Annual income limit for EWS quota in Telangana fixed at Rs 8L

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Annual income limit for EWS quota in Telangana fixed at Rs 8L

The annual income limit for availing Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota for initial appointments in posts and for admissions into educational institutions in Telangana has been fixed at Rs 8 lakh.

As per the guideline issued by the state government for implementation of 10 per cent reservation to EWS, only those from EWS are eligible who are not covered under the scheme of reservations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes.

The gross annual income limit for availing the EWS reservation is below Rs 8 lakh. The income shall also include income from all sources that is salary, agriculture, business, profession, etc., for the financial year prior to the year of application.

The guidelines stipulate that 33.3 per cent of the initial appointments in posts and services under the state government earmarked for EWS category would be allocated to women among them. The maximum age for direct recruitment to a post would be raised by 5 years for EWS candidates on par with SC, ST and BC candidates.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar on Tuesday issued the Government Order (GO) with consolidated guidelines for implementation of the EWS quota.

It was on January 21 this year that the Telangana government decided to implement the 10 per cent reservation to EWS in the state.

The Centre in 2019 had announced a 10 per cent quota for EWS in higher educational institutions including private institutions and initial appointments in services under the state.

The state government issued guidelines at a time when it is gearing up to fill 50,000 vacancies in various departments and admissions are set to begin in professional courses including engineering, agriculture, pharmacy, MBA, MCA and LLB.

According to the GO, the General Administration Department and Education Department will separately issue necessary amendments to rules and guidelines following the criteria and guidelines prescribed by the Government of India.

The benefit of reservation under EWS can be availed upon production of an Income Certificate issued by a Tehsildar. The office who issues the certificate would do the same after carefully verifying all relevant documents following due process, reads the GO.

Where in any recruitment year any vacancy earmarked for EWS cannot be filled up due to non-availability of a suitable candidate belonging to EWS, such vacancies for that particular recruitment year shall not be carried forward to the next recruitment year as backlog, it said.

EWS candidates would get exemption from exam fees on par with SC/ST/BC candidates in respect of direct recruitments.

The government has directed all higher educational institutions in the state to increase the number of seats in each branch of study or faculty to admit EWS candidates for all admission notifications issued hereafter.

With 10 per cent reservation to EWS, the overall quota for various categories in the state has gone up to 60 per cent.

Telangana legislature in 2017 had already passed a Bill enhancing Reservation for Muslims from four per cent to 12 per cent and for Scheduled Tribes (STs) from six per cent to 10 per cent.

The state had requested the Centre to amend the Constitution to relax the 50 per cent upper limit for quota to all sections as prescribed by the Supreme Court. The Centre has still not responded to the request.

Demand to ‘replace’ Punjab CM gains momentum within Cong again

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Demand to ‘replace’ Punjab CM gains momentum within Cong again

The demand to ‘replace’ Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh just months ahead of the Assembly polls once again gained momentum with Congress’ 34 ‘sulking’ legislators, comprising four Cabinet ministers, on Tuesday decided to apprise the high command over the widespread dissidence among the party ranks.

They were categorically clear in saying after the closed door meeting that it was high time for the party to opt for a change of the guard ahead of the polls.

“Changing the CM is the prerogative of the party high command. But we have lost faith in him,” Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi told the media here.

He said the legislators unanimously authorised a five-member committee to apprise the party President Sonia Gandhi at the earliest about the dissent of the party workers over non-fulfillment of poll promises by the government.

The five-member committee are Cabinet ministers Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who backed state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu in the recent power struggle, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Channi and Pargat Singh, considered close to Sidhu.

Channi slammed the Chief Minister and his aides over unfulfilled poll promises, particularly the delay in action in the 2015 sacrilege and police firing cases.

He said the panel would seek time from the Congress high command to listen to grievances of legislators and ministers, otherwise it will be difficult for the party to get a repeat in Punjab.

He said the MLAs have raised a number of issues, including the existence of sand, drug, cable and transport mafias.

Moreover, the issue of sacrileges and subsequent police firing cases has not only annoyed the party cadres, but also hurt the religious sentiments of the common man. Also the government has failed to deliver the promised action against drug dealers, they said.

Joining the chorus, Randhawa said they have the best portfolios with them. “But we are not bothered over losing the portfolios. Our concern is that the poll promises like justice in Bargari and scrapping the faulty power purchase agreements have not been fulfilled so far.”

Interestingly, the bickering within the party came to fore just a day ahead of state affairs in-charge Harish Rawat’s visit to Chandigarh over the growing ‘war of words’ between Amarinder Singh and state president Sidhu.

Yogi govt to compensate animal loss, tool loss

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Yogi govt to compensate animal loss, tool loss

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh will provide financial assistance up to Rs 30,000 to animal owners, who have faced losses in natural calamities like floods.

The state government will also provide Rs 4,100 to craftsmen as a compensation in case of loss of tools.

According to a government spokesman, if any animal dies in a disaster, the government will provide financial assistance to the cattle-owners at the rate of up to Rs 30,000 per animal.

An amount of Rs 3,000 will be given to the animal owner on the death of small milch animals (goat, sheep or pig), Rs 25,000 for non-milk animals (camel, horse, bull) and Rs 16,000 for animals like cows and buffaloes.

Poultry has also been included in this provision. Poultry farmers will be provided assistance of Rs 50 per poultry.

These provisions are not only for floods but also for calamities including cloudbursts, fire, drought, cyclones, unseasonal heavy rain, thunderstorm, lightning strike, etc.

If the tools of any artisan are damaged in the disaster, then the government will be giving the financial assistance to buy the tools again. In case of loss of tools, an amount of Rs 4,100 per craftsman will be provided.

State ensured adequate oxygen supply: Haryana CM

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State ensured adequate oxygen supply: Haryana CM

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday informed the Assembly that the state ensured adequate oxygen supply amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said a committee would be formed to investigate complaints against hospitals for negligence in giving treatment during the pandemic. Strict action will be taken against such hospitals.

Replying to an issue raised by the opposition Congress during Zero Hour, Khattar said about 13,000 people succumbed due to the coronavirus in the state. Of these, about 9,500 were residents of the state, while about 3,500 were patients from other states.

There are about 4,000 private hospitals in the state and sufficient oxygen was supplied to very hospital. Oxygen was also supplied from a nearby city, if needed, the Chief Minister said.

He said in some hospitals of Hisar, Rewari and Gurugram districts, irregularities were reported and a magisterial inquiry was conducted for all complaints. In two reports pertaining to Rewari and Gurugram hospitals, no death was reported due to lack of oxygen.

In an investigation of negligence in Soni Burn Hospital in Hisar, the report has been sent to the Superintendent of Police for necessary action.

In the hospital, the consumption of oxygen had reached 80 cylinders per day while the number of cylinders available with the hospital was 20.

The Chief Minister said during the peak of the second wave it was noticed that some hospitals admitted more patients than the capacity.

Chhattisgarh CM, Minister to meet Rahul amid reports of rift

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Chhattisgarh CM, Minister to meet Rahul amid reports of rift

Amid reports of infighting in Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and state Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo will meet former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday in the national capital, a party leader said.

According to the Congress leader, Baghel and Deo will meet Rahul Gandhi at his residence on Tuesday and will discuss several issues. The two state leaders will also meet Chhattisgarh in-charge P.L. Punia and others. The meeting assumes significance following the exit of the Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev from the party recently. The Congress has earlier faced similar situation in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and some northeastern states.

There were several reports of differences between Baghel and Deo, with the latter lobbying hard for months to replace Chief Minister Baghel. On July 27, Deo walked out of the Assembly saying “it is too much” after the opposition created an uproar demanding a House panel probe into Congress MLA Brihaspat Singh’s charge that the Minister was behind an attack on him.

Deo and Baghel have been making several trips to the national capital. Deo, for the record, maintains that “Sonia Gandhiji and Rahul Gandhiji will decide.” Following his visit, Baghel also rushed to the national capital in July this year.

During his Delhi visit, Baghel said he would abide by the decision of the leadership and returned to Raipur in the same plane with Deo.

After the 2018 Assembly elections, names of Baghel, Deo, Charan Das Mahant and Tamradhwaj Sahu were doing rounds for the post of the chief minister in the state. However, Baghel emerged as the winner after having several meetings with the Congress top leadership.

There also have been reports that Congress had adopted CM post-sharing formula to accommodate Baghel and Deo. The Congress has completed two and half years in the state in June this year.

T’gana releases Rs 500 crore more for ‘Dalit Bandhu’ scheme

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T’gana releases Rs 500 crore more for ‘Dalit Bandhu’ scheme

The Telangana government on Monday released the second instalment of Rs 500 crore for implementation of its ambitious ‘Telangana Dalit Bandhu’ scheme on pilot basis in Huzurabad Assembly constituency, where by-elections are due to be held.

A week after launch of the welfare scheme by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, also known as KCR, at a public meeting in the constituency, the state government issued orders releasing the funds.

Rao has directed the officials to release Rs 2,000 crore for the pilot project in the constituency. While the first instalment of Rs 500 crore was released on August 6, another Rs 500 crore was released on Monday.

According to Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), another Rs 1,000 crore will be released for the pilot project of the scheme in next one week.

Under ‘Dalit Bandhu’ scheme which is a creation of the Telangana Chief Minister, every Dalit family will get Rs 10 lakh as grant and will be free to choose their profession, self-employment or businesses for utilising the funds.

Addressing a public meeting at Shalapaly in Huzurabad constituency to launch the scheme, KCR had announced that his government will disburse more than Rs 2,000 crore to 21,000 Dalit families in Huzurabad in next two months.

He said the scheme will be implemented for all Scheduled Caste (SC) families in a saturation mode.

Earlier on August 5, the Telangana government had released Rs 7.60 crore to extend the financial assistance to 76 Dalit families in Vasalamarri, a village adopted by the Chief Minister in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district.

While addressing the public meeting in Huzurabad, Rao declared that all 17 lakh Dalit families will be benefited from the scheme. The total population of Dalits in the state is 75 lakh.

KCR said if ‘Dalit Bandhu’ scheme is implemented for all 17 lakh SC families in the state, it will cost the state government Rs 1.7 lakh crore. The state government will allocate Rs 30,000 crore to Rs 40,000 crore in the budget every year for three to four years, KCR added.

He said the most deprived among the SC families will receive the financial assistance.

However, the launch of the pilot project from Huzurabad constituency has come under criticism from the opposition parties and some NGOs, who alleged that the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is trying to lure Dalit voters.

Huzurabad seat fell vacant following the resignation of former Minister Eatala Rajender, who was dropped from the state cabinet by KCR.

Rajender joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and is preparing to contest the Huzurabad bypoll as the saffron party candidate.

Lessons on Vijayanagar should be part of school syllabus: Naidu

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Lessons on Vijayanagar should be part of school syllabus: Naidu

Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said the school syllabus for children must include lessons on the entire history of the Vijayanagar kingdom in the country.

Speaking to the media during his visit to the world heritage site Hampi on Saturday with his family members, Naidu said the Vijayanagar kingdom encouraged world-class craftsmen and poets. There were ample opportunities for new talent to emerge at that time. “This history should be taught to students, that’s what I feel,” he added.

The Vice-President was accorded a traditional welcome by the Virupaksha temple authorities. Lakshmi, the temple elephant, welcomed him by garlanding him and his family members.

Venkaiah Naidu performed special ‘pujas’ in Virupaksheshwara, Parvathi and Bhuvaneshwari temples in Hampi. Vidyaranya Bharateeshwara, Seer of Hampi Vidyaranya Peeth, was also present during the visit. The Vice-President also visited Pampambike and Bhuvaneshwari temples in Hampi.

Naidu appreciated the art and craft of Hampi. After attending the scheduled programmes, he will travel to Hubli on Sunday morning.

Developing ‘Aerospace Hub’ need of the hour, says Naidu

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Developing ‘Aerospace Hub’ need of the hour, says Naidu

Creating a synergy between academia and industry for developing an ‘Aerospace Hub’ is the need of the hour to promote innovation and address the issue of skills shortage in this key sector, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Friday.

Addressing scientists and engineers of Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) at the HAL complex in Bengaluru, the Vice President said, “The Indian aerospace and defence market is projected to reach $ 70 billion dollars by 2030, driven by the government’s thrust on the modernization of our armed forces.”

“It is also true that the innovation process in the aerospace industry involves high levels of risk and large investments over long periods. This process can be further accelerated through active collaboration between the industry and researchers,” he asserted.

“…India has no dearth of talent. What is required is early identification and proper grooming of this talent. You should ensure that the best and brightest minds in the country join R&D in the aerospace and defence sectors,” he said.

He stated that another aspect that requires the attention of policy planners is the need to involve private partners in defence projects for “fruitful” results.

“We will have to depend on strategic partnerships, technology sharing and teamwork to ensure that we build competitive products, which are comparable with the best from across the globe,” Naidu added.

Praising the involvement of nearly 500 Indian companies including MSMEs with HAL in the production of 83 Tejas fighter jets, he said that the initiative would not only bring cost-effectiveness but also help in meeting the production timeline.

Naidu added that such big-ticket collaborative programs have the potential to transform the Indian aerospace manufacturing ecosystem into a vibrant Atmanirbhar self-sustaining one.

“HAL is taking a lead in this and I congratulate you all for that,” he said.

The Vice President said that during this visit to the LCA Tejas manufacturing facility, he was elated to see the “beautiful aircraft” — the result of years of focused hard work of scientists and engineers at ADA and HAL.

“I am confident that this state-of-the-art modern 4+ generation fighter aircraft would be a potent platform to meet the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force,” he stated.

Naidu also talked about “more potent” aircraft like the LCA Mk2 and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) for the Indian Air Force and Twin-Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) for the Indian Navy, being developed by ADA along with HAL.

“Important core technologies for these aircraft are being developed by DRDO laboratories and other scientific institutions throughout the country. With the development of these aircraft, by the next decade, I am confident the country would no longer have to be dependent on foreign nations to meet its fighter aircraft needs,” he asserted.

Rahul pays floral tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on his 77th birth anniversary

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Rahul pays floral tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on his 77th birth anniversary

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday paid floral tribute to his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 77th birth anniversary.

After paying tributes at Veer Bhumi here, he wrote in a Facebook post: “A secular India alone is an India that can survive. Remembering Rajiv Gandhi ji on his birth anniversary.”

Rajiv Gandhi was born on August 20 in 1944, and was India’s sixth Prime Minister. He took office after the assassination of his mother and then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, in 1984.

Born to Feroz and Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister was assassinated on May 21, 1991, during a public rally in Tamil Nadu’s Sriperumbudur near Chennai.

He was posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian award — Bharat Ratna.

His birth anniversary is celebrated as Sadbhanwna Diwas.

Yogi to reach Delhi to discuss poll strategy with Nadda, Shah

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Yogi to reach Delhi to discuss poll strategy with Nadda, Shah

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to reach national capital on Thursday evening to meet BJP central leadership.

Sources said that the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister is likely to meet BJP chief J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss party’s poll preparedness in the state. It is learnt that Uttar Pradesh BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh and state unit general secretary Sunil Bansal have reached the national capital.

Sources said that BJP poll preparedness for next year’s assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh will be the main agenda of the meeting.

“Chief Minister Adityanath is likely to discuss poll preparation and upcoming programs till the election with Nadda and Shah,” sources said.

It is also learnt that public response to the ongoing ‘Jan Ashirvad Yatra’ will also be discussed.

Newly inducted ministers of the union cabinet are seeking blessings from people during ‘Jan Ashirvad Yatra’. And with an eye on next year’s assembly polls, seven ministers from Uttar Pradesh are inducted in the union cabinet. Of the newly inducted ministers from UP, except Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal all are from the BJP.

“Public response collected during the Yatra of union ministers in the state will be discussed to understand the situation on the ground. During the yatra, ministers interacted with people and collected their feedback,” a party leader said.

During the course of yatra union ministers have visited places of religious importance, addressed public meetings, oversaw the implementation of centrally sponsored programmes and vaccination drives, and they have interacted with people.

This is the third visit of Yogi Adityanath to Delhi since June. Amid speculation of a change of guard in Uttar Pradesh, Adityanath visited the national capital for two days and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nadda and Shah. Last month during the monsoon session of parliament, he was present in the Nadda meeting with MPs from the state.

Will push Centre for metro rail project in Coimbatore: Stalin

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Will push Centre for metro rail project in Coimbatore: Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday told the Assembly that his government will urge the Centre to sanction funds for metro rail project for Coimbatore.

Responding to BJP member Vanathi Srinivasan who had said that it was painful to hear the state government will implement the metro rail scheme in Coimbatore in consultation with the Centre, he noted that all metro rail projects can be implemented only with financial assistance of the Central government.

He said the state government has received information that the Centre has sanctioned the second phase of the Chennai Metro Rail project.

Stalin said the government has also announced metro rail for Madurai and will urge the centre for the project in Coimbatore as well.

Sharmila undertakes fast over unemployment

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Sharmila undertakes fast over unemployment

YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) leader Y. S. Sharmila on Tuesday undertook her weekly fast over the issue of unemployment in Telangana’s Mahabubabd district.

She visited Somla tanda in Guduru mandal and consoled the family members of B. Sunil Naik, an unemployed youth who committed suicide a year ago.

The sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy spent about an hour at Naik’s house and spoke to his parents and other family members. She also provided financial assistance to the family and promised to stand by them.

Sharmila later sat on day-long fast at the Gundenga village to show solidarity with the unemployed and to demand the state government to fill all the vacancies in the government departments.

After launching YSRTP last month, the daughter of late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has been observing every Tuesday as ‘unemployment day’. After calling on the family of the unemployed who committed suicide, she is sitting on fast.

Meanwhile, Sharmila has appealed to the unemployed youth not to commit suicides. She tweeted that she is fighting on their behalf.

The YSRTP leader told the unemployed that their sister (Sharmila) is undertaking fast in support of their demands. She urged them not to lose heart and vowed to pressurise Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to issue job notification.

Reacting to the suicide of Y. Nagesh (24) in Jayashankar Bhoopalapally district two days ago, she tweeted that another brother has become victim of KCR’s recruitment game. She alleged that with ambiguous promises on jobs, the government is killing a student every day.

Sharmila wrote that the unemployed who were waiting for CM KCR to give a clarity about recruitments in his August 15 speech were disappointed. “How many more people have to die before you issue the job notification,” she asked.

Sharmila earlier demanded the government take immediate steps to fill 1.90 lakh vacancies in various government departments. She said the government needs to recruit over 3 lakh people to fill the vacancies and the posts created with the formation of new districts.

She said 54 lakh unemployed have submitted applications for jobs to Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC).

Bypoll for Rajya Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu on Sept 13

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Bypoll for Rajya Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu on Sept 13

The Election Commission of India will conduct the bypoll for one of the three vacant Rajya Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu on September 13.

The polling will take place for the seat that fell vacant after the demise of AIADMK’s Rajya Sabha member A. Mohammedjan on March 23.

The poll panel said in a press release that August 31 will be the last date for filing nominations, which will be subjected to scrutiny on September 1. The notification will be issued on August 24, while polling will be conducted from 9 am to 4 pm on September 13. The votes will be counted at 5 pm on the same day.

The entire election process would be conducted following strict Covid protocols, the poll panel said. For this, the ECI has directed the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu to depute a senior officer to ensure that the instructions regarding containment measures are taken into account during the election process.

Mohammedjan had died of heart attack on March 23 at Ranipet just before the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. The 73-year-old Rajya Sabha member represented the Ranipet constituency from 2011-16. He was also the Minister for Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare for a brief period.

With numbers on their side, the ruling DMK could win the seat unopposed.

Jagan distributes Vidya Kanuka kits as schools reopen

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Jagan distributes Vidya Kanuka kits as schools reopen

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday distributed Jagananna Vidya Kanuka kits to students for the second consecutive year as schools reopened and dedicated the first phase of Mana Badi Nadu – Nedu works to students.

“Schools are being reopened after a long break due to Covid, even organisations like ICMR and WHO suggested that schools should be reopened for the future of students,” said Reddy.

He said all the schools will be functional strictly following Coronavirus protocol where the Covid positivity rate is less than 10 per cent.

The CM said that all the teachers have been vaccinated and were instructed to limit only 20 students per classroom.

Under Jagananna Vidya Kanuka scheme, the state government spent Rs 731 crore, doling out education kits to more than 47 lakh students.

“The kit comprises three pairs of uniform, bilingual textbooks, workbooks, notebooks, stationery and shoes. This year, an Oxford dictionary has been included and students up to class 5 will be receiving a dictionary with pictures,” said an official.

In two years, Andhra Pradesh spent Rs 1,380 crore on vidya kanuka scheme.

Under the first phase of Nadu – Nedu scheme, 15,715 government schools were modernized with Rs 3,669 crore and in the second phase of Nadu – Nedu, 16,368 more educational institutions were renovated at a cost of Rs 4,535 crore.

The state government took up this project to renovate over 56,000 schools at an expenditure of Rs 16,000 crore.

“Under Nadu-Nedu, 10 changes were brought to the schools, refurbishing with new furniture, drinking water with Ph balance, clean toilets, colorful paints, compound walls, other minor repairs, green boards, fans, tube lights, English labs and kitchen sheds to prepare meals for the students,” he said.

Centre promises 1.10 cr vaccine doses to Kerala

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Centre promises 1.10 cr vaccine doses to Kerala

Visiting Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya who held a closed door meeting with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his team of health experts here on Monday, has promised to supply around 1.10 crore vaccine doses to the state before the end of next month.

Vijayan raised the issue of vaccine shortage being faced by the state and wished to get over a crore of doses in phases before the end of September and to this, Mandaviya promised that they will do the needful.

According to sources in the know of things, Mandaviya expressed happiness in the way Kerala has been managing vaccines without any wastage.

He also appreciated the way Kerala has been able to keep the death rate very low.

In his tweet Mandaviya said that he had an intensive meeting with Vijayan and State Health Minister Veena George and other state officials.

“Central Govt allocates Rs 267.35 crore to Kerala under Emergency COVID Response Package II. It will strengthen state’s health infrastructure & effectively manage Covid-19. Additionally, Rs 1 crore will be made available to each district of Kerala for creating medicine pool”.

Union Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan pointed out that the need of the hour for Kerala is to maintain more caution as the festival season of Onam is round the corner. He also said that contact tracing in the state has to be effectively strengthened.

Mandaviya arrived in the state around noon and after the meeting with Vijayan, paid a visit to the state run Medical College hospital, here and is scheduled to return to Delhi later in the night.

BJD to field 27% OBC candidates in all elections

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BJD to field 27% OBC candidates in all elections

Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday announced that it is going to field at least 27 per cent OBC candidates in the upcoming panchayat polls and other subsequent elections in the state.

Senior BJD leaders and state ministers Arun Sahoo and Ranendra Pratap Swain announced the Naveen Patnaik-led party’s decision at a press conference here.

“Our President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has taken the decision to field at least 27 per cent candidates belonging to the other backward classes (OBC) in the upcoming three-tier panchayat polls and other elections in the state,” said Sahoo.

The BJD has taken this political decision due to the 50 per cent cap directive by the Supreme Court and as there hasn’t been any central law to determine reservations, he added.

Swain said the the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2008 has provision for reservation of posts and services for OBCs, but the quota has not been implemented as courts have given directives to provide reservation as per their population ratio, he said.

As the Census is not on the basis of caste yet, it makes it difficult for the government to arrive at an accurate percentage of OBC population in the state, the minister added.

Sahoo also took a dig at the Opposition BJP and Congress parties and asked those to follow suit, if they really care for this neglected population.

Reacting to the BJD’s move, senior BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan said: “If the BJD really wants to respect OBC reservation, the state government should first announce reservation for them in education and employment. Roping in OBC candidates for election is an internal affair of the BJD.”

Two days ago, a delegation of BJD MPs had recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and demanded a Central law that removes the 50 per cent cap on reservations as fixed by the Supreme Court.

At present, only 11.25 per cent reservation is being given to the OBC category people in the education and employment sectors in the state.

AIADMK walks out of TN Assembly

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AIADMK walks out of TN Assembly

The principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK on Friday walked out of the Assembly in protest against the Speaker Appavu’s refusal to allow them to speak.

Ahead of Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan’s presentation of the DMK government’s first Budget, Leader of the Opposition K. Palaniswami stood up and started speaking.

The Speaker Appavu refused permission to Palaniswami, saying that the latter can speak on Monday as the Budget will have to be presented first.

Appavu then asked Rajan to present the state’s first paperless electronic Budget.

In protest, the AIADMK members walked out of the House.

Blocking my Twitter account is interference in political process: Rahul Gandhi

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Blocking my Twitter account is interference in political process: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi on Friday released a video statement slamming Twitter for blocking his account and alleged that Twitter was taking sides in the politics of the country.

Rahul in the video statement said, “By shutting down my Twitter they are interfering in our political process

“A company is making its business to define our politics. And as a politician I don’t like that. This is an attack on the democratic structure of the country. This is not an attack on Rahul Gandhi.”

He said that he has 19-20 million followers and they have been denied the right to an opinion.

“So, this is not only patently unfair, this is their breaching the idea that Twitter is a neutral platform. And for the investors this is a very dangerous thing because taking sides in the political contest has repercussions for Twitter,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the democracy is under attack, opposition was not being allowed to speak in Parliament. The media is controlled.

“And I thought there was a ray of light where we could put what we thought on Twitter. But obviously, that’s not the case. It’s obvious now that Twitter is actually not a neutral, objective platform. It is a biased platform. It’s something that listens to what the government of the day says,” he added,

“As Indians, we have to ask the question: Are we going to allow companies just because they are beholden to the Government of India to define our politics for us? Is that what this is going to come to? Or are we going to define our politics on our own? That’s the real question here.” Rahul Gandhi said.

Twitter has blocked accounts of Rahul Gandhi and many Congress leaders for violating their policy. The Congress has alleged that it was being done on the behest of the government.

BJP government in cahoots with Twitter: Priyanka Gandhi

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BJP government in cahoots with Twitter: Priyanka Gandhi

A war of words erupted between the Congress and Twitter India on Thursday, after the micro-blogging platform reportedly blocked the partys official handle along with the accounts of scores of senior Congress leaders, days after it blocked ex-Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for posting an image of the parents of a minor girl who was allegedly raped and murdered in the national capital recently.

Reacting to Twitter’s action, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged, “While the BJP government in cahoots with Twitter lock down the voices that cry for justice, let’s not forget the real issue.

“The real issue is the brutal rape and forced cremation of a 9-year-old Dalit girl in the heart of India’s national capital.”

“The real issue is the Delhi Police disallowing the lodging of an FIR for 15 hours. @narendramodi why have you not uttered a single word about this heinous crime against an innocent child?” she added.

Earlier, the Congress accused Twitter of locking the accounts of Rahul Gandhi, Randeep Surjewala, Ajay Maken, K.C. Venugopal, Manickam Tagore and many other party leaders, along with seven Congress handles.

Rahul leads oppn march against govt, says ‘murder of democracy’

TB Team
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Rahul leads oppn march against govt, says ‘murder of democracy’

Members of Parliament and leaders of various opposition parties took out march from Parliament to Vijay Chowk on Thursday to protest against the curtailment of the monsoon session.

The MPs held banners and placards calling to withdraw farm laws and “murder of democracy” were written.

Leading the protest, Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi alleged, “We have to come out here to speak to the press as we in Opposition are not allowed to speak in the Parliament. This is a murder of democracy.”

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the voice of 60 per cent of the country has been crushed, humiliated and yesterday in the Rajya Sabha, they (women MPs) were physically beaten. Parliament session is over, but as far as 60 per cent of the country is concerned, there has been no Parliament session.

The opposition leaders demanded that farm laws should be withdrawn immediately and said they were opposing the curtailment of the monsoon session which was scheduled till Friday.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, “The opposition did not get a chance to present their views in the house and the incident against women MPs yesterday was against democracy as it felt like we (opposition) were standing at the Pakistan border.”

Opposition leaders are likely to meet the Chairman of the house to complain about Wednesday’s incidents. Ahead of the march, the opposition MPs held a meeting in Parliament.

The Parliament was adjourned sine die on Wednesday but the opposition alleged that when they were opposing the Insurance Bill in the House, the women MPs were manhandled by male marshals.

Congress MP Chhaya Verma, who is the Congress Whip said, “I was pushed by male marshals and subsequently I fell on Phulo Devi Netam who fell on the floor in the House while I was trying to make way.”

NCP chief Sharad Pawar had said, “In my entire parliamentary career, I never saw the way the women MPs were attacked today in the Upper House. More than 40 men and women were brought into the House from outside. It is very sad and painful, its an attack on democracy.”

Congress Chief Whip Jairam Ramesh said, “Insurance Amendment Bill to privatise GIC was passed in RS with a large force of security personnel present. The Govt refused to send it to a Select Committee, a demand by all Opposition parties including those close to the BJP. What happened this evening was worse than atrocious.”

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