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’

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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.”

Rahul Gandhi prays at Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in Kashmir

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Rahul Gandhi prays at Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in Kashmir

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday paid obeisance at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

Rahul reached the Tullamulla town in Ganderbal district Tuesday morning and offered prayers inside the Mata Kheer Bhawani complex.

Authorities had made elaborate security arrangements during Rahul’s visit to the temple.

Traffic was allowed only one-way during the visit of the Congress leader on the Srinagar-Ganderbal road to ensure that Rahul’s cavalcade moved smoothly on the 22 km long one-way stretch to Tullamulla town.

Rahul arrived here on Monday on a two-day visit. He was in Srinagar to attend Ghulam Ahmad Mir’s son’s wedding. Mir is the president of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee.

This is Rahul Gandhi’s first visit to the Valley since the Centre abrogated Article 370.

K’taka CM Bommai to seek BJP high command’s help to counter dissident voices

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K’taka CM Bommai to seek BJP high command’s help to counter dissident voices

As all efforts to assuage the disgruntled leaders upset over the cabinet portfolio allocation seems to be failing, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is preparing to visit New Delhi to find a solution to quell the dissidence in the party.

Bommai has already announced that he would be making a Delhi trip over the issue of Mekedatu in the coming week. The party insiders said that meeting party high command over rising dissidence is also one among the top agendas of Bommai’s Delhi trip.

He is going to convey the message that it is not possible to quell the dissidence at the state level and party high command should intervene, they added.

Bommai already held a first round of talks with MTB Nagaraj, the minister for Municipal Administration who has been venting out in public that he did not get what he wished for. “I have been demoted by the BJP government. If nothing changes, I will take my call,” he stated.

MTB Nagaraj resigned as a cabinet minister from the Congress-JD (S) coalition government to join the BJP.

Anand Singh, a three-time MLA from Vijayanagar, has made his displeasure public as soon as he was allocated the Tourism portfolio. Party sources said he is simmering with discontent and even contemplating resigning. “I was the first one to resign from the Assembly to bring the BJP to power. Eight days later everyone followed. Is there no contribution from me to the party,” he questioned.

MTB Nagaraj is the richest man in the cabinet and Anand Singh is also quite resourceful, Bommai is trying hard to convince them but they seem to be not relenting, say sources.

In another development, prominent Backward Class leader B. Sriramulu ironically stated that he is neither satisfied nor disappointed with the allocation of cabinet berth. Sriramulu’s supporters staged a protest in Ballary alleging that their leader was snubbed by the party.

Senior party leader from Mysuru A. Ramdas did not turn out to welcome Bommai, when he took charge as the Chief Minister. Sources in the party confirmed that even as Bommai tried to get in touch, Ramdas has avoided it.

Senior BJP leader Apachu Ranjan’s followers are planning a car rally from Madikeri to Bengaluru to protest against the non-inclusion of their leader into the cabinet.

Meanwhile, former minister C.P. Yogeshwar has camped in New Delhi to meet top leaders over the issue of non allocation of cabinet berth. He is expected to stay in Delhi for two days. If the high command hears him out, then all other disgruntled elements would parade to New Delhi, party sources said.

In another important development, powerful BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was dropped from the cabinet following the sex-cd case when B.S. Yediyurappa was the Chief Minister, had been meeting former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar. Shettar declined a cabinet berth as he called Bommai his junior.

BJP MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi, brother of Ramesh Jarkiholi has been trying to arrange a meeting of former minister C.P. Yogeshwar, Chief Minister aspirants Aravind Bellad, Basavanagouda Patil Yatnal, former minister Sreemanth Patil and MLA Mahesh Kumatalli. Party sources also said that Balachandra Jarkiholi is in touch with Yediyurappa’s son B.Y. Vijayendra.

State intelligence has briefed about all these developments to Bommai. Party sources explained that he has decided to deal with the situation without giving any room for further developments. Sources further stated that Bommai would discuss counter strategy to deal with the existing situation, including reallocation of ministries.

Telangana releases Rs 500 cr for ‘Dalit Bandhu’ in Huzurabad

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Telangana releases Rs 500 cr for ‘Dalit Bandhu’ in Huzurabad

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

Unfazed by the criticism from the opposition and some NGOs, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government is going ahead with the implementation of the scheme on pilot basis in Huzurabad.

The Government Order (GO), issued by the Scheduled Castes Development Department, permitted the Telangana Scheduled Castes Co-Operative Development Corporation (TSCCDC) to release Rs 500 crore to Karimnagar District Collector for implementation of the scheme on a pilot basis in saturation mode.

Acting on the GO, the TSCCDC Managing Director released the money to the Collector.

The state cabinet last month decided to implement the scheme on a pilot basis in Huzurabad from August 16.

The government said that Dalit Bandhu scheme is aimed at providing financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to each of the identified Dalit families and to promote entrepreneurship among them.

Under the first phase, 100 families from each of the 119 Assembly constituencies will be identified. The government has announced allocation of Rs 1,200 crore for the scheme.

However, the government rolled out the scheme from Alair constituency on August 5 with the release of Rs 7.60 crore to extend the financial assistance to 76 Dalit families in Vasalamarri village of Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district.

A day after Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao visited his adopted village and interacted with Dalit families, the government had issued an order for implementation of the scheme.

The Chief Minister during his visit to the village had announced that Rs 10 lakh will be deposited in the bank account of each beneficiary family from August 6. He said the beneficiaries would be free to spend the money the way they want but advised them to use it to create source of revenue.

Huzurabad seat became vacant last month with the resignation of former minister Eatala Rajender. He also quit the TRS to join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Rajender’s resignation from the TRS and the Assembly came after he was dropped from the Cabinet by KCR following allegations of land encroachment.

The opposition parties have termed the ‘Dalit Bandhu’ scheme a political stunt. NGO Forum for Good Governance urged the Election Commission to stop its implementation in Huzurabad saying it was clearly aimed to lure the voters. Some activists have also moved the high court challenging the implementation of pilot project in Huzurabad.

Odisha to build 89 indoor stadiums with investment of Rs 693.35 cr

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Odisha to build 89 indoor stadiums with investment of Rs 693.35 cr

With the aim to strengthen sports infrastructure in the state, the Odisha government on Monday announced that it will construct 89 multipurpose indoor stadiums in different urban areas across the state with an investment of Rs 693.35 crore.

The state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved the proposal on Monday evening.

The 89 multipurpose indoor stadiums under the ‘urban sports infrastructure development project’ will be completed over the next 18 months. This will provide a major boost to the development of sports in the state, said sports and youth services minister Tusharkanti Behera.

These projects will be taken up in 85 urban local bodies (ULBs) areas including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Rourkela under the 5T Initiative to transform the sports field in Odisha, he said.

The state government has been focusing on development of sports in Odisha. In recent years, the state has been recognised as a leading destination for sports events and promotion of sports, Behera said.

“Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) areas act as main centres for the sports related activities including coaching. The project is proposed for ensuring provision of quality sports infrastructure across ULBs of the state,” he added.

The stadiums will have facilities for playing Badminton, Table Tennis, Yoga, Gymnasium, etc. The indoor hall space can be utilised for most of the indoor games and can be converted as per the local popularity of various indoor sports.

The stadiums to be named Biju Patnaik Indoor Stadium will come up at three municipal corporations (Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Rourkela), 30 municipalities and 52 NACs.

The state government will spend Rs 10.15 crore for construction of each stadium at municipal corporation towns and municipalities while Rs 6.40 crore will be spent for building one such stadium in NAC.

The indoor stadiums are also designed to withstand 200 kmph wind speed. They can be utilised as community shelters during disasters like cyclones, floods etc. In times of pandemics, the stadium can be converted into a 50-bed (NAC model) or 100-bed (municipality model) field hospital, the minister said.

5 held for slogans against Modi-Yogi

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5 held for slogans against Modi-Yogi

The Varanasi police have detained five persons for writing slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the walls of the Sigra police station.

The five suspects have been detained on basis of the footage obtained from the CCTV cameras.

The slogans were removed soon after they were written. It is surprising that the police could not arrest the accused when they were writing the slogans on the walls of the police station.

The police and intelligence sleuths are now interrogating the suspects to find out if they are linked to some organization or outfit.

Inspector Anup Shukla of Sigra police station said that all of them were from Bihar.

Telangana according utmost priority to handloom sector: KCR

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Telangana according utmost priority to handloom sector: KCR

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday said the state government is according utmost priority to the handloom sector and developing it.

He made these remarks on the occasion of National Handloom Day, noting that Telangana’s exclusive handloom craft mirrors Indian art and culture.

“Under self-governance, the government is giving utmost priority to the handloom sector and developing it in tune with the changed times, the government is also extending a helping hand to the powerloom workers welfare,” said Rao.

With visionary approach and able administration of Minister K. Taraka Rama Rao, the Chief Minister said the handloom sector which collapsed under united AP rule is being revived within a short time.

“The government has taken several measures to promote handloom products; the measures taken by the government for the handloom sector have weaned away handloom workers from committing suicide and instill confidence among them,” said the CM.

According to Rao, weavers’ families are given assurance for their livelihood through Bathukamma and other programmes, including creating confidence and self-respect among them.

Commemorating the handloom day, the state government is honouring handloom artisans by giving away awards under the name of Konda Laxman Bapuji.

“The government is encouraging handloom sector by organizing exhibitions and fashion shows insurance facilities for handloom workers shall be implemented on par with the Rythu Bandhu,” said Rao.

The CM asserted that Telangana is the only state which is giving pensions to handloom workers, highlighting that its innovative schemes can be ideal for other states.

“The government is successfully implementing several schemes for the handloom workers like loan waiver scheme, Nethannalaku Cheyutha, Chenetha Mithra and also providing government share to the handloom societies and providing subsidies for yarn, dyes and chemicals,” said Rao.

Expressing happiness over the positive results of these initiatives, the CM said the state has promoted the socio-economic, political and administrative interests of the Padmashali community.

Governance in Kerala a family affair as Riyaz’s grip improves

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Governance in Kerala a family affair as Riyaz’s grip improves

It was a moment of pondering in Kerala politics under a Left rule when after a historic victory, Pinarayi Vijayan named his ‘new’ son-in-law P.A.Mohammed Riyaz in his cabinet.

Then he was given the plum portfolios of Public Works and Tourism and after nearly three months, what everyone is interested in knowing is whether the governance in the state has turned into a family affair.

This became evident when the 46-year-old handled the ongoing assembly session with ease and what came as a huge surprise is the manner in which he was seen taking control of the flagship project of former State Finance Minister Thomas Isaac Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board ( KIIFB).

KIIFB is a government-owned financial institution formed to mobilize funds for infrastructure development from outside the state revenue and Isaac during the period 2016-21 had gone “ga-ga” over it and so did a huge section of the treasury bench legislators as many of the infrastructure projects in their constituency was being done by KIIFB.

In Vijayan’s second term, with Issac not given a seat to contest as were several big guns in the party, Vijayan was able to handpick his cabinet team with ease.

He incorporated youth and vibrance in the cabinet when K.N.Balagopal was made the Finance Minister and his close aide P.Rajeev the State Industries Minister.

A media critic on condition of anonymity pointed out that if anyone looks into what’s happening in the assembly, it’s quite clear that Riyaz apparently has literally taken over KIIFB.

“This is because Balagopal at times had contested Isaac’s overdose in KIIFB at party meetings, when Issac was at the helm of affairs and now with Issac out and Balagopal in, he so far has not given much importance to KIIFB affairs, even though he is the vice-chairman of the KIIFB.

“It is here that Riyaz by virtue of being the Public Works Minister has taken over, if one observes his answers to questions about KIIFB’s work in progress,” said the critic.

The CEO of KIIFB is former Chief Secretary K.M.Abraham, who in Vijayan’s second outing has been given the plum post of ‘principal secretary’ to the Chief Minister and it’s here the direct link between KIIFB and Riyaz has surfaced, literally making it a family affair.

Riyaz has managed the grip over KIIFB on account of Balagopal’s aversion to KIIFB and already he has had a round of meeting with KIIFB officials, along with his team of Public Works Department officials and has sounded that henceforth, there would be more of such meetings, giving enough indications, that he has laid his eyes on the plum scheme and with the full support of Vijayan, none is going to raise a question.

PM asks diplomats to showcase India’s ‘manufacturing prowess’ abroad

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PM asks diplomats to showcase India’s ‘manufacturing prowess’ abroad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged Indian Missions abroad to showcase India’s manufacturing capabilities globally.

Addressing the Indian Missions across the globe virtually, Modi also called for close co-ordination among the diplomats, Commerce Ministry, Indian exporters and producers in a bid to boost exports from the country.

“‘India House’ present in different countries should also become the representatives of India’s manufacturing power. From time-to-time you should alert and guide stakeholders in India, which will help in improving the exports,” he told the diplomats while speaking on ‘#LocalGoesGlobal – Make in India for the World’.

He was of the view that now is the time to move ahead with targets in terms of ‘Brand India’.

“This is the time to establish a new recognition regarding quality and reliablity. We need to ensure that India’s high value-added products reach each and every corner of the world,” Modi told the diplomats.

Observing that exports amount to 20 per cent of the country’s GDP, the Prime Minister said that given the size and potential of the Indian economy and that of the manufacturing and services sectors in the country, there is scope to increase the share of exports in the GDP.

Talking of the government’s decision to nullify the much contentious retrospective taxation provisions, the Prime Minister noted that the decision shows the government’s commitment towards stable policies and consistency of those policies.

He mentioned of four key factors which are required to improve exports, the first factor being the requirement for a multi-fold growth in manufacturing.

Elimination of obstacles in terms of transportation and logistics, government’s support for exports, and the international market for Indian exports are the other key factors to enhance exports from the country, Modi added.

Speaking of the government’s support for the growth in domestic manufacturing, he said that the ‘production-linked incentive’ (PLI) schemes would help not only in increasing the scale of Indian manufacturing, but also aid in raising the standards of global quality and efficiency.

“This will develop a new ecosystem of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) and ‘Made in India’ and the country will get new global champions of manufacturing and exports.”

Financial woes prevent TN govt from reverting retirement age to 58

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Financial woes prevent TN govt from reverting retirement age to 58

Plagued by the coronavirus pandemic over the last one and a half years adding to financial constraints, the state of Tamil Nadu has decided to continue with the retirement age of government employees at 60 years.

Sources in the Tamil Nadu government told in an interview that an average of Rs 7,000 crore will have to be provided if the retirement age is reverted back to 58 and hence the government is keeping quiet for the time being given the precarious financial position of the state treasury.

The retirement age of government employees of Tamil Nadu was raised to 59 and then to 60 by the previous AIADMK government of K. Palaniswami.

The DMK government was for reverting the retirement age of government employees to 58 years but the mounting financial constraints is preventing that move.

It was in May 2020 that the AIADMK government under Palaniswami raised the retirement age of government employees from 58 to 59. In February 2021, the government again raised the retirement age from 59 to 60. The poor financial position of the state government was one reason to raise the retirement age as an average of Rs 7,000 crore could be saved if the retirement age was increased. Also, the AIADMK was expecting to reap rich electoral dividends from the strong community of government employees in the election year of 2021.

Tamil Nadu, according to sources in the state government, has an estimated 9 lakh government employees and around 3 per cent of these employees retire a year. This would make around 27,000 employees and the government would require a whopping Rs 7,000 crore to settle their benefits and to save this the present government does not want to revert the retirement age to 58 just now.

Hry announces Rs 50L awards for 9 women Olympic hockey players from state

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Hry announces Rs 50L awards for 9 women Olympic hockey players from state

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday announced an award of Rs 50 lakh each to the nine members of the Olympics women’s hockey team representing the state.

“I congratulate the Indian team for their praiseworthy performance at the Tokyo Olympics,” the Chief Minister said.

In a hard-fought bronze play-off match the Indian team lost 3-4 to Great Britain.

Andhra CM launches ‘Jagananna Pacha Thoranam – Vana Mahotsavam’

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Andhra CM launches ‘Jagananna Pacha Thoranam – Vana Mahotsavam’

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday launched ‘Jagananna Pacha Thoranam – Vana Mahotsavam’ by planting a sapling at AIIMS Mangalagiri.

The people present at the venue pledged to plant more trees and nurture them for a green Andhra Pradesh.

“The government has launched an extensive programme in the state with the aim to achieve balanced climate and environmental protection,” said Reddy.

The Chief Minister said the state government is focused on increasing the forest cover to 33 per cent from the existing 23 per cent by planting over 5 crore trees.

Reddy noted that it is very important to plant trees as they help produce clean air and also bring good rain.

The CM appealed to the people to take part in tree plantation for creating a better ecosystem.

On Wednesday, Andhra Pradesh Forest and Environment Minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy said the state government planted 33.2 crore saplings in the past two years.

The Minister said ‘Jagananna Pacha Thoranam – Vana Mahotsavam’ has been initiated to make Andhra green and urged the public to take part in this initiative.

The state government is also planting 75 lakh saplings under the NREGA scheme, including taking similar steps under the Nadu-Nedu programmes.

“The government is committed to promote 33 per cent greenery in line with the National Forest Policy, thereby achieving ecological balance, prioritising the conservation of forests and promotion of greenery,” the minister added.

Pegasus row: SC pulls up lawyer, says no notice for Modi, Shah

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Pegasus row: SC pulls up lawyer, says no notice for Modi, Shah

The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up advocate M.L. Sharma for making Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as respondents in his petition seeking a court monitored SIT probe into the Pegasus snooping issue.

A bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justice Surya Kant said: “You have included certain individuals (Prime Minister and Home Minister as respondents in the petition). We can’t issue notice like this. Don’t try to take advantage of things, you have a defective memo of parties”.

Sharma had argued that the government is fabricating material in the computer through this software.

The bench replied, “This is not the way to file a PIL, where is the material other than paper cuttings.”

Sharma argued that his petition is based on facts and not merely newspaper cuttings. He also agreed to amend the parties as respondents in his petition, after the bench objected to making individuals as respondents in his petition.

During the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing N. Ram, argued that Pegasus is a rogue technology, and it is entirely illegal, as it infiltrates into our lives through telephone, and it hears and watches. Sibal emphasized that it is an assault on privacy and human dignity.

The top court noted that there are too many petitions, and it has to see on which petitions it has to issue formal notice and on which it shouldn’t. The top court asked petitioners to serve copy on the Union of India and indicated that only in a few petitions court, it may issue notice on Tuesday after hearing the views of the Centre.

Sharma’s plea said: “The Pegasus scandal is a matter of grave concern and an attack on the Indian democracy, country’s security and judiciary. The widespread use of surveillance is morally disfiguring. National security implications of this software are huge”.

Insisting for a court-monitored probe, Sharma’s plea contended that the scandal involves issues concerning national security and judicial independence. Several petitioners have filed in the Supreme Court seeking a court monitored probe into the Pegasus snooping scandal. The top court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on Tuesday.

No representation for 13 districts in Karnataka cabinet

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No representation for 13 districts in Karnataka cabinet

Though Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai assured equal representation to all regions, as many as 13 districts have no representation in his cabinet expanded on Wednesday.

Bengaluru has got seven representatives and six districts — Dakshina Kannada, Dharwad, Shivamogga, Tumkur, Bagalkot, Belagavi, and Haveri — two each, while Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Vijayapura, Ballary, Davanagere, Hassan, Ramnagar, Kolar, Chikkamagalur, Mysuru, Raichur, Yadgir, and Kalburgi have not been given representation.

M.P. Renukacharya, a former Minister from Davanagere, said his district has been neglected.

Sources said the decision had been taken to accommodate loyal party leaders like B.C. Nagesh from Tiptur constituency in Tumkur district and V. Sunil Kumar from Karkala constituency in Udupi district.

K’taka cabinet expansion: CM Bommai to get green signal from BJP high command today

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K’taka cabinet expansion: CM Bommai to get green signal from BJP high command today

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said that the discussion on cabinet formation has reached the final stages and he will get a green signal from the BJP high command on Wednesday.

“Decisions are yet to be taken on two or three issues. They will be taken in the morning. I am going to get ‘good’ news. If I get it on Wednesday early morning hours, a swearing ceremony will be held by noon or evening on the same day,” he said late Tuesday night. All aspects including regional, social justice and also requests of those of my friends who have come here have been considered, he said.

“There were some issues on which party President J.P. Naddaji sought clarifications. I have clarified those issues. Finally, he will approve the list on Wednesday morning. As soon as I get the list, it will be sent to Raj Bhavan,” Bommai said.

He refused the possibility of dropping seniors from the cabinet. The list will be finalised keeping the next elections and delivering good administration in mind. “We need experience as well as enthusiasm. I am expecting the cabinet expansion to take place in two phases. The inclusion and exclusion of names is the prerogative of the high command. I am cool and used to the pulls and pressures of cabinet formation. I am returning to Bengaluru on an early morning flight,” he explained.

Sources said that the high command has approved the list of 20 to 24 ministers and there will be no deputy chief minister post this time.

Sources also said that the high command is considering a cabinet berth to former Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa’s son B.Y. Vijayendra. However, they are yet to take a call on the chief minister aspirants — former speaker Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri and BJP MLA Aravind Bellad.

It is said that former Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karajol, Dr. C.N. Ashwathnarayan, former ministers Sriramulu, Aravind Limbavali, K.S. Eshwarappa, V. Somanna, Murugesh Nirani, R. Ashok, Anand Singh, Dr. K. Sudhakar, J.C. Madhuswamy, S.T. Somashekar, MTB Nagaraj, K. Gopalaiah, Bhyrathi Basavaraju, B.C. Patil, Narayana Gowda, C.P. Yogeshwar, Bhyrathi Basavaraju, Shivaram Hebbar, senior leaders V. Sunilkumar, K. Poornima, S. Angara, Abhay Patil, Raju Gowda, P. Rajeev, Dattatreya Patil Revur, M.P. Kumaraswamy are likely to make it to the cabinet.

Pinarayi Vijayan is shielding Minister Sivankutty: BJP

TB Team
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Pinarayi Vijayan is shielding Minister Sivankutty: BJP

Kerala BJP president K. Surendran on Tuesday said that it is the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who is defending and shielding his cabinet colleague and State Education Minister V. Sivankutty from resigning in the wake of the apex court ruling that he along with others involved in the assembly vandalism case have to face trial.

Sivankutty along with another present legislator — K.T. Jaleel, a former minister, and four other former legislators will also have to face trial after the Supreme Court, last Wednesday dismissed the Kerala government’s plea to withdraw the cases against the CPI-M leaders for vandalism in the state Assembly in 2015.

And since then while the Congress led Opposition is up in arms both inside and outside the assembly demanding the ousting of Sivankutty, the BJP on Tuesday took to the streets in the state capital with the same demand.

“With the apex court all set to come out with its verdict in the SNC Lavalin case in which Vijayan is also facing the chances of being asked to face the trial, he is tooth and nail defending Sivankutty and is not asking him to put in his papers. If Vijayan asks Sivankutty to resign, then the same would be applicable to Vijayan also, if there is an adverse court remark,” said Surendran.

The SNC Lavalin case pertains to an agreement with Canadian firm SNC Lavalin in 1997 for the renovation and modernisation of Pallivasai, Sengulam and Panniar hydroelectric projects in Idukki district of Kerala, which allegedly caused a loss of Rs 266 crore to the exchequer.

Vijayan was then the Power Minister in Kerala.

First the CBI court here and then the Kerala High Court discharged Vijayan from all criminal and corruption charges in the SNC Lavalin case, but then the CBI filed its appeal in the apex court and since 2017, the apex court has heard the case and for over two dozen times the apex court has postponed its verdict.

Meanwhile the apex court has now posted the case again for August 10 and if by any chance the apex court asks Vijayan to face trial, then no doubt the Congress led UDF and the BJP will all be out in the streets demanding the resignation of Vijayan.

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