to providing Indian Standard Time using atomic clocks today.

From the development of Swaraj Tractor to the recent test flying of HANSA-NG is a testament to the growth of CSIR in the last eight decades, he added.

The legacy of CSIR is built on the cumulative contributions of its many national laboratories and institutes, he said, adding that each laboratory is unique and specialising in diverse areas as genomics to geology, material technology to microbial technology and food to fuel. He also recalled that how the laboratories came together during the Covid pandemic last year and developed several technologies that helped India’s fight against it.

Singh congratulated all the scientists, researchers and students who won the prestigious Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar Prizes and said that the accolades will further motivate the recipients to continue their excellent work and inspire those around them, the release said.

Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government, Professor K VijayRaghavan, CSIR Director General CSIR Shekhar Mande, Head, CSIR-HRDG, Anjan Ray, and senior scientists and officials were present, the release added.

Delhi received over 800 applications for bio-decomposer use: CM

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Delhi received over 800 applications for bio-decomposer use: CM

Lauding the success of the Pusa Institute made bio-decomposer, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that the Delhi government has received 844 applications from farmers for sprinkling the naturally made liquid decomposer.

“Earlier we tried this bio-decomposer on 19.5 acre of land. This time we sampled it on 42 acre farm land. Post its success and third-party audit report by WAPCOS, we have received 844 applications by farmers who want this bio-decomposer to be sprinkled on their farm land. We urge Delhi’s neighbouring states to use this method too, as finally a cure to stubble burning has been found,” Kejriwal said in his address after observing the centralised bio-decomposer system set up to prevent stubble burning in the capital.

The bio-decomposer which was sampled in 2020 will be sprinkled in the fields this October and November — a time when farmers start preparing their land for the Rabi crops and in order to do so, they burn the stubble to get rid of the crop residue.

The final mixture will comprise of a bio-decomposer capsule mixed with chickpea flour (besan) and jaggery (gur). “For every 25 litres of ghol (mixture), 20 bio-decomposer capsules will be used which will get prepared in 12 days,” Dhoom Singh, Extension Officer, Agriculture, told IANS.

As per the WAPCOS – a Union government undertaking – report, 90 per cent of the surveyed farmers said stubble in their farm land decomposed within 15-20 days and their fields were ready for the next season’s crop.

“Organic carbon in their fields increased by 40 per cent after the use of this new bio-decomposer as the crop residue became manure. The amount of nitrogen, too, increased by 24 per cent and good bacteria and fungus increased by 7 per cent and 3 per cent, respectively. Other than that the soil quality was so enhanced that the germination of wheat crop increased by 17-20 per cent,” Kejriwal had told the media while announcing the report results on September 13.

Recently, the Commission for Air Quality Management has said the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh too can use this bio-decomposer.

“The Commission has been informed that Pusa bio-decomposer is planned for application in six lakh acres in UP, one lakh acres in Haryana, 7,413 acres in Punjab and 4,000 acres in Delhi,” the central commission said in a statement.

What Modi wants from Biden, in Year Zero of post-Covid era

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What Modi wants from Biden, in Year Zero of post-Covid era

This is the second piece of a two-column combo-pack, over 48 hours, before the Biden-Modi summit in Washington DC, in the morning of September 24.

Never before in human civilisation (yes, never before in human history) have the entire people of planet Earth stopped together at the same time, locked themselves in self-isolations, and retreated into their homes and caves – for 500 days! Due to the pandemic, and in this period, mindsets, priorities and many common assumptions have been disrupted or are newly forming.

Added to the once in century pandemic, is the sudden realisation of the dark clouds of climate change that are now causing floods, wildfires, droughts, and hurricanes that are destroying our homes and lives, almost every day now, in some or other corner of planet Earth.

The above two factors, plus the unprecedented upheavals in geo-politics, including America’s withdrawal from its 20-year long war in Afghanistan, have created a heady cocktail. The world is undergoing a reset, a reboot. This is ‘Year Zero of post-Covid Yug’.

The first column of this two-column pack, of Thursday, was titled “On eve of Biden-Modi summit; a primer on what Biden needs, wants, and will ask from India”.

This is the second column that looks at the opposite, and other half of the equation, i.e., what does India need, want from the US, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks into the White House to meet US President Joe Biden?

As the two leaders sit down for discussions, over a glass of lemonade, there is much, very much, riding on the outcomes of this meeting today. Once the 50-minute or so meeting is over, initial judgements of PM Modi, and the Indian PM’s advisors, as they get into their cars, and go back to the W, or for a cuppa coffee at DuPont Circle, or to whichever base-camp that the Indian side has established – will shape India policy with respect to the United States for at least the next decade.

So, what will Modi say, push, persuade, cajole, agree, play hardball with Biden – to achieve the objectives, and worldview of India, in India’s core strategic interests? While yes, also being mindful and amenable, and in fact inviting, to what the United States brings to the table?

What India wants could be listed as below:

1. The small matter of sanctions:

* Purchase of S-400 system from Russia. A minor irritant, but most important of all. This has potential to de-rail, or to cause the double-engine train of US-India to change its track altogether. Russia is under sanctions by the US. India is buying this large-ticket missile defence system from Russia. Is India going to face secondary sanctions from America because of this deal? There is talk of a waiver, or some work-around. The matter should be resolved with clarity and amicably.

* US sanctions on Iran – hurting Indian, and US interests, in heart of Asia. India is being hobbled by US sanctions on Iran. The US too is losing big time in this policy approach. Iran is slowly being drawn into the Chinese orbit. It has signed a large oil and gas deal with China, among other inter-linkages which could soon also see the BRI connectivity via Iran, towards Turkey, and Europe. If US sanctions continue on Iran, then India, and the US will lose ability to introduce even an iota of engagement in the heart of Asia, and any access to this entire geography will be lost for the US and India. The US must consider to reduce, eliminate the sanctions on Iran.

Above two are critical to the core interest of India. Especially, the above mentioned #1 must be resolved during the Modi-Biden meeting today.

2. Next, now there are two big picture questions that Modi may want to be clarified by the time the meeting finishes:

* The first, strangely, is the matter of trust. There is no doubt that America has lost some credibility due to its Afghanistan policy, and the recent ruckus over Aukus is another example. How much can, and should India trust the United States? The civil nuclear deal with the US was the milestone that transformed US-India relations to complete new heights. The deal was for energy sure, but more than that it was a deal that was about atoms for peace and trust between the US and India. Both leaders, Biden and Modi, must make every effort to keep adding to this trust bank.

* The second, is fresh vigour for world leadership, world direction, and world peace. How will the US join India, and India join the US, in promoting a new world order that is non-violent, is peaceful, and where individuals, communities, and nations co-exist in some equilibrium, and abide by a mantra and lifestyle of “Live and Let Live”. US and India can together provide real, positive leadership to the world, and launch a new world spirit in Year Zero of Post-Covid Yug.

Promoting peace between and among nations, religions, cultures, ranging from peace in the Korean Peninsula, to the resolution of conflicts in Africa. And, to invite collaboration of a country like Japan – which has a unique history and approach to peace and non-violence, being the only nation and people ever to have faced a nuclear winter.

3. Next, Modi could, and should explore some secret deal with the US:

* Would it not make sense to keep a contingency plan ready? in case Pakistan implodes into strife and chaos, and extremists, extremist groups stand ready to pounce and scramble away with the nuclear stockpiles of Pakistan? Even if having no much expertise, thanks to Google learning, anyone could make dirty bombs that are radioactive.

* In case of a next Galwan by China, what and how will be the US response? It will be prudent to have some scenarios modelled out in advance, so that when, if and next military adventurism comes by China on India’s borders, the advance script between US and India should play out instantly.

The above two, or any other would be secret deals – not disclosed in public domain. Perhaps 30-40 years later, when some archives are de-classified, we may learn that such a deal, or deals were struck in Year Zero of Post Covid Yug, between Modi and Biden.

4. Next, Modi would of course need to address the issue of Afghanistan, and, Pakistan:

* How will the US stop the export of physical terrorists, munitions, and such, from the boundaries of Afghanistan? Does the US have some strategy, say, something like an “Iron Border Ring” around Afghanistan? How and where can India help in any such containment?

* Modi should offer to provide inputs to the “revision of Pakistan policy” that America is undertaking right now, so that the revised American foreign policy is pragmatic with real ability to reduce the Pakistan-risk that faces the world. India will like to be invited to provide such inputs before the US policy is finalized.

5. Next, is the matter of climate change:

* India is taking major steps on climate change. How can the US help India to counter the threats of climate change? India needs investments in these areas – what are the investment vehicles that the US is forming, contributing to, and how much of those monies will come to India?

* How can India and the United States, together give further momentum and global mobilization to mitigate the oncoming dangers of climate change? The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is one important tool in this journey. How will the US contribute further, and more to the ISA?

6. Role of India in QUAD:

* India will like to know what US envisages as India’s role in the QUAD? Modi will want Biden to articulate an effective, strategic role for India in the QUAD. India would have its own views, which Modi would share with Biden, and want to get his concurrence on those.

* How will the US push American companies to re-locate out of China – towards India, for example. Modi will inform Biden of India’s readiness and focus on infrastructure creation so that resilient supply chains can be set up among the QUAD countries – in areas like electronics and semi-conductor chips, pharmaceuticals (special focus on Covid), and green energy, like Hydrogen.

7. Bilateral Trade and Investments:

* There are multiple friction areas in bilateral trade between the US and India. Modi would like the US to be more accommodative to some of India’s concerns, so that he can go back with some concrete resolutions to at least some of the issues that are outstanding.

* Boosting of US private sector investments in India. India understands that the US government, unlike the Chinese government, does not have direct access and control on capital for investments overseas. Modi will like to see that Biden plays a proactive role in promoting the US private sector to go to India.

Of course, the two leaders will not end up discussing each of above item in detail. Their aides would have narrowed down and bubbled up the almost ready talking points, that need a OK from both leaders present, and would have left some 2-3 issues open-ended, on which a Go, or a No-Go decision will be taken by the two leaders in this meeting itself.

Whatever be the Go, or No-Go decisions, there is no doubt that the one “Go” decision that both will agree to, will be to have a glass of lemonade during their discussions. Afterall if life has handed you a lemon, why not make lemonade?

Kamal Haasan asks party cadre to participate in gram sabhas

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Kamal Haasan asks party cadre to participate in gram sabhas

Superstar turned politician Kamal Haasan has called upon his party cadre, Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), to actively participate in gram sabha meetings.

The actor turned politician urged the cadres that the gram sabhas are the basis of democratic process and that they must take part in them. Gram sabha, which was last held in the state on January 26, 2021 will be held on October 2 in all the districts except the nine where elections to rural local bodies are being held.

In a statement addressed to the cadres on Thursday, Kamal Haasan said that they should reiterate the importance of grama sabha meetings to the people and must encourage their participation.

He said that the ruling party and the opposition were trying to make sure that the grama sabhas are not held regularly. The actor, politician also said that the Covid-19 situation was a good excuse for the ruling class to not hold the sabha meetings. He said while election meetings and government swearing-in ceremonies were being held with public participation, the ruling party and the opposition ensured that grama sabhas were not held citing Covid-19 pandemic.

He said that issues like degradation of the environment, Tasmac liquor shops and neglected water bodies must be raised in the grama sabhas.

Haasan said that the resolutions passed in the grama sabha meetings have high values and that the people must participate in large numbers.

He also insisted on the cadres that they must conduct a door to door awareness on the importance of grama sabhas and ensure participation of people in large numbers as the issues that are of importance to the day to day lives can be discussed.

‘We are very happy’: SC on Rs 50K ex gratia to Covid victims’ kin

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‘We are very happy’: SC on Rs 50K ex gratia to Covid victims’ kin

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it is “very happy” with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines for providing Rs 50,000 ex-gratia assistance to the kin of those who succumbed to Covid.

Apprising the top court about the guidelines issued by the NDMA, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said: “To ensure uniformity, we have decided that the states from SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) will give 50,000 to the kin of the deceased who died due to Covid.”

“We cannot repair the loss, but we can do something,” he added.

Mehta also clarified that families of those who took their own lives, within 30 days of being detected Covid positive, will also be eligible for financial help under the Disaster Management Act.

A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and A.S. Bopanna orally said: “We are very happy. This will bring solace to a lot of people…. it will wipe the tears of many”.

It also appreciated the government’s Covid management in the country, and added: “We are happy that something is being done to wipe out tears of the person who suffered. We have to take judicial notice of the fact that what India has done, no other country could do.”

The top court noted that given the size of the population, vaccine expenses, economic situation, and the adverse circumstances, the government took exemplary steps. Mehta said India, as a nation, responded well.

According to NDMA guidelines, Rs 50,000 ex-gratia assistance will be paid to the families of those who died due to Covid-19 by the states from the SDRF.

During the hearing, Mehta emphasised that India, in context of Covid management, has done a much better job than many foreign countries. The bench said it has said this in its order also.

The top court was hearing an application seeking compliance of its June 30 judgment, where directions were issued to the NDMA to frame guidelines to grant compensation to the families of those who died due to Covid, and the Centre was also directed to issue guidelines to simplify the process of issuance of death certificates in Covid cases.

The Centre has filed a compliance affidavit, where it informed the top court about the NDMA guidelines framed to fix the ex-gratia at Rs 50,000 and also, guidelines framed to simplify the process of issuing death certificates. The top court said it will pass an order in the matter on October 4.

The top court’s June 30 judgment came on PILs which were filed by advocates Gaurav Kumar Bansal and Reepak Kansal seeking the court’s intervention for payment of Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia amount to the Covid victims’ families.

Action against graft, BJP to expel more municipal councillors in Delhi

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Action against graft, BJP to expel more municipal councillors in Delhi

Ahead of next year’s municipal polls in the national capital, the BJP has decided to take strict action against its councillors if found guilty of graft charges and indiscipline.

It is learnt that after expelling three municipal councillors from the party, the BJP is all set to expel more in the coming days.

Sources said that the BJP central leadership has directed the Delhi unit to take action against municipal councillors who are found guilty of financial irregularities and leaders who are not toeing the party line.

On September 19, the BJP Delhi unit had expelled three councillors — Rajni Babloo Pandey (New Ashok Nagar), Puja Madan (Mukherjee Nagar) and Sanjay Thakur (Said-ul-Ajaib) from the party for six years for their alleged involvement in financial irregularities. Hours later the same day after her expulsion, Puja Madan joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

A senior BJP functionary said that there were complaints of financial irregularities against some councillors and after internal enquiry some of the allegations were found true.

“There are three to four councillors against whom allegations are found to be true and they will be thrown out of the party in the coming days. We have clear instructions from the Central leadership to not tolerate cases of corruption or financial irregularities,” he said.

BJP Delhi chief Adesh Gupta had told IANS that there will be zero tolerance against corruption and more councillors will face the music for their involvement in corrupt practice.

“In coming weeks, strict action will be taken against more councillors and municipal officials,” Gupta had said.

Another saffron party leader pointed that direction has come from the top, clearly stating that the message should be strong and loud that there is no place for corruption in the BJP.

It is learnt that while taking note of reports of indiscipline, the central leadership has also directed the state unit to take strict action. “No one is bigger than the party and everyone has to follow the party line. Those not following will be shown the door,” a senior party leader said.

Will fight Sidhu’s elevation to Chief Ministership: Amarinder

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Will fight Sidhu’s elevation to Chief Ministership: Amarinder

Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said he would fight Navjot Sidhu’s elevation to Punjab Chief Ministership tooth and nail, and was ready to make any sacrifice to save the country from such a “dangerous man”.

Even as he reiterated his intention to counter any move to make Sidhu the state’s Chief Minister face, Amarinder Singh said he will pit a strong candidate against him in the 2022 Assembly polls to ensure his defeat.

“He (Sidhu) is dangerous for the state,” said the former Chief Minister in a series of media interviews.

Asserting that he will only leave politics on a high, he said: “I was ready to leave after a victory but never after a loss.”

He disclosed that he had offered his resignation to party President Sonia Gandhi three weeks earlier but she had asked him to continue. “If she had just called me and asked me to step down, I would have,” he said, adding that “as a soldier, I know how to do my task and leave once I am called back”.

He said he had even told Sonia Gandhi that he was ready to hang his boots and allow someone else to take over as the Chief Minister after leading the Congress to another sweeping win in Punjab. “But that did not happen, so I will fight,” he asserted, taking strong exception at being subjected to “humiliation” by calling a Congress Legislative Party meeting in a secretive manner, without taking him into confidence.

“I would not have taken MLAs on a flight to Goa or some place. That is not how I operate. I don’t do gimmicks, and the Gandhi siblings know that is not my way,” he said, adding: “Priyanka and Rahul (Gandhi) are like my children… this should not have ended like this. I am hurt.”

He claimed that the Gandhi siblings were “quite inexperienced” and “their advisors were clearly misguiding them”.

Indicating that he was still keeping his political options open, the former Chief Minister said he was talking to his friends before deciding on his future course of action.

“You can be old at 40 and young at 80,” he quipped, making it clear that he did not see his age as a hurdle.

On allegations of inaccessibility, Amarinder Singh said he had been elected to the Vidhan Sabha seven times and twice to the Parliament.

“There must be something right with me,” he remarked, adding that the Congress leadership had evidently decided on making the change (in Punjab) and were trying to make up a case.

Congress demands Vijayan call all-party meeting on jihad row

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Congress demands Vijayan call all-party meeting on jihad row

Almost two weeks after the now controversial statement made by a Catholic bishop on “love and narcotic jihad” in Kerala, and the varied reactions to it, the Congress on Wednesday slammed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for “playing hide and seek” and demanded things are brought under control by calling an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.

Pala Archdiocese’s Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangat, speaking at a function at Marth Mariam Pilgrim Church at Kuruvilangad in Kottayam district on September 9, alleged that non-Muslims in Kerala are subjected to “love and narcotic jihad”, which is the spoiling lives, particularly of young people, by making them addicted to drugs.

Addressing the media here, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan alleged that while the Sangh Parivar forces are waiting for differences between two minority communities to worsen, Vijayan and his CPI-M wants the present discontentment to continue.

“We all heard the statement of state Cooperation Minister V.N. Vasavan saying soon after his meeting with the bishop, that the issue is a closed chapter and with that being the case, Vijayan appears to have reopened the issue…. its here we want Vijayan and the CPI-M to come clean on this issue. He should call a meeting of religious leaders to easily settle the issue… we want to ask what has Vijayan done in this issue,” he said

“It has been so many days and Vijayan is silent. We have made our stand very clear and it is that we will not do anything to disturb the secular credentials of our state and we will never make political capital out of it, while Vijayan is trying his best to make political gains and all what he does is to make statements. Instead of statements, he should ensure things are sorted out amicably. We, the opposition, have created a very good atmosphere for talks and the government if it wished can use that platform. The need of the hour is both the media and political parties have to handle this issue with caution,” he added.

Satheesan also came down heavily on Vijayan for lack of action even after “social media is flush with a baseless campaign to destroy peace”.

“Not a single person has been arrested for this violation… what is the use of Cyber Police then. Vijayan is yet to reply to our letter on this aspect,” he said.

Is Mamata’s Trinamool looking to make political splash in Goa?

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Is Mamata’s Trinamool looking to make political splash in Goa?

Is West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress founder Mamata Banerjee looking to make a political splash in 2022 Goa assembly polls?

Amid reports that the West Bengal-based party’s scouts have reached out to several politicians across party lines ahead of the assembly polls, a former Congress MLA Agnelo Fernandes on Tuesday said that he had received feelers from the TMC over the last few days.

“I have been with the Congress through thick and thin. Feelers have been sent to us, saying Congress wants to take (Ports Minister Michael Lobo) Michael, why are you with the Congress? But I refused to participate in such a conversation,” Fernandes told IANS on Tuesday.

Fernandes and Lobo, a BJP MLA, are political rivals vis a vis the Calangute assembly constituency in North Goa. However, with Lobo repeatedly questioning the leadership of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, speculation is rife about him looking to switch political party in the months leading to the polls.

Reports about the Trinamool Congress’ possible foray in the Goa polls come at a time when a several member-strong team of I-PAC, a political lobbying agency headed by political strategist Prashant Kishor has been in Goa for the last couple of weeks to assess the political ground reality in the poll-bound state.

The team has been meeting politicians, journalists, social activists, businessmen and a cross section of the state’s population.

A section of the local media has mentioned the name of former two-time Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro, as one of the potential targets for Mamata Banerjee’s party. Responding to the reports, Faleiro told IANS: “Lot of people are doing surveys. They are meeting all the leaders”.

If the Trinamool Congress does make a political play in Goa, it would not be its first. The party made its first venture into state politics in the 2012 state assembly polls, when the party’s Goa unit was headed by former Chief Minister Dr Wilfred de Souza.

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