Campaign on welfare, development for Tirupati by-poll: Jagan

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Campaign on welfare, development for Tirupati by-poll: Jagan

Amaravati, March 20(Telugu Bullet) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) founder Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday instructed his party leaders to rely on promoting the government’s development and welfare activities as the poll strategy for the forthcoming Tirupati by-election on April 17.

“Take the development and welfare activities of the state government to the people and chalk out a strategy so that the results of the by-election should ensure that the nation looks towards Andhra Pradesh,” said Reddy.

During the by-poll preparedness review meeting, he introduced YSRCP’s candidate, M. Gurumoorthy, to the leaders at his camp office.

Reddy called on the leaders to canvass how the state is transparently implementing welfare schemes irrespective of caste, religion, and political affiliation without corruption and bias.

The Chief Minister instructed the party leaders to visit each and every house in the Parliamentary constituency and explain the government’s activities.

He also called on them to publicize the commitment of the state government towards benefiting and empowering women.

“YSRCP won a landslide in the local body elections by God’s grace and the whole country will be observing Tirupati by-election and the result of this by-poll should be a message. One minister will be appointed for each Assembly segment as in-charge in addition to an MLA,” the Chief Minister noted.

He cautioned the party leaders not to be overconfident and told them to work with coordination to ensure Gurumoorthy’s victory with a good majority.

Minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy, Balineni Srinivas Reddy, Perni Venkatramaiah and a host of other ministers and leaders attended the review meeting.

Meanwhile, the four-week stay by the High Court in the CID probe against Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo Nara Chandrababu Naidu can be seen as a lifeline for the party to focus on the Tirupati by-election for which TDP was the first party to declare a candidate, Panabaka Lakshmi.

Vijayan’s anti-globalisation stand is laughable: Congress

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Vijayan’s anti-globalisation stand is laughable: Congress

Barely a few hours after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan attacked the globalization and liberalization policies of the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala on Friday said it is laughable to hear the Chief Minister make such a comment.

“We were all laughing hearing Vijayan speaking to the media on the ill-effects of globalization and liberalization and then claiming to be the only state in the country which is fighting it. This could well go down as the biggest joke during the election time,” said Chennithala.

Earlier in the day, Vijayan said, “Today there is a ‘Kerala Model’ tie-up between the Congress and the BJP which is now spreading canards against the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. The Left has taken an alternate route for overall development which is not what these two outfits did after the Congress started with the liberalization policies and now followed by the BJP. We have taken a different route and hence these people are spreading canards against us, but the people of Kerala have seen what has happened in the past five years under our government.”

Chennithala said if one looks into the various actions by Vijayan, one can really find out what Vijayan is. One of the misdeeds committed by him was to reveal all the health data of the people of Kerala to a US-based marketing firm ‘Sprinklr’ and all the rules are applicable in a court of law in the US only.

“He was getting ready to allow the opening of an office of multinational consulting company Price WaterhouseCooper (PwC) in the state. Then he went to the London Stock Exchange and rang the bell for the listing a masala bond of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) which was followed by the literal sale of Kerala seas to a US firm,” the Congress leader added.

“It’s indeed laughable to hear Vijayan say his government is fighting globalization and liberalization by engaging in the above acts which are completely against the Communist ideology. On the eve of the elections, Vijayan is taking people for a ride,” said Chennithala.

Uttarakhand CM trolled for remarks on ripped jeans, equating PM with Lord Ram

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Uttarakhand CM trolled for remarks on ripped jeans, equating PM with Lord Ram

Days within taking over as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Tirath Singh Rawat has been trolled for commenting on women who wear ripped jeans and equating PM Narendra Modi with Lord Ram. Not just this, he was also questioned by his predecessor Trivendra Singh Rawat for easing Covid norms at the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar.

On March 10, Tirath Singh Rawat has sworn in as chief minister of the hill state. The Uttarakhand CM announced that pilgrims need not possess Covid-19 negative reports of tests conducted 72 hours prior to their arrival in Haridwar even, as his predecessor urged the government to exercise caution amid rising cases in the country.

Even as former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat questioned the easing of norms for Covid-19, netizens, including political opponents, trolled Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat for two of his controversial comments: One which equated Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Lord Ram and the other which criticized women who wear ripped jeans.

Senior Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat said that praising your leader (Modi) was understandable but it wasn’t correct for the Chief Minister to equate a human being with Lord Rama or Lord Krishna.

In Haridwar, Tirath Singh Rawat said that for the good work he has done for people, Prime Minister Modi would be worshipped like Lord Ram.

Trolling Rawat for his ripped jeans comment, women from all age groups flooded social media with pictures of them wearing ripped jeans.

Taking a dig at Chief Minister Rawat, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has tweeted pictures of various BJP leaders including Prime Minister Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat in half pants. “Oh my God!!! Their knees are showing,” she tweeted.

Wearing ripped jeans, Shiv Sena leaders and Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi tweeted, “The country’s ‘Sanskriti and ‘sanskaar’ are impacted by men who sit and judge women and their choices. Soch badlo Mukhyamantri Rawat ji, tabhi desh badlega. (Change your thinking Chief Minister Rawat, only then will the country change). #RippedJeansTwitter.”

On Friday, the Delhi Congress women’s wing is organizing a protest in the national capital asking participants to wear ripped jeans. Appealing to participants to join the protest, Delhi Congress women’s wing chief Amrita Dhawan tweeted, “You want to live with ripped jeans or ripped mindset?”.

Even a BJP leader said Chief Minister Rawat should have avoided making such unwanted comments.

“Chief Minister Rawat must set his priority right a year before assembly elections. He must focus on governance and controlling resentment within the party which forced the removal of Trivendra Singh Rawat from the office,” a senior saffron party leader suggested.

But another BJP leader, while defending the Uttarakhand Chief Minister, said that both the comments equating PM Modi with Lord Ram and the one on ripped jeans have been blown out of proportion.

Rs 22,724 cr tax-free deficit Budget presented in Tripura

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Rs 22,724 cr tax-free deficit Budget presented in Tripura

Tripura Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma on Friday presented a Rs 22,724.50 crore tax-free Budget for 2021-22, containing several new plans including for ‘Atmanirbhar state’, for agriculture and farmers, children and students besides for rural areas.

The fourth budget of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government shows a Rs 773.43 crore defeat against Rs 511.41 crore deficit of the current year (2020-21).

Tabling the Budget on the first day of the weeklong Assembly session, Dev Varma, who holds the Finance portfolio, said no new tax is proposed in the budget and the deficit would be covered by better fiscal management, tax compliance, transparency, austerity besides smart tax collections.

He said that the government in the budget has given thrust in five key sectors – tourism, information technology, agriculture, and allied, health and education sectors.

“Emphasis is also given on sustainable development and green technology. More than 15,000 hectares of areas would be brought under organic farming as against 6,000 hectares of the existing area. Based on green technology, ten new bio-villages are proposed,” he said.

A new scheme, “Chief Minister’s Swanirbhar Parivar Yojna” has been proposed for “Atmanirbhar Tripura”.

Noting that a National Law University proposed to be set up in Agartala, Dev Varma said several other new schemes and missions including “Rubber Mission” were also to be undertaken in the new financial year.

“Under the Rubber Mission scheme, the state government has planned to take up rubber plantations in new 30,000 hectare areas in the next five years for rapid economic development and proper utilization of land,” he said.

Tripura is the second largest natural rubber-producing state in the country after Kerala, currently cultivating natural rubber in 85,500 hectares and producing 62,000 tonnes annually.

“Doubling the farmers’ income by 2022 was the motto of the present government. The state government has taken up a three-year plan for the purpose,” Dev Varma told the house, adding that for the dissemination of the latest technology in agriculture, 19 ‘Krishak Bandhu Kendra’s have been opened under the different agricultural subdivisions.

Later, the Deputy Chief Minister told the media that in spite of difficulties during the Covid-19 pandemic, the state government has managed its finances well in such a situation when some state governments have given lesser salaries to their employees and stopped giving dearness allowances and dearness relief, Tripura announced DA to the state government employees and pensioners with effect from March 1.

Centre has put ration doorstep delivery scheme on hold: Delhi govt

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Centre has put ration doorstep delivery scheme on hold: Delhi govt

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government has accused the Centre of putting its flagship doorstep ration delivery scheme on hold, the office of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal told IANS on Friday.

This came as the AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been at loggerheads for the last few weeks especially after the Centre presented the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) Bill (Amendment) 2021 in the Lok Sabha, which seeks to give more powers to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor.

“The BJP ruled Centre has put Delhi government’s doorstep delivery scheme on hold. Delhi government’s flagship scheme is to provide food grains for the people of the national capital at their doorstep,” said a source in the Delhi government.

The Kejriwal government had notified the scheme for the doorstep delivery of rations, which as per the earlier announcement was supposed to roll out by March-end this year. Kejriwal had announced the scheme during his Republic Day speech at the Delhi Secretariat.

The scheme announced under the ‘Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna’ (MMGGRY) under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) of the National Food Security Act, 2013, was notified by the government on February 20. The MMGGRY involves the delivery of packed wheat flour and rice to beneficiaries at their doorstep.

IANS has learned that the Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation has prepared a list of beneficiaries, their quota, and biometric specifications according to which they will have to pay a processing charge along with the cost of subsidized food grains.

Kejriwal mentioned in his Republic Day address that all beneficiaries in the Capital who have a ration card can avail the benefits of the scheme. The scheme will be optional and existing TPDS beneficiaries will have to specify to enroll under it. Delhi has nearly 17 lakh PDS beneficiaries.

2 Dy Mayors, vice chairmen part of admin reforms: YSRCP

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2 Dy Mayors, vice chairmen part of admin reforms: YSRCP

Senior Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP V. Vijayasai Reddy said on Thursday that municipal corporations and municipalities will have two deputy mayors and an equal number of vice-chairmen as part of administrative reforms.

“As part of administrative reforms, a decision was made after the Governor’s approval of the ordinance for corporations and municipalities to have two deputy mayors and two vice-chairmen,” said Reddy.

He said this move is aimed at enabling the greater representation of various castes and called it another step that validates Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s exemplary leadership.

Meanwhile, the MP met with the newly elected municipal councilors from Visakhapatnam corporation at this camp office.

Reflecting on the recent thumping triumph in the local bodies polls, Vijayasai Reddy said the southern state’s people once again reposed their faith in Jagan Mohan Reddy.

He said they did this because of the welfare and developmental programs he has been implementing.

The YSRCP leader highlighted that the CM is ensuring that welfare activities are being extended to all communities.

Stalin promises completion of AIIMS Madurai

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Stalin promises completion of AIIMS Madurai

DMK president M.K. Stalin has said that if voted to power, he will commence construction of premium health institute the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Thoppur in Madurai.

He was speaking to the media at Madurai on Wednesday. Stalin said that while the announcement of the premium medical institute was made in 2014, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone only in 2019 just before the general elections.

The DMK leader said that both the state and the central government failed to complete the construction of AIIMS at Thoppur in Madurai.

Stalin said that once the DMK comes to power, the National Cooperative Sugar mills at Pandiyarajapuram and Alanganallur will be reopened.

The DMK leader lashed out against AIADMK’s Nathan R. Viswanathan who was alleged to have bribed voters at Natham constituency.

Stalin said that J. Jayalalithaa as AIADMK supremo had taken action against a similar charge against Nathan R. Viswanathan. The DMK leader also alleged that the police have registered an FIR against Viswanathan citing that he has not filed his nomination papers.

Elections for mayor, municipal chairperson underway in Andhra

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Elections for mayor, municipal chairperson underway in Andhra

Amaravati, March 18 (Telugu Bullet) Elections for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor for 11 municipal corporations and for the posts of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of 75 municipalities are underway in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday.

According to the schedule, the swearing-in ceremony for the corporators will start first, followed by the elections for mayor, deputy mayor, municipal chairperson and vice chairperson will follow.

The results of these elections will be declared immediately after their completion.

For the election of mayor and chairperson, at least 50 percent members quorum is needed. In the event quorum is not achieved, the election will be postponed.

Municipal commissioner M.M. Nayak and district collectors will monitor the arrangements via video conference.

For the Tadipatri municipality, Dharmavaram RDO R. Madhusudan is acting as the presiding officer.

Anticipating a tough fight between the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Anantapur’s Tadipatri, security has been heightened with heavy police presence.

Announcement on pay revision panel in couple of days: KCR

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Announcement on pay revision panel in couple of days: KCR

Hyderabad, March 18 (Telugu Bullet) Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday told the Assembly that an announcement on the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) recommendations for government employees will be made in the next couple of days.

He said the announcement will be made in the Assembly after the results of elections to two Legislative Council seats are declared.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, assured the government employees that the PRC implementation will meet their expectations. “In fact, Telangana government employees will feel proud to be among the highest-paid in the country,” he said.

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, he promised that all the issues of the employees will be addressed.

The Chief Minister also told the Assembly that an unemployment allowance is under the consideration of the government. He pointed out that the Covid pandemic put a burden of Rs 1 lakh crore on the state exchequer.

KCR said the government was in the process of framing guidelines to pay unemployment allowance to the unemployed youth but due to the pandemic, the government could not even pay full salaries to the employees, and thus in such a difficult situation, it could not pay unemployment allowance.

He, however, assured the house that the unemployment allowance is under the consideration of the government and nobody should have any doubts about its implementation.

Replying to the issues raised by Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, the Chief Minister said the government was focusing on the allotment of double bed-room houses to applicants in the old city of Hyderabad and problems faced by minority residential schools.

KCR reiterated that the places of worship damaged during the demolition of the old state Secretariat will be rebuilt on their original sites.

When BJP member Raghunandan Rao stated that the eligible people are not getting ration cards, KCR said the government issued a large number of ration cards. He pointed out that the number of ration cards before 2014 was only 14 lakh and the number has now gone up to 39 lakh.

Stating that the government is working with an aim to help the poor, he said the pension for various categories of beneficiaries which were just Rs 200 per month in the past has been raised to Rs 2,016. The number of beneficiaries also increased from 29,21,520 to 39,36,520.

Jagan recommends retired HC judge Seetharama Murti as SHRC chair

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Jagan recommends retired HC judge Seetharama Murti as SHRC chair

Amaravati, March 17 (Telugu Bullet)  Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday recommended retired high court judge M. Seetharama Murti as the chairperson of the state human rights commission (SHRC).

He chaired the SHRC meeting and recommended retired district judge Dande Subramanyam as judicial and advocate G. Srinivasa Rao as non-judicial members of the commission.

The meeting was held at the secretariat to finalise the names of the chairperson and members of AP SHRC.

Home Minister Mekathoti Sucharita proposed the names and the selection committee approved them.

Legislative council chairman MA Sharif and Assembly Speaker Tammineni Sitaram, along with Sucharita were present in the meeting.

All eyes on Tirupati bypolls

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All eyes on Tirupati bypolls

All eyes in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh will be on the Tirupati by-poll as it will be the first major election after the 2019 polls.

Mattila Gurumoorthy, the 36-year-old physiotherapist who has been confirmed as the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) candidate for the forthcoming Tirupati Lok Sabha by-poll has been a lifelong follower of Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy family.

Born to Maddila Munikrishnaiah, Gurumoorthy comes from a humble Dalit background from the Mala caste. Both his parents are uneducated and the family practices the Hindu faith.

The agricultural family hails from Mannasamudram village in Yerpedu Mandal of Srikalahasti constituency.

The physiotherapist is married to C. Navya Kiran and is blessed with a boy and a girl.

He pursued physiotherapy at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Science (SVIMS) and secured 56th rank in the entrance examination and got qualified for manual therapy as well.

Gurumoorthy’s association with Reddy and his family started around 2006 when he met the then chief minister requesting him to establish the AP state physiotherapy council.

Following a favorable outcome with his request, Gurumoorthy became a strong supporter and follower of Rajasekhar Reddy from then on.

He accompanied Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was his personal physiotherapist all through his 3,648-km-long Praja Sankalpa Yatra padayatra (marathon walkathon).

Walking along with Jagan Mohan Reddy gave him an opportunity to see the realities of the state across its length and breadth, including observing the socio-economic conditions.

Gurumoorthy was a team member of the YSRCP’s 2014 election campaign. In the 2019 polls, he served as a team member of Jagan Mohan Reddy’s mother Y.S. Vijayamma’s election campaign.

As YSRCP’s candidate, he will compete with principal opposition Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) challenger Panabaka Lakshmi and yet to be named Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate.

The candidate announcement comes at a time when the ruling party is on a high with the recent thumping triumph in the urban and rural local body polls.

Tirupati Lok Sabha seat (reserved for SC) fell vacant after incumbent Balli Durga Prasad succumbed to coronavirus in 2020.

Following his death, Reddy accommodated his son Balli Kalyan Chakravarthy is an MLC.

No night curfew, lockdown needed in UP: Minister

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No night curfew, lockdown needed in UP: Minister

Lucknow, March 17 (Telugu Bullet) Despite a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in the state, the Yogi Adityanath government has ruled out any night curfew and lockdown in any part of the state.

UP Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh said that the government machinery is concentrating more on the preventive steps like focus and contact/target testing to arrest the cases before it takes an alarming proposition.

He said that the Integrated Control and Command Centre of the Health department has been put on high alert to monitor the situation.

“In view of the Holi festival, air travellers and other passengers coming from outside will be tested at the airport, railway platforms and bus stations. Directions have been issued to make micro containment zones within an area of 250 metres even if one case was reported from any part,” he said.

He said that the situation in Uttar Pradesh is not as alarming as in other states so there is no need to impose any night curfew or lockdown.

People in the state, however, are being advised to follow the Covid-19 protocol and guidelines.

The police and district authorities have been directed to ensure that people wear masks when in the public and maintain social distancing.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked health officials to adopt a two-pronged strategy to deal with the surge in Covid-19 cases.

He has directed the health department not only to launch a 15-day focus testing drive and step up contact testing but also set a target of 10 million vaccinations by March 31 to check the spread of the deadly virus.

In the last 24 hours, 42 cases have been reported from Prayagraj and 28 cases from Lucknow.

BJP MLC says Vikas Dubey’s kin being harassed, seeks CM’s help

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BJP MLC says Vikas Dubey’s kin being harassed, seeks CM’s help

A BJP legislator has written a letter to chief minister Yogi Adityanath, accusing the UP police of harassing and torturing the family of slain gangster Vikas Dubey.

BJP MLC Umesh Dwiwedi, who is also the president of the All India Brahminothan Mahasabha, has said that Deep Prakash Dubey, brother of Vikas Dubey, and his wife Anjali Dubey, were being implicated in false cases by the police.

The MLC has urged the chief minister to order an inquiry into the cases against the family members and ensure justice to them.

Vikas Dubey was killed in a police encounter in Kanpur on July 10 last year, a week after he and his men killed eight policemen in an ambush in Bikru village.

The police had launched extensive investigations against his family members and associates to unearth his financial dealings.

AAP to protest at Jantar Mantar

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AAP to protest at Jantar Mantar

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday announced that it will protest against the Centre’s move to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill-2021, at the Jantar Mantar on Wednesday.

“AAP will hold a massive protest against (the) BJP’s anti-Constitution move of trying to curtail the powers of Delhi’s elected govt by amending the GNCTD Act,” the party said in a tweet.

Senior AAP MLA and chief spokesperson Saurav Bharadwaj told IANS that the party will oppose the Centre’s unconditional and undemocratic move to derail the elected government of the national capital.

“We will protest in and outside Parliament against this Bill. AAP will expose the BJP’s hidden agenda to rule in Delhi by giving more power to the Lieutenant-Governor. If the Centre succeeds in its plan, the Delhi government will have to wait for the L-G’s approval on every development issue and the elected Government will run on mercy his office for public service,” he added.

On Monday, the Centre tabled the new Bill in the Lok Sabha, which is an amendment to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and also seeks to better define the role of the Council of Ministers and the L-G in Delhi.

The Bill gives discretionary powers to the L-G even in matters where the Legislative Assembly of Delhi is empowered to make laws.

Sooner after the Centre’s move, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Siosida accused the BJP-led Central of an attempt to run the Delhi government from the back door, giving more power to the L-G.

KishanReddy counters Cong on Sedition Law, says it has ‘no right’ to speak on democracy

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KishanReddy counters Cong on Sedition Law, says it has ‘no right’ to speak on democracy

New Delhi, March 16(Telugu Bullet) Union Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy hit out at the Congress on Tuesday after it had accused the central government of misusing Sedition Law, saying the party has no right to speak on democracy.

Reddy’s remarks came in the Lok Sabha while replying to a question raised by senior Congress leader and MP from Punjab’s Anandpur Sahib constituency Manish Tewari.

“The less Congress speaks of misuse, the better it is. You (Congress) jailed J.P. Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani and others by misusing MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act). Congress has no right to speak on democracy,” Reddy said.

“You have jailed so many people in 1980 under TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act). You jailed journalists, students, politicians under MISA.”

Speaking during the Question Hour, Reddy was replying to question on details of the number of cases registered under the offense of sedition across the country during the last ten years including the current year.

Reddy said that Centre has no direct involvement in applying cases. “From investigation to the filing of charge sheets and conviction is handled by state governments. The Centre has no direct involvement in it. It is the responsibility of the state governments only. The Centre government is only informed about the details so as it is put before the Parliament based on NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau).”

The Minister said that there is only one case of sedition registered in Delhi in 2019, one in 2018, and two cases in 2016.

Section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) states “whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law in India, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which a fine may be added; or, with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which a fine may be added; or, with fine.”

Section 124A has been challenged in various courts in specific cases. The validity of the provision itself was upheld by a Constitution Bench in 1962, in Kedarnath Singh vs the State of Bihar.

That judgment went into the issue of whether the law on sedition is consistent with the fundamental right under Article 19 (1) (a) which guarantees each citizen’s freedom of speech and expression. The Supreme Court laid down that every citizen has a right to say or write about the government, by way of criticism or comment, as long as it does not “incite people to violence” against the government established by law or with the intention of creating public disorder.

‘Yogi govt transferred Rs 56K cr through DBT last year’

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‘Yogi govt transferred Rs 56K cr through DBT last year’

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh had last year transferred Rs 56,000 crore directly into bank accounts of beneficiaries of various schemes being run by the central and state government.

A government spokesperson said that due to the direct bank transfers (DBT), the government had saved more than Rs 4,402.05 crore in a single year.

The spokesman said: “Many irregularities were committed earlier in transferring funds under the various government schemes. This practice has been stopped now. With the DBT, middlemen have been eliminated from the process and the entire procedure has been made transparent.”

The state government transferred money directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries of 136 schemes of 27 departments.

During the Covid-induced lockdown last year, the government transferred funds to accounts of lakhs of farmers, MNREGA workers, migrant laborers, women, students, and pensioners.

The government also transferred Rs 2,806.10 crore as subsidy on gas cylinders, Rs 1,412 crore for ration cards made under the National Food Security Scheme, Rs 162.58 crore under Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, Rs 16.69 crore under the Old Age Pension Scheme, Rs 1.55 lakh under National Agricultural Development Scheme, Rs 1.92 lakh under Tuberculosis Eradication Scheme and Rs 4.63 crore under Divyang Pension Scheme.

“DBT helped us to verify a beneficiary’s Aadhaar and mobile number easily and money is transferred into the Jan Dhan account without hassles. The practice helps in eradicating middlemen as well as ensuring that the money goes to the real beneficiaries,” the spokesperson said.

The government said that over the past four years, Rs 2.53 lakh crore has been paid to farmers through DBT under various schemes. This includes Rs 36,000 crore as loan waivers, Rs 64,000 crore as minimum support price, Rs 1.22 lakh crore to sugarcane farmers, and Rs 27,101 crore to 2.42 crore farmers under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

The rural development department has said that over 1.14 crore workers were given employment under MNREGA till March 5, 2021. During this period, Rs 7,669.34 crore was paid to them.

A sum of Rs 445.92 crore was transferred through DBT to women help groups and their organizations working under the National Rural Livelihood Mission.

Another Rs 1,625.47 crore was transferred to OBC students in the last four years as scholarship, Rs 27.95 lakh to beneficiaries of the destitute women pension, and Rs 112.22 crore under Kanya Sumangala Yojana.

PM calls a meeting of chief ministers on March 17 to discuss rising Covid cases

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PM calls a meeting of chief ministers on March 17 to discuss rising Covid cases

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a virtual meeting of Chief Ministers on March 17, in view of the rising cases of Corona in the country.

The virtual meeting will begin at 11 am on Wednesday. During the meeting, among other topics, effective management of the vaccination programme to tackle Covid-19 will be discussed with the Chief Ministers.

In the past, too, Prime Minister Modi has held meetings with Chief Ministers several times during the Corona period through video conferencing and discussed strategies for the prevention of the global pandemic.

In the meeting to be held on March 17, feedback and suggestions about the ground situation in the respective states will be taken from the Chief Ministers. Based on the suggestions, a strategy will be prepared to stop the resurgence of Coronavirus cases in the country.

On Sunday, 26,386 new cases of Corona were registered. This is the highest incidence of pandemic in the last 85 days.

At present, the number of active corona cases in the country is 2,19,262, while the total number of corona cases in the country stands at 1,13,85,339.

Projects to be launched to curb floods in Assam, NE states: Amit Shah

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Projects to be launched to curb floods in Assam, NE states: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that to permanently solve the chronic problem of flooding in Assam and other northeastern states, ambitious projects would be undertaken for which satellite survey is presently underway.

Addressing a Town Hall meeting in Guwahati, Shah said that after the satellite survey, large water reservoirs and water channels would be created to divert the floodwaters of Assam and other northeastern states.

“We’ve laid foundations for strong infrastructure that would lead to a prosperous Assam. For this, we would have to free the state of floods. Around 38 percent of Assam is affected by floods during the monsoon. The BJP government would solve the problem of flooding in Assam and other northeastern states permanently,” he said at the gathering organized at the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra.

The Home Minister said that many large water reservoirs and water channels if created would also facilitate tourism in Assam and other northeastern states.

“To create a golden Assam, the BJP in alliance with the AGP and the UPPL is banking on five pillars to fight the Assembly elections — ‘Suraksha aur Samman’ (protection and respect), ‘Samriddhi aur Judav’ (prosperity and connection), ‘Sanskriti our Sabhyata’ (culture and civilization), ‘Shanti aur Samvad’ (peace and dialogue) and ‘Swanirbharta aur Atmanirbharta’ (empowerment and self-reliance),” Shah said.

Lambasting the Congress-All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) alliance in Assam, Shah said that AIUDF President Badruddin Ajmal is setting on Congress’ lap.

“They (Congress-AIUDF alliance) would not be able to check infiltration, neither will they fulfill the dreams of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva and Bhupen Hazarika,” the Home Minister said.

Srimanta Sankardeva was a 15th-16th century Assamese saint, scholar, poet, playwright, social-religious reformer, and a figure of importance in Assam’s cultural and religious history.

Shah also said the NDA government has strengthened border vigil electronically and virtually in areas where barbed wire fencing was not possible along the international borders to check infiltration and border crime.

“The Congress in 20 years constructed a bridge in Assam, but the Modi government in five years has built six big bridges, over 20,000 km roads, and many strong infrastructures,” the Home Minister said.

Saying that his party is not doing vote bank politics, the BJP leader said that Assam elections would not just ensure that the BJP stays in power, but would also ensure the preservation of the state’s culture and traditions.

The BJP in alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) is contesting the Assembly elections against the Congress-led 10-party ‘Mahajot’ (grand alliance).

The 126-member Assam Assembly will go to the polls in three phases on March 27 (47 seats), April 1 (39 seats), and April 6 (40 seats). The results will be declared on May 2.

Yadadri temple will be known for its uniqueness: Telangana CM

TB Team
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Yadadri temple will be known for its uniqueness: Telangana CM

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said on Friday that after the completion of the ongoing renovation works, the Sri Yadadri Laxmi Narasimha temple will show its exclusivity among all the temples in the world.

He said the entire Yadadri temple renovated with ‘Krishna Sila’ (black stone) is going to become known for its uniqueness. “After the reopening, devotees in lakhs would visit the temple. Measures should be taken in such a way that these devotees do not face any difficulties during their holy visit,” he told the officials at a meeting to review the temple renovation works.

The CM directed the concerned officials to give final touches to the renovation works in the complex before the scheduled date for its reopening. He discussed with the temple authorities the precautions to be taken and the action plan for the ornamental look of the temple.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, took feedback from the officials on the progress of works in the backdrop of his recent visit to the temple and the suggestions he made after a thorough examination of the works going on there.

The officials put forth before the CM the model designs of the ‘Kalash’ (metal pots) to be placed along the queue lines. After examining four models, the CM selected one design.

KCR wanted the compound wall on the north side to be demolished to have a queue line there. He asked the officials to complete the queue lines by April 15. He wanted the brass designs to be used for the ‘Deepa Sthamba’ (light pole), compound wall, and even the pedestal of the light pole.

While inquiring about the ‘Sivalayam’, KCR wanted brass tridents to be placed on the compound walls. He wanted the demolition of the structure on the north side and that the area should be covered with grills and railings for a better view of the temple. The CM said that nothing should obstruct the temple view and it should appear like an iconic element.

Like the Sudershan Chakra is placed for view during the Brahmotsavam, the trident should appear all along with the Siva Temple. Radhasala should be in consonance with the temple elevation, he said. KCR wants the compound wall to be constructed around the Vishnu Pushkarini Hills to be illuminated on either side of the wall. The 80 feet lamp post should be placed at the center of the lawn.

The CM appreciated the construction of the ‘Addala Mandapam’ (mirror hall) and said it is coming up very beautifully. The CM watched a demo on the lighting of the temple complex and the surrounding.

The Chief Advisor to government, Rajiv Sharma, Advisor Anurag Sharma, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, CM’s Secretary Smita Sabharwal, CM’s Special Secretary Bhoopal Reddy, YTDA Special Officer G Kishan Rao, temple architect Ananda Sai, architect Madhusudhan and others were present on the occasion.

Delhi Budget session adjourned indefinitely

TB Team
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Delhi Budget session adjourned indefinitely

Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Nivas Goel on Friday adjourned the Budget session for an indefinite period four days ahead of the scheduled date due to Covid-19.

On Thursday, AAP legislator and senior spokesperson Raghav Chadha were reported Covid-19 positive. He had attended the very first day of the Budget session on Monday (March 8).

On the last day of the session, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress for criticizing the ‘Deshbhakti’ budget presented by the AAP Government on Monday.

“Since the day our government has presented Deshbhakti budget for 2021-22, both the BJP and the Congress are criticizing it. I want to ask them what is wrong with it? Patriotism is for all, it is not only for a single party. If the National Flag won’t be unfurled in Delhi then will it be done in Islamabad?” Kejriwal said.

He appreciated Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is also the Finance Minister, for presenting a budget with a surplus of 6 percent despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kejriwal reiterated the achievements of his government and highlighted the initiatives in the field of education and health in the national capital.

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