India’s growth engine to be powered by Assam, NE: PM

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India’s growth engine to be powered by Assam, NE: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that India’s growth engine would be further boosted with the development of Assam and the northeastern region.

Addressing a massive public gathering at Silapathar in eastern Assam’s Dhemaji district, the Prime Minister said that the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision would be further strengthened with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Assam’ and northeast.

“To achieve the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision continuous endeavours are going on. Whenever I visit Assam, I get the fresh impetus and inspirations to do more for the northeastern region,” Modi said after inaugurating and laying foundation stones of five mega projects worth Rs 3,000 crore in gas, oil, and education sectors.

“We are correcting the faults of the previous governments. If the policy is accurate, destiny would be perfect. Connectivity, health, education, and infrastructure developments were ignored by the previous governments.”

The Prime Minister said that the government is trying to give engineering and medical education in local languages so that its benefit could be obtained by the poor students and learners residing in the far-flung areas. Referring to the song of a great singer and composer Bhupen Hazarika and rich Assamese cinema, Modi said that Assam’s all-around development would make the development of India easier.

“The entire world is now respectful of India’s engineering and technological milestones,” he pointed out. The Prime Minister said that as the government is working with the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’, LPG and electricity connections are being given to 100 percent of households in Assam and other parts of India as these were earlier available to less than 40 to 50 percent familes.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said that Rs 95,000 crore would be invested in Assam’s gas and oil sector for the projects initiated by the Prime Minister on Monday. He said that the earlier Congress-led UPA government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh despite him representing Assam in the Parliament did nothing to utilize the gas and oil resources for the benefit of Assam and the country.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in his speech said that Prime Minister Modi with his great vision for the all-around development of the region has won the hearts of every person of the eight northeastern states.

Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi and state Finance and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also spoke in the gatherings. Monday’s visit and public address are the third in poll-bound Assam by the Prime Minister within 30 days since his visit to Sivasagar on January 23 and at Dhekiajuli in Assam’s Sonitpur district on February 7.

Priyanka assures UP boatmen of her support

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Priyanka assures UP boatmen of her support

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday reached Prayagraj district to support the boatmen who were allegedly harassed by the local police.

Priyanka had recently taken a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj on ‘Mauni Amavasya’ and had traveled in boatman Sujit Nishad’s boat who informed her of the atrocities being committed on local boatmen.

Nishad had informed Priyanka about the issues that boatmen belonging to the Nishad community were facing, including brutality against them, by police whom he alleged had destroyed their boats.

The boatman requested her assistance in raising their voices against the oppression to which she agreed, party sources said.

Sujit said several boats belonging to the Nishad community, an OBC (Other Backward Class) caste, were damaged by police and administrative officials in the Banswaar village in the trans-Yamuna area.

He said the incident took place on February 4 when some people complained that illegal mining was being done here. The police came and damaged 16 boats and 30 people were left injured in the ensuing scuffle. The police also brought a number of dogs to create fear among the people, mainly those belonging to the Nishad community.

The Uttar Pradesh government had banned the use of boats in sand mining across the state on June 24, 2019, leaving thousands of boatmen unemployed.

As soon as the news of Priyanka’s visit on Sunday reached the district administration, workers were sent to the Banswara village to repair the damaged boats.

Meanwhile, a huge crowd turned up in the village to meet Priyanka Gandhi, who patiently listened to their problems and assured them of support from the Congress.

Addressing the people in Banswara village, the Congress leader said the Nishad community is directly related to rivers but the state government is standing with those involved in illegal mining that threatens the life of a river.

She said the Congress would legally fight for the rights of the boatmen and when the party comes to power, boatmen would be given landholdings.

Earlier, on her arrival at the Prayagraj airport, Priyanka was accorded a warm welcome by party workers. Sujit Nishad also reached there to welcome her.

It is always special to be in Assam: Modi

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It is always special to be in Assam: Modi

A day before his visit to poll-bound Assam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it is always special to be in the Northeastern state.

“It is always special to be in Assam. Tomorrow, 22nd February, I will once again have the opportunity to interact with the people of Assam at a public meeting in Dhemaji. At the program, various development works will be launched,” tweeted Modi.

During his visit to Assam on Monday, the Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation some oil and gas sector projects, engineering colleges aimed at opening avenues of opportunity for the local youth, in line with the government’s vision to drive eastern India’s socio-economic growth.

The Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation important projects of the oil and gas sector at an event organized in Silapathar at 11.30 a.m., besides inaugurating the Dhemaji Engineering College and laying the foundation stone for Sualkuchi Engineering College.

In Assam, the Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation the INDMAX Unit at Indian Oil’s Bongaigaon Refinery, Oil India Limited’s Secondary Tank Farm at Madhuban, Dibrugarh, and a gas compressor station at Hebeda Village in Tinsukia.

The INDMAX unit leverages the technology developed indigenously by the Indian Oil R&D to produce a higher LPG and high-octane gasoline yield from heavy feedstocks. The unit will increase the refinery’s crude processing capacity from 2.35 MMTPA (million metric tonnes per annum) to 2.7 MMTPA. Its commissioning will also significantly enhance LPG production from 50 TMT (thousand metric tonnes) to 257 TMT and petrol production from 210 TMT to 533 TMT.

Oil India Limited’s Secondary Tank Farm has been built for safe storage of about 40,000-kilo liters of crude oil, and the separation of formation water from wet crude oil. The Rs 490 crore project will also have a dehydration unit with an operating capacity of 10,000-kiloliters per day.

The gas compressor station at Makum, Tinsukia, will increase the nation’s crude oil production capacity by nearly 16,500 MT per annum. Built at a cost of Rs 132 crore, the station comprises three low-pressure booster compressors and three high-pressure lifter compressors.

The Dhemaji Engineering College has been built on 276 bighas of land at a cost of about Rs 45 crore. It is the seventh government engineering college in the state which will offer B. Tech courses in civil, mechanical, and computer science streams. The Sualkuchi Engineering College will be built on 116 bighas of land at a cost of about Rs 55 crore.

Udit Raj booked for ‘misleading tweet’ in Unnao girls’ case

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Udit Raj booked for ‘misleading tweet’ in Unnao girls’ case

Former MP and Congress leader Udit Raj has been booked by the police for claiming that the two girls found dead in the fields in Unnao were raped and their bodies burnt against their family’s wishes.

The Dalit leader made these allegations on the micro-blogging website Twitter on Friday.

The police have stated that rape was not confirmed in the post-mortem report and neither the family alleged any use of force in the incident.

Unnao Superintendent of Police Anand Kulkarni, said, “Dr. Udit Raj is accused of sharing false and fabricated information on social media.”

Kulkarni said that an FIR has been registered against Udit Raj under charges of provocation with intent to cause a riot and the Information Technology act.

The tweet by Udit Raj said: “I just spoke to former MP Savitri Bai Phule Ji. The police let them meet the victim families in Unnao with great difficulty. The victim’s family said that the girls had been raped and the bodies were burnt against their will.”

Congress needs to win states to be relevant in Parliament

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Congress needs to win states to be relevant in Parliament

The Congress is trying hard to win elections in Assam and Kerala where it is directly pitched against its opponents with senior party leader Rahul Gandhi initiating a campaign in all the poll-bound states barring West Bengal.

After being decimated in the Lok Sabha polls in 2019, Congress is losing its numbers in the Upper House, especially following the demise of senior party leader Ahmed Patel.

While the BJP is winning state after state, the Congress has been reduced to just four states and it is in alliance in two states. However, Congress has not been able to win the big states.

Party insiders say that Congress has to focus on winning state polls to keep itself relevant in the Upper House. The situation is worse in the Lok Sabha where the Congress lacks representation from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Delhi.

The combined strength of the Congress has fallen below 100, and the gap between the BJP and the Congress in the Rajya Sabha is also at its widest ever. The BJP has 92 members in the Upper House and is set to gain two more from the bypolls in Gujarat, while the Congress has only 36 members in the Upper House.

The five states going to the polls this year could change the dynamics if the party puts up a good show there, as Tamil Nadu has 18 seats, followed by West Bengal (16), Kerala (9), Assam (7), and Puducherry (1).

If Congress wins the elections in Assam and Kerala, it could enhance its numbers in the Upper House, but it will still be short of the BJP’s tally.

The BJP has been able to drive its legislations in both the Houses of the Parliament owing to its numerical majority, while the opposition has been alleging that the ruling did not follow the procedures, especially while passing the farm laws.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has been appointed the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha by M. Venkiah Naidu, chairman of the House, after the post fell vacant following the retirement of Ghulam Nabi Azad on February 16.

The Congress leaders are saying that before the 2004 general elections, the Congress-ruled 14 states but the number has reduced to just four now. If the party wants to survive, it has to focus on regional leaders and on winning state elections.

The party has lost the crucial states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to regional players, while it has failed to dislodge the government in Odisha. In the northeast too, it has lost all the states where it once held the fort.

The Congress dissenters are also emphasizing the need to nurture state leaders and have demanded elections from block to the CWC level to galvanize the organization.

‘Andhra’s rapid industrialisation only with special category status’

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‘Andhra’s rapid industrialisation only with special category status’

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday appealed to Prime Narendra Modi to accord special category status (SCS) for rapid industrialization in the state.

“Rapid industrialization of my state is possible if only the special status is accorded. This was a commitment made on the floor of the Parliament and was a pre-condition to the bifurcation,” said Reddy.

The Chief Minister interacted with Modi during the Niti Aayog’s Governing Council meeting virtually on Saturday.

Reddy said the southern state is yet to gain the growth momentum in industrialization despite a commitment to provide a business-friendly environment.

“This is due to the several constraints, resulting in the unjust and inequitable bifurcation of the erstwhile state of AP. The bifurcation resulted in my state being deprived of a tier I city, infrastructure, employment opportunities, and financial resources,” the Chief Minister added.

Referring to the agricultural sector that employs 62 percent of Andhra’s population, Reddy said that five key policy interventions will give a boost to the sector.

He also added that a market stabilization fund should be established at the disposal of the state governments’ to help the farmers.

Development is the aim of this government: PM Modi

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Development is the aim of this government: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday virtually inaugurated a slew of projects in Kerala and said that development is the aim of the government.

“Development and good governance have no caste, creed, or religion as development is for everyone, and for that, I seek the support of the people of Kerala. Development is our aim,” Modi said while taking part in the inauguration ceremony from Delhi, in which Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also took part virtually.

Modi laid the foundation stone for the Integrated Command and Control Centre, and convert 37 km roads into world-class status.

“To facilitate our growth, we have the Smart City project and it helps in urban planning. So far, 54 Command and Control Centres have become operational,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated the 320 KV Pugalur (Tamil Nadu) to Thrissur (Kerala) power transmission project.

“Thrissur is known as the cultural center of Kerala and now with this project, it will become the power center of the state as this will get connected to the national grid. The transmission gap has to be bridged and it will be done. The High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) equipment used in the project has been made under the Make in India Aatmanirbhar movement,” said Modi.

The project has been built at a cost of Rs 5,070 crore and will facilitate the transfer of 2,000 MW of power from the western region to help meet the demand of power in Kerala.

The Prime Minister also dedicated the 50 MW Kasaragod Solar Power Project that has been developed over 250 acres at a cost of Rs 280 crore to the people.

“India has been going green in solar energy and is putting up a strong fight against climate change which is a boost to our entrepreneurs. Under the PM Kusum Yojana, 20 lakh farmers have been given solar pumps,” added Modi.

Modi also launched the 75 MLD (million liters per day) Water Treatment Plant at Aruvikkara in the capital district, built under the Amrut Mission.

“Under the Amrut scheme, 175 drinking water supply projects at a cost of Rs 1,100 crore have been launched so far, and this new one at Aruvikara will benefit 13 lakh, people,” Modi said.

He began his speech by saying that a few days back he was in Kerala to inaugurate a few projects in the petroleum sector. “Thanks to technology, we are able to connect again. We are taking positive steps for the development of Kerala and we will empower this beautiful state,” said Modi.

Vijayan in his speech said that Friday is a historic day as many projects are being unveiled which will help the development of the state.

“We assure our continued support for the implementation of the projects that are being jointly implemented by the Centre and state. It’s imperative to work together for the benefit of the people,” said Vijayan.

Pinarayi Vijayan prepares to fight anti-incumbency, tread new terrain

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Pinarayi Vijayan prepares to fight anti-incumbency, tread new terrain

No doubt, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is the tallest leader in the CPI-M and has proved himself as the most successful party secretary after being at the helm of affairs for 17 years.

But now Vijayan is preparing to face what could be his most testing moment in a glorious political career since the assembly elections are around the corner.

One reason why the coming weeks would be crucial for Vijayan is that he is definitely treading in the unfamiliar territory of having to lead his party to one of the most keenly awaited electoral fights with the traditional rival: the Congress-led UDF.

When the state went to the polls in 2016, it was never mentioned that it was Vijayan who will become chief minister, should the Left win the polls. As any political student in Kerala would know, the star campaigner then was none other than Vijayan’s bitter foe for many years and his senior in the party, V.S.Achuthanandan.

Practically every candidate who contested the polls then, had the picture of the veteran former Chief Minister and hugely adored Communist Achuthanandan in all their campaign material and despite his advanced age, every Left candidate was desperate to get the veteran at least for one of their election meetings in their constituency. At that time, not many were keen on Vijayan, as his tough demeanor and body language were not the right ones for a candidate, seeking votes for his/ her victory.

Once the votes began to be counted Vijayan grew in stature and prominence. Though Achuthanandan had high hopes, the announcement came that Vijayan would be given the chair of the Chief Minister.

The only solace Achuthanandan had was that the party decided to give him a cabinet post and made him the chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission, which came with all the paraphernalia of comforts.

But now things are different. ” Yes, will be an acid test for Vijayan, as it’s he who has become the campaign leader. Achuthanandan for all practical purposes is not seen in the public domain for a long time, as he is 97 years old. This is perhaps a new challenge, which Vijayan has not faced as yet,” said a CPI-M leader who did not wish to be identified.

A top Congress leader said it’s made or break time for Vijayan, as he thinks that the recent local body polls which went his way, will be repeated in the assembly polls, but assembly and local body polls may turn out to be like chalk and cheese.

“The Kerala electorate is known for their electoral acumen, when it comes to pressing the button on the voting machine, as they think differently when it comes to Lok Sabha, assembly, and local body polls. Vijayan is certainly on the back foot, as Achuthanandan, their all-time biggest star campaigner will not be seen for the campaign. The Congress has a few star campaigners, who certainly have started drawing huge crowds, as was seen in the ongoing statewide yatra of Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala,” said a Congress leader.

However, Vijayan is optimistic about rewriting electoral history by becoming the first chief minister in the state to retain power in an assembly election, even as the Congress appears to be on a strong footing as voters may choose the party in the light of Vijayan’s perceived “arrogance.”

Patole row: Cong says it won’t stop shooting or release of films

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Patole row: Cong says it won’t stop shooting or release of films

A day after Maharashtra state President Nana Patole said that Congress workers will not allow the shooting and release of films by Amitabh Bachhan and Akshay Kumar, Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the party respects freedom of speech but raised questions about the two actors.

He said the cause of concern is that many celebs have been tweeting in a similar pattern in favor of the government.

He assured that Congress workers will not obstruct films or the shooting of Bachchan and Kumar. “The Congress believes in freedom of speech. I have spoken to Nana Patole and he has assured me that no such thing (stopping shooting or release) will happen.”

The Maharashtra Congress had on Thursday warned that it would stop shooting or screening of Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar films as “they have failed to speak up” on burning public issues.

In a strong statement, Patole said that the Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hiked petrol-diesel-gas prices exorbitantly, while farmers have been protesting outside Delhi for the past nearly three months. However, in the midst of these grave crises, many celebs including Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay, who had raised their voices against the Congress-led UPA Government in the past on various issues, are now absolutely silent. He warned that the party would stop their film shootings/screenings for keeping aloof.

“The Modi regime has hiked fuel prices with petrol going up to Rs 100, domestic cooking gas cylinders up to Rs 800. Life has become miserable for the common masses. Even the farmers are protesting outside Delhi, demanding the revoking of the three new farm laws,” Patole said.

Attempts were made to erase Netaji’s contributions: Shah

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Attempts were made to erase Netaji’s contributions: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is on a two-day visit to poll-bound West Bengal, said on Friday that attempts were made to erase the contribution of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, but he still continues to inspire the citizens.

Shah, who on Friday attended a ‘Shauryanjali’ program at the National Library in Kolkata to pay tribute to Bengal’s icons, inaugurated an exhibition titled ‘Biplabi Bangla’. Besides, the Home Minister also flagged off a ‘cycle yatra’ in three groups, which would travel 900 km to create awareness about Bengal’s icons among the masses.

Shah said the country remembers Netaji with a lot of affection and his sacrifices and bravery would be remembered for generations.

“Everyone remembers Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the sacrifices he made for the country. Attempts were made to erase his contributions but he continues to inspire generations,” Shah added.

To pay tribute to Netaji on his 125th birth anniversary this year, the Union government has formed a committee under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah said.

Appealing to the youth to read about the life of Netaji, Shah said “his life would teach you a lot”.

“The future of the country can be only created by the younger generation who understands the history of the country and respects those who sacrificed their lives for the nation,” Shah said.

One group of the cycle yatra flagged off by Shah is named after Netaji, while the other two groups are named after freedom fighters Rash Behari Bose and Khudiram Bose.

He said the cycle yatra would visit villages across West Bengal and tell the people about the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters for the country.

One must be restrained and sensitive while in power: Modi

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One must be restrained and sensitive while in power: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that one has to be restrained and sensitive while in power.

Addressing the Visva-Bharati University convocation virtually, the Prime Minister said, “Responsibility comes with knowledge and power. Just as one has to be restrained and sensitive while in power, every scholar also has to be responsible towards those who do not have knowledge.”

Addressing the students, he said, “Your knowledge and skill can make a nation proud or can push society into the darkness of slander and ruin.”

“Many who are spreading terror and violence across the world are highly educated, highly skilled. On the other hand, there are people who are risking their lives and are stationed at hospitals and labs to save people from a pandemic like Covid,” Modi said.

He explained that this is not about ideology but the mindset, whether it is positive or negative, there is scope for both and paths are open for both.

He urged the students to decide whether they want to be part of the problem or the solution. “If you put the nation first, then every decision will move towards some solution,” he said.

The Prime Minister advised the students not to be afraid of making a decision. “As long as the youth of the country have the passion to innovate, take risks, and move forward, there is no worry about the future of the country,” he said.

Calling Bengal an inspiration for “Ek Bharat-Shreshth Bharat”, the Prime Minister said that the Visva Bharati University will play a big role in the 21st-century knowledge economy, taking Indian knowledge and identity to every corner of the world.

Modi called upon the students of the prestigious institute to prepare a vision document for the next 25 years about the 25 biggest goals of Visva Bharati in 2047.

The PM also urged the students to always remember that knowledge, thought and skill is not static but a dynamic and continuous process.

He pointed out that Visva Bharati for Gurudev (Rabindranath Tagore) was not just a knowledge imparting institution but an attempt to reach the topmost goal of Indian culture, which is to achieve oneself.

“Success and failure do not determine our present and future. You may not get the results you thought after a decision, but you should not be afraid to make a decision.”

Highlighting the importance of knowledge, Modi said, “You will always have to remember that knowledge, education and skill’ are not static, it is a continuous process. There will always be scope for ‘course correction’.”

Highlighting Bengal’s contribution to education, Modi said, “Bengal has led the country in advancing India’s rich knowledge and science in the past. Bengal has been the site of inspiration for the best of India and also a place of work.”

Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP), the Prime Minister said, “The new NEP, apart from breaking the old shackles, has given the students complete freedom to show their ability. This education policy gives you the freedom to read different subjects in your language.”

“The policy promotes entrepreneurship and self-employment, research and innovation. This education policy is a major milestone in the making of an Aatmnirbhar Bharat,” said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister mentioned that scholars have recently been given free access to lakhs of journals by the Government.

“This year’s Budget has proposed Rs 50 thousand crores in five years for research through the National Research Foundation. This Education Policy has made provision for the Gender Inclusion Fund that will give girls new confidence. A higher dropout rate of girls was studied and arrangements made for entry-exit options and yearly credit in the degree courses,” he said.

The Prime Minister called upon students to find ways to make nearby villages Aatmnirbhar and take their products globally.

Maha Cong threatens to stall Amitabh, Akshay’s films for ignoring public causes

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Maha Cong threatens to stall Amitabh, Akshay’s films for ignoring public causes

The Maharashtra Congress on Thursday warned that it would stop shooting or screening of Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumars films as “they have failed to speak up” on burning public issues.

In a strong statement, state Congress President Nana Patole said that the Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hiked petrol-diesel-gas prices exorbitantly, while farmers have been protesting outside Delhi for the past nearly three months.

However, in the midst of these grave crises, many celebs including Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay, who had raised their voices against the Congress-led UPA Government in the past on various issues, are now absolutely silent, and he cautioned that the party would stop their film shootings/screenings for keeping aloof.

“The Modi regime has hiked fuel prices with petrol going up to Rs 100, domestic cooking gas cylinders up to Rs800. Life has become miserable for the common masses. Even the farmers are protesting outside Delhi, demanding the revoking of the 3 new farm laws,” Patole said.

“Compared with the rates during the UPA government, the prices of fuel are nearly double now in the 7 years of BJP rule At that time all these celebs spoke out against the government, but now they are scared of the BJP and keeping mum,” Patole said.

He was speaking at a bullock cart-cum-tractor rally in Bhandara to support the farmer’s agitation and the four-hour-long all-India rail-roko stir by farmers organizations.

“The UPA Government was a democratic and constitutional administration, that is why Bachchan and Kumar and many other celebs were raising their voice without fear against it. Today, when they are expected to speak out, they have become puppets of the BJP,” alleged Patole.

Now, the celebs no longer talk about or speak out against inflation, spiraling fuel prices, atrocities against farmers, and other sections of society though people from all over the world have tweeted and thrown their weight behind the farmers of India, he said.

“These Indian celebs remained quiet even when the BJP and its IT Cell denounced the farmer’s protests, labeling them as terrorists, Khalistanis, Maoists, etc. But at the behest of the BJP and its IT Cell, they resorted to anti-farmer tweets. Have the celebs become mere ‘parrots’ of the IT Cell..?” Patole demanded.

Patole’s warning came barely two days after State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh announced that a preliminary Mumbai Police probe has revealed the involvement of the BJP IT Cell chief and 12 other influencers in the recent controversy surrounding celeb tweets.

Earlier, Congress state Spokesperson Sachin Sawant said that the Congress charge of pressure being put on celebs to tweet in favor of the government now stands exposed.

“After our demand to probe if the BJP had arm-twisted the celebs to speak up in favor of the government vis-a-vis the farmer’s protests, not a single celebrity has come forward to declare that it was his/her opinion,” Sawant pointed out.

Though BJP President J. P. Nadda, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, and state Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis tried to cover up the BJP’s conspiracy with regard to the celeb’s tweets, the silence of these renowned celebrities has spoken by itself, Sawant said.

Paytm Money opens F&O trading for all at Rs 10, receives over 1 lakh early access requests

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Paytm Money opens F&O trading for all at Rs 10, receives over 1 lakh early access requests

India’s homegrown digital financial services platform Paytm on Thursday announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Paytm Money has opened Futures & Options trading for all. It aims to empower the masses with F&O trading as an important wealth management product.

The company said that it received an overwhelming response for F&O trading on its platform with over 1 lakh requests for its Early Access Program. Trading is now live on the Paytm Money app and website for all.

The company said that it has enabled users with the lowest and most competitive brokerage at Rs 10 for F&O, which is in line with its intraday charges of Rs 10, and zero for delivery. The pricing disruption will benefit experienced as well as first-time traders to seamlessly trade in futures & options with a best-in-class product, on their mobile and in a secure environment. The F&O platform has seamless UI and easy onboarding that makes F&O trading accessible and feasible for every Indian.

Paytm Money said that during the Early Access Program the company witnessed massive interest coming from tier-III, tier-IV, and the rest of India towns in F&O trade. It has also seen a rise in interest in wealth products in the user base below the age of 30 and women investors. Paytm Money aims at simplifying stock trading for all Indians, be it seasoned traders or new to a market investors by offering them the flexibility to invest and trade via both the app and its website.

Varun Sridhar, CEO – Paytm Money said, “We are delighted to share that more than 1 lakh users were granted access during the first few weeks of the F&O early access phase in January after its early access launch. The platform witnessed greater adoption by users from Tier 1 cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Amongst the smaller cities that showed maximum interest were Patna, Kota, and Guntur. Additionally, more than 50 per cent of users belonged to the age group of 20-30 years. Our pricing of Rs 10 flat per order without any contracts or commitments brings the overall cost of trading significantly lower and makes it super transparent. With this, Paytm Money is taking one step further to become India’s most comprehensive & top digital wealth management platform.”

F&O Trading in India is a highly competitive arena that hosts a number of old and young players. This widespread adoption of F&O Trading on Paytm Money in such a short span holds considerable significance for us and indicates recognition towards our efforts to democratize digital trading for every Indian. Along with simplified trading in the futures and options segment, the platform offers ample opportunities to the user to research the markets, explore market movers, create customizable watchlists, and set price alerts for as many as 50 stocks.

Also, with the built-in Brokerage Calculator, the investor can discover the transaction charges & know the exact breakeven price to sell stocks profitably. Besides, the Advanced Charts and other options like Cover Order & Bracket Order have been added to make the stock trading experience more rewarding. All this and a lot more would be available with absolute data privacy to keep investors’ personal data safe with bank-level security. Apart from this, the company is planning to come up with more value-adding features and intends to launch a few more exciting products on its platform very soon.

Paytm Money is a wholly-owned subsidiary of One97 Communications that owns and operates Paytm. It is the largest online investment platform in the country and has now added F&O to its current offerings of Stocks, ETF, IPO, Digital Gold, Direct Mutual Funds & NPS for its users.

It aims to become a full-stack investment and wealth management platform and bring wealth creation opportunities to millions of Indians. Headquartered and operating from Bengaluru, the team is 300+ members strong.

Google removes Trump’s campaign app from Play Store

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Google removes Trump’s campaign app from Play Store

Google has removed former US President Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign app from its Play Store for violating its policies.

Android Police first reported that the app was unable to load any content and appeared to have been taken down.

Both the Android version of the app and its iOS counterpart has been left online since the November 2020 elections but hadn’t received recent updates.

The Play Store version hadn’t been updated since October 30.

“The Trump 2020 campaign app recently stopped working and we reached out to the developer multiple times in an attempt to get them to address the issue,” a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying in reports on Wednesday.

“People expect that apps downloaded from Google Play provide a minimum level of functionality and our policy is to remove non-working apps from the store if they are not fixed,” the spokesperson told TechCrunch.

The Trump 2020 app dates back to 2016, where it was used in the former president’s first campaign.

The app allowed users to register for Trump rallies, check into events, contribute financially, keep up to date with campaign news, and earn rewards.

The iOS version was still able to load which means Apple has not suspended the app as yet.

Amid political crisis, Rahul Gandhi lands in Puducherry

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Amid political crisis, Rahul Gandhi lands in Puducherry

As Congress-ruled Puducherry plunged into political uncertainty, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi arrived in the Union territory on Wednesday.

With Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanswamy’s close aide A. John Kumar resigning from the party on Tuesday, citing “dissatisfaction with the Congress government” in the Union territory, it has pushed the Congress government to the brink of losing power.

Kumar submitted his resignation to Speaker V. P. Sivakozhunthu in the Assembly, just a day after Puducherry minister Malladi Krishna Rao tendered his resignation.

Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to interact with the fishing community in the Solai Nagar area and meet students of a girls’ college.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also scheduled to visit Puducherry on February 25. Modi will be visiting Coimbatore in neighboring Tamil Nadu on the same day.

Modi’s visit to Coimbatore will include a rally in the city. The trip to Puducherry assumes added significance given the political instability in the Union territory and the recall of Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi ahead of the Assembly election.

Third phase of panchayat polls begin in Andhra Pradesh

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Third phase of panchayat polls begin in Andhra Pradesh

The third phase of the four-phased Panchayat elections in Andhra Pradesh kicked off on Wednesday with voting commencing at 6.30 a.m. in 18 revenue divisions.

The revenue divisions in which polls are being held are Srikakulam, Palakonda, Vizianagaram, Paderu, Rampachodavaram, Yetapaka, Jangareddygudem, Kukunuru, Machilipatnam, Gurazala, Kandukur, Gudur, Naidupeta, Adoni, Kurnool, Ananthapur, Rajampet, Kadapa and Madanapalle.

As many as 2,639 sarpanch posts are being contested, along with 19,553 wards.

In Kurnool district, elections started off on a peaceful note and district collector Veerapandian reiterated that people should exercise their franchise fearlessly.

He advised people to call control room number 1800-4255180 in case any forces are trying to influence the elections.

Similar to the second phase polls, district officials made arrangements to complete vote counting faster in major panchayats.

Starting at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, senior officials have been monitoring the election arrangements and polls in the control room set up at the Collectorate.

As many as 14 manuals, comprising 245 panchayats and 2,516 wards are going to the polls at 2,204 polling centers.

Kurnool district administration deployed 2,557 policemen on poll duty.

As many as 219 villages are going to the polls in the district.

Out of the 2,204 polling stations, the district identified 605 polling stations as troublesome ones and another 374 as hyper-sensitive.

Polling and vote counting officials number is 7,250 in the Rayalaseema district.

Zonal officials, shadow teams, striking force teams, route mobile teams, flying squads, drones, and webcasting are deployed to monitor the elections.

Police Act 30 and CrPc Section 144 have been imposed in the district, including banning victory rallies, pyrotechnics, and other musical celebrations.

“Non-locals, newcomers, and people not related to the polls are banned from the villages where polls are occurring,” reiterated an official statement.

In Anantapur district, elections are happening in 19 mandapams. Out of 379 panchayats, 23 sarpanches have been elected unanimously, while 936 contestants are competing for the remaining 356 sarpanch posts.

In a similar fashion, 1,076 wards have gone for unanimous polls, even as polling began for the remaining wards in which 2,620 candidates are contesting.

By 10:30 a.m. Anantapur district witnessed a polling percentage of 48.15 percent.

PM, CMs greet KCR on 67th birthday

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PM, CMs greet KCR on 67th birthday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Ministers of various states greeted Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on his 67th birthday on Wednesday.

“Greetings to Telangana CM KCR Garu on his birthday. Praying for his long and healthy life,” tweeted Modi.

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, also received birthday greetings from Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan. She expressed her best wishes for his healthy and long life so that he can continue to serve people.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also greeted KCR on his birthday. “Warm birthday greetings to Chief Minister of Telangana Shri K. Chandrasekhar Rao Ji. I wish you good health and long life in service of the people,” Om Birla tweeted.

KCR’s son K.T. Rama Rao and daughter K. Kavitha also took to Twitter to express his feelings.

“To a warrior who fought against all odds to make Telangana state a reality… To a leader who was an awe-inspiring agitator & now a fabulous administrator… To a living legend who epitomizes the word Visionary… To a man I am privileged to call my Father, #HappyBirthdayKCR Garu,” tweeted Rama Rao who is the minister for industry, information technology, municipal administration, and urban development.

Kavitha, who is a member of the Telangana Legislative Council, also greeted her father.

Chief ministers of various states and leaders of different parties also greeted Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief.

“Birthday greetings to Telangana CM Shri K Chandrasekhar Rao Ji. Wishing for your happy and healthy life,” wrote Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan conveyed his greetings to his Telangana counterpart and prayed for his good health and long life.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb and union minister for chemicals and fertilizers Sadananda Gowda were among the other leaders who greeted KCR.

DDA receives 30,979 applications on last day of housing scheme

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DDA receives 30,979 applications on last day of housing scheme

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) received 30,979 applications for its Housing Scheme 2021 offering 1,350 flats on Tuesday, the last day for submission of applications.

Out of the total applications, the DDA received payment from 19,972 applicants, a senior official told IANS.

Under its new housing scheme, the DDA is offering flats in Dwarka, Jasola, Manglapuri, Rohini, and Vasant Kunj.

As per the information, a total of 254 HIG (higher income group) flats are on offer, the majority of which are located in Jasola.

Pocket 9B flats in the HIG category are available in the price range of Rs 1.97 crore to Rs 2.14 crore while 13 flats are on sale in Vasant Kunj in the price range of Rs 1.43 crore to Rs 1.72 crore.

As many as 352 MIG (middle-income group) flats located in Dwarka Sector 19-B, 348 in Dwarka Sector 16, and four in Vasant Kunj are on sale under the scheme while as many as 276 EWS flats in Dwarka’s Manglapuri area are being offered.

When asked whether the last date would be extended, the official said, “No, as of now.”

BJP govt is rectifying the mistakes of history, says PM Modi

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BJP govt is rectifying the mistakes of history, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the government is correcting irregularities in the writing of history which did not give importance to most of the people who sacrificed their lives for the nation.

The correction is being done as the country approaches the 75th year of its independence, said the Prime Minister while addressing people after laying the foundation stone of Maharaja Suheldev Memorial and development work of Chittaura Lake at Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich via video conference.

It is more important to remember the contribution of the historical heroes and heroines that have made an immense contribution to the country, the Prime Minister said.

He lamented the fact that the people who sacrificed everything for India and Indianness have not been given their due in history books.

“These irregularities and injustice against the makers of Indian history by the writers of Indian history are now being corrected as we are entering the 75th year of Independence.”

The Prime Minister emphasised that the history of India is not just the history written by colonial powers or those with colonial mindsets. “Indian History is what has been nurtured by the common people in their folklore and taken forward by generations.”

The Prime Minister asked whether the first Prime Minister of Azad Hind Government, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, has been given the place that he deserves.

Modi said that the ruling government had recognized Neta ji by strengthening his identity from Red fort to Andaman Nicobar.

Similarly, the Prime Minister said, that the treatment of the unifier of more than 500 princely states, Sardar Patel is also well-known. “Today, the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue is of Sardar Patel.”

The key architect of the Constitution and voice of the exploited, deprived, and downtrodden, Baba Saheb Ambedkar, was always looked through the political prism. Today, the Prime Minister said, all places associated with Dr. Ambedkar from India to England are being developed as PanchTeerth.

“There are innumerable personalities who were not recognized due to various reasons. Can we forget what happened with the Bravehearts of Chauri Chaura?” asked the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister said that Maharaja Suheldev’s contribution to protecting Indianness was similarly ignored.

The Prime Minister recalled Maharaja Suheldev’s contribution as a sensitive and development-oriented ruler.

“Maharaja Suheldev has been kept alive in the hearts of people by the folklore of Awadh, Tarai, and Poorvanchal despite being ignored by textbooks.”

YSRCP to undertake ‘padayatra’ against steel plant privatisation

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YSRCP to undertake ‘padayatra’ against steel plant privatisation

In the face of the protests by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) against the privatization of the Vizag Steel Plant, the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders have decided to undertake a ‘padayatra’ for the plant on Saturday.

“At 8:30 a.m. on February 20, we will undertake a padayatra from Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at GVMC, covering all the constituencies (in Visakhapatnam) from south, east, west, north, and Gajuwaka to protect the prospects of the steel plant,” said senior YSRCP leader and Rajya Sabha MP V. Vijayasai Reddy.

He said this padayatra will be called ‘steel plant parirakshana porata yatra’, which will cover a distance of 23-25 km.

Reddy said the padayatra will terminate at the steel plant to voice the ruling party’s protest against the Central government’s privatisation plan. The MP said the padayatra will be conducted in such a fashion that it will be heard in Delhi.

“YSRCP is ready to take up any program required to oppose the steel plant’s privatization without compromising,” he said, attacking TDP national president N. Chandrababu Naidu.

He claimed that the YSRCP leaders do not enact dramas like Naidu, and said that YSRCP supremo Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy speaks the truth as it is.

“Please do not believe his (Naidu’s) dramas. We will do it (hinting at salvaging the steel plant),” claimed Reddy.

Similarly, senior YSRCP leader Muttamsetti Srinivas Rao criticized Naidu and his party leaders for allegedly speaking what they want and making claims that the state government met with POSCO officials.

“I want to tell one thing. So many industrialists come to the state to meet the Chief Minister and to India to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is wicked to say that we have a dark understanding of everyone we meet. There is no such need for Jagan Mohan Reddy or the government,” asserted Rao.

Rao claimed that Naidu has a fancy for foreign investments and overseas industrialists, compared to Indian businessmen.

Meanwhile, the police in Visakhapatnam forcibly ended the indefinite fast of TDP leader Palla Srinivas, protesting the privatisation of the steel plant.

YSRCP leader Srikanth Reddy claimed that Srinivas was shifted to a hospital in the interest of his family’s welfare, which TDP was allegedly politicizing.

He questioned Naidu as to why he didn’t encourage his son Nara Lokesh or Gitam University founder M.V.V.S. Murthy’s grandson to go on an indefinite fast to protect the steel plant.

Srikanth Reddy drew an analogy that APSRTC has been merged into the government for its welfare and proper functioning but still some people are allegedly targeting the CM.

Meanwhile, Naidu reached the port city on Tuesday and addressed a large gathering of people protesting the privatisation of the steel plant.

“Visakhapatnam is the heart of new Andhra Pradesh. The steel plant is like the heart of Visakhapatnam. If there is no steel plant, then we have no name,” said Naidu, reminding that 32 people sacrificed their lives decades ago for the plant.

Naidu said the CM will come to Visakhapatnam because he came there but will visit Saradapeetam, a spiritual center, to allegedly meet fake ‘babas’ (godmen).

He was accompanied by TDP state president Kinjarapu Atchannaidu and other leaders.

However, Naidu’s plans of meeting Srinivas got canceled as the police had forcibly ended the latter’s fast.

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