Budget 2021 carries forward Aatmanirbhar vision: PM

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Budget 2021 carries forward Aatmanirbhar vision: PM

Terming the Budget 2021 “exceptional”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said it has a vision of “Aatmanirbhar” (self-reliance) and inclusion of every citizen with a sense of belief in development amid the Covid-19 pandemic which has shaken entire humanity.

Mentioning the influence of Covid-19, Modi said the Budget has been presented amid exceptional circumstances and will highlight India’s confidence, and at the same time, evoke new confidence in the world.

In his remarks after the Union Budget was tabled in the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister said that the principles behind the Budget include expansion of new opportunities for growth, and for the youth, giving a new dimension to human resource, infrastructure development, and helping new sectors grow.

The Prime Minister said that the Budget will enhance “ease of living” for the common man by simplifying procedures and rules while bringing positive changes for individuals, investors, industry, and infrastructure sector.

He said that the government gave proper attention to its responsibility towards fiscal sustainability while increasing the size of the budget while expressing happiness that the transparency factor of the budget has been appreciated by the experts.

Stressing the proactive approach of the government, whether, during the Corona pandemic or campaign for Aatmanirbharta, the Prime Minister noted that the budget doesn’t have an iota of reactive approach. “We have gone beyond active and have given a pro-active budget.”

Appreciating the all-round development emphasis of the Budget, Modi said that it is focused on wealth and wellness, MSME, and infrastructure. He also noted the unprecedented focus on healthcare.

The Prime Minister expressed happiness that the Budget has taken into account the development needs of southern states, the Northeast, and Ladakh.

He also said it is a huge step in the direction of turning coastal states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal into a business powerhouse. The Budget will also be greatly helpful in tapping the unexplored potential of the northeastern states such as Assam, he added.

Mentioning the impact of the Budget on the various segments of society, Modi said its emphasis on research and innovation will help the youth.

The Prime Minister earlier congratulated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her marathon 110-minute Budget speech and also inquired about her health soon after she completed her presentation in the Lok Sabha.

The Finance Minister began her Budget speech at 11 a.m. for the third time in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Prime Minister Modi. She concluded it after almost two hours.

Mamata criticises Union Budget, calls it anti-people

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Mamata criticises Union Budget, calls it anti-people

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday vehemently criticized the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament earlier in the day, saying it would impact farmers and poor people across the country. She said, “it is anti-farmer, anti-people, and anti-country budget”.

“The budget is not in favor of the farmers and poor people of the country. What kind of budget is this? It’s a fake budget. Bhekdhari sarkar fakedari budget (It is a fake budget of the deceptive government,” Banerjee said on the occasion of the virtual inauguration of a bridge in north Bengal’s Siliguri.

She said the budget will increase the prices of the essential commodities.

“The agricultural cess imposed upon all petroleum products will lead to price rise. The Centre takes away all the cess. The state governments do not get any share of that,” she said.

The West Bengal Chief Minister dubbed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as a vindictive government.

“Are you sure that you will get your insurance amount? No one knows to whom they will send the insurance sector. I guess they will take a demonetization-like decision with nationalized banks too,” Banerjee said.

The Union Budget also mentioned the development of the 675-km stretch in West Bengal at a cost of Rs 95,000 crore.

She said that the Centre wants to make roads ahead of polls. “Go and give this money to farmers. No need to make rural roads, I will myself make it,” the Chief Minister said.

“We have already made roads in north Bengal. What will they do with the Kolkata-Siliguri road? You made an airport in Assam operational, why can’t you make the Coochbehar airport operational? If you don’t do it, I will do it,” she added.

West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra said that the budget doesn’t have the clarity and vision.

“Only clarity it has is to sell off everything, starting from a rail, port, insurance, airlines, etc. A lot of expectations were there but it has failed to meet them,” Mitra said, in his reaction to the budget.

Budget sops for poll-bound states, oppn dubs it ‘manifesto’

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Budget sops for poll-bound states, oppn dubs it ‘manifesto’

While the BJP attempts to woo voters in the four poll-bound states of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, and Assam, announcing major infrastructure projects and welfare schemes in the Union Budget, the opposition termed it an “election manifesto” that ignored the rest of the country.

The BJP is fighting a high-voltage election battle in West Bengal to dislodge Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress government and is also aiming for a second consecutive term in Assam. The BJP is also trying to form a government in Tamil Nadu with alliance partner AIADMK and working hard to increase its numbers in the Kerala Assembly where it has only one member.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed new highway projects of 3,500 km in Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs 1.03 lakh crore, 1,100 km of highways in Kerala at an investment of Rs 65,000 crore. In West Bengal, she proposed 675 km of highways works at a cost of Rs 25,000 crore and over 1,300 km of highways in Assam at Rs 34,000 crore.

Rajya Sabha member and Assam Congress chief, Ripun Bora tweeted, “So, the BJP government has made parliament the place to launch election manifestos for Assembly elections. This Budget is nothing more than an election manifesto full of ‘jumlas’!”

“Congratulations India, FM presents the election budget,” Bora said.

BJP General Secretary and West Bengal in-charge, Kailash Vijayvargiya said that this year’s Budget is an attempt to find a self-reliant India, new possibilities for employment and business. “When the whole world is struggling with a deteriorating economy, the new Budget under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought new hope,” Vijayvargiya tweeted.

Congress Lok Sabha MP from Ernakulam in Kerala, Hibi Eden told IANS that the whole Budget exercise was turned into an “election drama” by announcing major infra projects in poll-bound states while ignoring the rest of the country.

“All the infrastructure projects are announced to reap political benefits in Assembly polls in four states to be held in coming two or three months. Even while announcing welfare schemes for poll-bound states, the BJP government has failed to include tea workers from Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the scheme announced for tea workers of West Bengal and Assam,” said first-time MP Eden. The Budget proposed Rs 1,000 crore for a welfare scheme for tea workers of Assam and West Bengal.

Budgetary announcements were made for Kochi Metro rail phase II and Chennai Metro rail phase II. Eden alleged that funds for phase II of Kochi Metro announced by the UPA government were stalled and made part of the Budget of 2021-22. “People are expecting the announcement of Phase-III of Kochi Metro rail but the BJP government announced budgetary provisions for phase-II,” Eden added.

Trinamool MP Derek O’Brien said that India’s first paperless budget is also a 100 percent “visionless” Budget.

“Theme of the fake budget is ‘Sell India!’ Railways: sold, Airports: sold, Ports: sold, Insurance: sold, PSUs: 23 sold! Common people ignored. Farmers ignored. Rich get richer, nothing for the middle class, poor get poorer,” O’Brien tweeted.

Referring to 675-km highway work in West Bengal, Brien further tweeted, “What Bengal did yesterday, Centre only talks today, Budget ’21 promise – 625 km roads in WB, WB government (2018) – new roads of 5,111 km, No one in India. Plus 1,165 km roads in 2019.”

Talking about the promotion of seaweed farming, Sitharaman announced the setting up of a multi-purpose seaweed park in Tamil Nadu. DMK Lok Sabha MP from Namakkal in Tamil Nadu, A.K.P Chinraj told the IANS that these Budget proposals are just an announcement and in reality, there is nothing on the ground to execute these projects.

“Announcements are made with an eye on upcoming Assembly polls including Tamil Nadu to grab power in these states. They will forget all the Budget proposals once the Assembly polls get over,” Chinraj added.

Cong questions FIRs against farmers leaders and not Deep Sidhu

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Cong questions FIRs against farmers leaders and not Deep Sidhu

Congress leaders on Wednesday questioned the police action against the farmer’s leaders after the clashes on Tuesday between the farmers and the police during the tractor rally in New Delhi.

Punjab Congress MP Jasbir Singh Gill Tampa, who is protesting against the farm laws said, “Has anybody noticed any case being registered against Deep Sidhu or Lakha Sadhana.” It is alleged that Deep Sidhu was among the group of farmers who entered the Red Fort in New Delhi and unfurled the pennant there, while violent clashes erupted in several areas of the national capital.

Hundreds of farmers riding their tractors, motorcycles and cars entered the premises of Red Fort on Tuesday afternoon with the national flag, a pennant and farmer union flags in their hands.

As many as 22 FIRs have been filed by the Delhi Police so far in connection with the violence witnessed during the farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day, officials said on Wednesday.

The FIRs were registered under sections dealing with rioting, damage to public property, and assault on public servants with deadly weapons.

Another senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh blamed the Modi government for the violence. He said, “More than 15 persons have been handed over by farmers to the police who started the violence, and they were found possessing government identity cards, you can now understand who is in the government. This was an act of concerted conspiracy to malign a peaceful movement.”

Singh questioned why the police placed barricades despite fixing the routes.

The Congress has been pressing for the withdrawal of the farm laws and had hit out at the Modi government for the “collision” with the people over the contentious farm laws and demanded their immediate repeal.

Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala in a statement said there is no place for violence in a democracy and it is good that the agitating farmers have distanced themselves from those who have indulged in hooliganism.

Violence by certain elements in Delhi unacceptable: Punjab CM

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Violence by certain elements in Delhi unacceptable: Punjab CM

Terming the violence perpetrated by certain elements during Tuesday’s tractor rally in the national capital as unacceptable, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh urged all the genuine farmers to immediately vacate Delhi and return to the borders, where they had been protesting peacefully for the past two months.

The Chief Minister also ordered a high alert in Punjab amid the tension and violence in Delhi and directed Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta to ensure that law and order in the state are not disturbed at any cost.

Expressing grave concern over the situation, the Chief Minister said the violence was apparently triggered by some people who violated the rules laid down for the tractor rally through mutual agreement between the Delhi Police and the farmers’ unions.

It was unfortunate that these elements disturbed the peaceful agitation of the farmers, he said, condemning the incidents that took place at the historic Red Fort and some other key points of the national capital.

Pointing out that the major farmer leaders had already disassociated themselves from the violence, Amarinder Singh said the agitating farmers should immediately vacate the national capital and get back to their camps at the borders, and continue to engage with the Centre to resolve the crisis over the farm laws.

“Shocking scenes in Delhi. The violence by some elements is unacceptable. It’ll negate the goodwill generated by peacefully protesting farmers. Kisan leaders have disassociated themselves and suspended the tractor rally. I urge all genuine farmers to vacate Delhi and return to borders,” the Chief Minister tweeted.

Amarinder Singh also called upon the farmers to continue to exercise the restraint with which they had conducted their peaceful protest for the past two months on the borders of Delhi, and in Punjab prior to that.

Pointing out that peace had been the hallmark of their agitation, and the reason for the support they had received from across India and the world, the Chief Minister stressed the need to maintain law and order at all costs.

The protesting farmers swarmed the Red Fort in the heart of the national capital on Republic Day even as the police tried to prevent them from heading towards central Delhi, resulting in violent clashes between the protesters and the police.

TDP leader diverts rejected Ramateertham donation to Ayodhya

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TDP leader diverts rejected Ramateertham donation to Ayodhya

Senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and former Union Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju diverted his rejected donation for Ramateertham to Ram Mandir construction in Ayodhya on Tuesday.

“Now that I have been denied my right as a bhakta (devotee) and a member of the founder family to offer my donation to Lord Rama in Ramateerthalu, I have passed on the donation which to my mind now belongs to Lord Rama to the Bhavya Rama Mandir in Ayodhya,” said Raju.

He asserted that he is now at peace after diverting the donation of Rs 1,01,116 to Ayodhya.

Raju shared a picture of the cheque he donated to Ram Mandir.

Earlier, the Andhra Pradesh government rejected his donation to Ramateertham temple, following an attack by unidentified miscreants in December who decapitated Lord Ram’s idol and dumped the head in a nearby pond.

Subsequent to that crime, a massive controversy erupted over the secluded hilltop temple’s attack with fingers being pointed at the government for allegedly neglecting the security of temples.

Endowments Minister Vellampalli Srinivas criticized Raju for neglecting the temple’s security as he was a caretaker, which kicked up another row.

The Andhra Pradesh government has formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe temple attacks and also allocated Rs 3 crore to renovate the Ramateertham in Nellimerla Mandal of Vizianagaram district.

Punjab CM kickstarts ‘Girl Child Day’ celebrations

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Punjab CM kickstarts ‘Girl Child Day’ celebrations

In a major initiative for the empowerment of women, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday kickstarted the ‘National Girl Child Day’ celebrations with a message to the society to come forward to protect the life and liberty of girls.

Underlining the need for creating grassroot level awareness to further improve Punjab’s girl child sex ratio which had gone up from 890/1,000 in 2013-14 to 920/1,000 during 2019-20, the Chief Minister said his government’s decision to dedicate January as ‘Dheeyan Di Lohri’ was a step in this direction.

Pointing that the religious scriptures accord high status to women, Amarinder Singh said with girls consistently outshining boys at various levels, they continue to prove their mettle year after year.

Women only need the motivation to make a mark in every sphere, he said, adding that opportunities for girls were growing in today’s era.

He cited the examples of Kamala Harris being elected the new US Vice-President, an all-woman crew of aircraft and women fighter pilots as proof of the growing women power.

The Chief Minister also listed out various measures taken by his government to nurture women power, including 30 percent reservation for women in government jobs, 50 percent reservation in panchayat and local body elections, ‘One Stop Centre’ Scheme in all districts to support women and girls who are victims of violence or conflict, among others.

He pointed out that the recently announced 50 percent concession in the ‘bus fares for women’ scheme would be launched soon.

Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for taking such various initiatives for women empowerment, in addition to the ‘Poshan Abhiyan’ aimed at providing a nutritional diet to women.

As many as 27,314 Anganwadi centers did a commendable job in Covid-19 peak times as frontline warriors, she added.

Lalu seeks bail in Jharkhand High Court

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Lalu seeks bail in Jharkhand High Court

Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad’s lawyer on Monday filed a reply in the Jharkhand High Court and sought bail for the RJD President.

In the reply, Devarshi Mandal, the lawyer of Lalu Prasad, argued that his client has completed half of the sentence period in jail and he should be granted bail.

He argued that Lalu Praasd has spent 42 months and 23 days in jail, which is half of his seven-year jail term. Mandal also appealed for an early hearing on the bail petition.

The reply was filed in connection with the Dumka treasury fraud case, in which Lalu Peasad has been awarded a prison sentence of seven years.

Sources in the CBI said that two seven-year sentences have been awarded to Lalu Prasad, which amount to 14 years. The CBI may oppose the bail plea on the same ground.

Lalu Prasad has been convicted in four fodder scam cases with a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

At present, the RJD strongman is undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.

CM congratulates PM Bala Puraskar awardees from Karnataka

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CM congratulates PM Bala Puraskar awardees from Karnataka

Karnataka Chief Minister, B.S. Yediyurappa took to Twitter to greet a first-year Pre-University (Class 11) student Rakesh Krishna K., and class 5 student Veer V. Kashyap for winning Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar this year.

Yediyurappa said, “I congratulate our children for making our state proud by winning this prestigious award. You are achievers today, but you will ever be remembered as role models for many generations to come in the future.”

Rakesh Krishna from Bannur in Puttur taluk and 10-year-old Veer V. Kashyap, from Bengaluru, are among the nine children to receive the award under the Innovation category.

Seven children received the award under the Art and Culture category, five for Scholastic Achievements, seven under the Sports category, three under the Bravery category, and one in the Social Field category.

Rakesh Krishna, who studied at Vivekananda English Medium School, Puttur, has focused on the agriculture sector and come out with many prototypes.

One among these is the “Novel seeder for systematic cultivation”, which he presented at the Jignyasa 2018 competition organized by Agastya International Foundation in Bengaluru.

Another awardee, 10-year-old Veer V. Kashyap is originally from Delhi but he developed a board game around Covid-19 named it Corona Yuga which is now available online, during his prolonged vacations with his parental grandparents in Bengaluru.

Budget Session: Modified parking plan for MPs vehicles

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Budget Session: Modified parking plan for MPs vehicles

There will be a modified parking plan for the vehicles being used by the Members of Parliament (MPs) during the forthcoming Budget session of Parliament starting January 29.

The MPs will be informed through WhatsApp and telephonically about the parking arrangements and vehicular movement in and around the Parliament House complex well in advance, to ensure their smooth movement during the session which will conclude on April 8 with a recess in between from February 15 to March 8.

There will be a map detailing the modified parking arrangements which will be shared with all members, both from the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.

The plan has been put in place for MPs due to the construction of the New Parliament building which will be equipped with all modern audio-visual communication facilities and data network systems, making it a symbol of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on December 10, 2020, laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament building, which will be one of the most magnificent buildings in the country built on an area of 64,500 square meters at an estimated cost of Rs 971 crore.

The building, which will have a seating capacity of 888 in the Lok Sabha chamber with an option to increase it to 1,224 members during joint sessions and a seating capacity for 384 members in the Rajya Sabha, is to be completed by 2022. It is proposed to hold the Winter session of Parliament in the new building when the nation celebrates 75 years of Independence.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was on Saturday informed about the modified parking plan during his inspection visit ahead of the Budget session.

Soon after getting a detailed presentation on the modified parking plan, Birla directed the authorities to take care of the facilities for the MPs and instructed that the members should be informed on WhatsApp and telephonically about these parking arrangements to ease their movement in the Parliament House complex.

Birla said that the MPs should be given the details of the parking plan well in advance. The Speaker also directed that they be given the map on the modified parking arrangements.

Referring to the construction of the new Parliament building, Birla told the agencies concerned to strictly adhere to pollution control and green building norms, and ensure that the construction did not hamper the smooth functioning of parliamentary business during the session.

Birla asked them to install smog towers and necessary equipment for checking noise pollution.

The Budget session will commence with President Ram Nath Kovind’s address to a joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament at 11 a.m. on January 29. The two Houses will meet separately for the tabling of the President’s Address. The Economic Survey would also be tabled in both Houses in the 30-minute sitting.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would present the Union Budget at 11 a.m. on February 1.

The Rajya Sabha would sit from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Lok Sabha from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Zero Hour and Question Hour would also be held. All Covid-19 protocols would be followed in this session on the same lines as the Monsoon session last year.

Shah to attend golden jubilee of Himachal’s statehood

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Shah to attend golden jubilee of Himachal’s statehood

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be the chief guest in the presence of BJP President J.P. Nadda at the golden jubilee function of Himachal Pradesh’s statehood here on January 25, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said on Saturday.

He told the media that the function would be held on the Ridge in the presence of 2,000 people owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The journey of the state’s 50 years would be depicted in an exhibition where various departments of the state government would showcase their achievements.

Governor Bandaru Dattatreya will preside over the function that will also be attended by Union Minister Anurag Thakur.

The Chief Minister said that a special postal stamp would be released to mark the occasion. A total of 51 events would be organized around the year to commemorate the golden jubilee of Himachal’s statehood, he added.

K’taka to soon issue directives to mine owners: Minister

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K’taka to soon issue directives to mine owners: Minister

The state government will soon issue a directive to all mine owners and explosive material suppliers, Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said.

The order would specify the number of explosives for storage, use, or transportation at a time.

Bommai told the media that the state government would deliberate on what types of explosives could be allowed to be used, Inaugurating a Road Safety week organized by the Bengaluru Traffic police.

Netaji was true leader who strongly believed in unity: Mamata

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Netaji was true leader who strongly believed in unity: Mamata

Paying homage to ‘Deshnayak’ Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that Netaji was a true leader and strongly believed in the unity of all people.

“We are celebrating this day as Desh Nayak Dibas…He strongly believed in the unity of all people,” Banerjee tweeted.

She said that her government has also set up a committee to conduct year-long celebrations till January 23, 2022, across the state.

“A monument, named after Azad Hind Fauj, will be built at Rajarhat. A university named after Netaji is also being set up which shall be funded entirely by the state, and will have tie-ups with foreign universities,” the Chief Minister said.

She also said that a grand padayatra will be held on the day. This year’s Republic Day parade in Kolkata will also be dedicated to Netaji.

“A siren will be sounded today at 12.15 pm. We urge everyone to blow shankh (conch shell) at home,” Banerjee said, demanding that the Centre must also declare January 23 as a National Holiday.

PM leads nation in paying tributes to Netaji

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PM leads nation in paying tributes to Netaji

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday led the nation in remembering Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his 125th birth anniversary which has been marked as Parakram Divas or the day of valor by the union government.

“I bow before India’s great son Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose — a great freedom fighter and true son of Mother India, on his birth anniversary. A grateful nation will always remember his sacrifice and dedication for the independence of the country.#ParakramDivas,” PM Modi tweeted earlier in the day.

He will be in Kolkata later participating in two programs, one at the National Library and the other at Victoria Memorial Hall.

“There was an infinite flow of immense courage and unique resolve of power within Subhas Babu. His amazing personality and vibrant voice created the tidal wave in people’s hearts to achieve freedom. His life is an inspiration for the youth of this country,” tweeted Home Minister Shah and paid floral tributes in Guwahati before Bose’s statue.

“Even imprisonment didn’t deter our patriots from fighting for India’s freedom, Netaji encapsulated that determination,” Congress tweeted with a poster saying 11 times Netaji was imprisoned between 1921-41 by the British.

“Paid tribute to one of India’s greatest patriot Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Jankinath Bhawan, his birthplace in Cuttack. Celebrating this day as #ParakramDivas is a befitting tribute to Netaji and a just honor for his stellar contribution to the freedom struggle of our nation,” Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tweeted.

“Humble tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary. His entire life was dedicated to the cause of India’s independence. His sacrifices, struggle, valour, and patriotism would inspire generations to come,” Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot tweeted.

Modi will inaugurate a permanent exhibition called Nirbheek Subhas, inaugurate a projection mapping show on Netaji, unveil the book ‘Letters of Netaji, release a commemorative coin and memorial postal stamp, and felicitate the veterans of the Indian National Army (INA) during the day.

He had mentioned in his tweets on Friday about little anecdotes from Netaji’s life and time.

The West Bengal government has also lined up special programs to commemorate the day.

Parliament was denied opportunity to examine farm laws: Sonia

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Parliament was denied opportunity to examine farm laws: Sonia

Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi on Friday slammed the Centre on the farmers’ issue. During a crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting here, she said it was abundantly clear that the three farm laws were prepared in ‘haste and Parliament was consciously denied an opportunity to examine in any meaningful detail the implications and impact’.

She said the government has shown ‘shocking insensitivity and arrogance while going through the charade of consultations’.

She also raised the issue of the alleged chat leak of Arnab Goswami over the Balakot airstrike in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF troopers were killed.

Speaking at the CWC meeting, Sonia Gandhi said, “Parliament will reconvene in a week’s time. It is the Budget session of course. But there are so many pressing issues of public concern that need to be debated and discussed fully. Whether the government will agree, however, remains to be seen.”

Discussing the farmer’s agitation over the three farm laws, which has been going on for the past 58 days at several borders of the national capital, the Congress leader said, “The agitation of the farmers continues and the government has shown shocking insensitivity and arrogance while going through the charade of consultations.”

Launching a tirade against the government over the way in which the three farm laws were passed, Sonia Gandhi said her party’s position on the farm laws has been very clear from the very beginning. “We reject them categorically because they will destroy the foundations of food security that are based on the three pillars of MSP, public procurement and public distribution system (PDS),” she said.

Discussing the alleged chat leak of Goswami with BARC former CEO Partho Dasgupta, Sonia Gandhi said, “Very recently there have been very disturbing reports on how national security has been so thoroughly compromised.”

She said, just a few days back, former Defence Minister A.K. Antony said that leaking of official secrets of military operations was “treason”.

Questioning the government’s silence on the issue, she said, “Yet the silence from the government’s side on what has been revealed has been deafening. Those who give certificates of patriotism and nationalism to others now stand totally exposed.”

Discussing the Covid vaccination, which started on January 16, the Congress leader said that vaccination of the courageous frontline health professionals and workers has begun, and “we certainly hope that the process will continue and be completed to the fullest extent”.

“The government has inflicted untold suffering on the people of our country by the manner in which it has managed the Covid-19 pandemic. It will take years for the scars to heal,” she said.

Sonia Gandhi also raised the economic issue and said that the economic situation remains grim and large parts of the economy like MSME and the informal sector have been decimated with the government refusing to extend a lifeline.

“When public expenditure has to be carefully prioritized, it is very painful to find huge amounts of money being allocated and spent on initiatives that can only be described as ‘personal vanity projects’,” she said.

She also targeted the government over the weakening of the labor and environmental laws and moving ahead with selling off of carefully built-up public assets.

“Panic privatization has gripped the government and this is something that the Congress party can never accept and support,” she said.

Sonia Gandhi also said that the party has started preparing for the forthcoming Assembly elections in some states.

“Meanwhile, the schedule and modalities for the organizational elections too have to get the CWC’s approval,” she said.

Rahul seeks in-depth probe in Karnataka quarry blast

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Rahul seeks in-depth probe in Karnataka quarry blast

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday condoled with the families of the victims of the Karnataka mining quarry blast and demanded an in-depth investigation into the incident.

“The news of blast at stone mining quarry in Karnataka is tragic. Condolences to the families of the victims. Such incidents call for in-depth investigation so that similar tragedies can be avoided in the future,” the Congress MP from Kerala’s Wayanad said in a tweet.

His remarks came after ten people were reportedly killed in the explosion.

Late on Thursday night, a loud sound of the explosion was heard in Shivamogga, suspected to be caused by explosive materials kept on a stone crushing site, the police said, adding at least 10 people have been reportedly killed.

This incident took place in the Abbalagere village located along the Shivamogga-Hanagal state highway, which passes through Savalunga and Shikaripura.

Shikaripura, 290 km from Bengaluru, is the home constituency of Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa.

Yogi Adityanath inaugurates road safety campaign

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Yogi Adityanath inaugurates road safety campaign

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday launched a public awareness campaign for road safety, besides inaugurating several projects of the transport department worth more than Rs 55 crore.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said, “Nearly 65 people lose their lives in road accidents daily, which can be reduced by creating public awareness. We have started a road safety public awareness campaign today. People must avoid driving without a license. Drunk-driving is also a big cause of accidents.”

The departments of transport and health will play an active role in the month-long campaign devoted to road safety awareness.

Emphasizing spreading awareness among school children during the road safety month, Adityanath said that the sense of traffic awareness and road safety should be instilled in school children from the very beginning and special programs should be held in schools regarding road safety and traffic rules.

The Chief Minister also said that nodal officers should be deployed in every district during the month to oversee the awareness campaign.

Counter negative propaganda against govt projects: Goa CM

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Counter negative propaganda against govt projects: Goa CM

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday urged engineering students to counter the negative commentary against the government’s development projects on social and mass media platforms, saying it was important to counter negative propaganda with facts.

Citing a case in point, Sawant said that the Sterlite-promoted Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Limited was crucial to the coastal state’s power needs in the coming years and yet it was facing opposition from several quarters.

“People are opposing projects everywhere. The Tamnar project has seen opposition too. As you know it is a 400 VK line which is coming from Karnataka to Goa. If the Tamnar (power) line is not drawn over the next two years, then we will not be able to use ACs and fans,” Sawant said, while addressing a gathering of students at the Goa College of Engineering in South Goa.

“Despite knowing this fact, how many of us are talking about it positively? We are only listening to negativity. It is our duty to write and talk on social media and electronic media. I am not even urging you to speak in favor of the government. Just state facts. You know the facts. The layman in a village does not know facts. He opposes (such projects) just because someone has planted it in his head,” Sawant said.

“Being engineers you know the realistic situation of power (availability) in Goa. We expect that facts should be placed before the people who do not have any real information about the project. We expect these comments from you on issues related to the Tamnar, rail and road projects or IIT,” the Chief Minister said.

A rail, road expansion project as well as an inter-state power transmission line venture have faced opposition politically as well as from civil society groups, who have claimed that the projects are being pushed at an “express pace” to facilitate the movement of coal imported through the Mormugao Port Trust facility in Goa to steel mills in Karnataka’s Bellary district and nearby areas.

Earlier this month, the Goa government was also forced to scrap its move to acquire land to set up an IIT-Goa campus in Melaulim village in North Goa, following protests.

Sawant said that if Goa is unable to provide land for an IIT, it would be a great loss for the coming generations.

“We had taken the IIT project to Melaulim with good intentions. There may have been opposition to the IIT project in Melaulim, but have we explained to the people why Goa needs an IIT?” Sawant said.

“We will face a great loss for the next 25 years. The next generation will blame us for it. If the CM alone speaks on this, it will be attributed to political motives by the opposition,” he added.

PM Modi to kick-start ‘Parakram Diwas’ celebrations in Kolkata on Jan 23

TB Team
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PM Modi to kick-start ‘Parakram Diwas’ celebrations in Kolkata on Jan 23

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join the celebrations of ‘Parakram Diwas’ in Kolkata on January 23 to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of India’s freedom icon Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Sources said PM Modi will preside over the inaugural function of the ‘Parakram Diwas’ celebrations at Victoria Memorial in the city. A cultural program “Amra Nuton Jouboneri Doot”, based on the theme of Netaji, is also scheduled to be held on the day.

A Projection Mapping Show on Netaji and a permanent exhibition will be inaugurated on the occasion.

The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a public meeting in Kolkata on an auspicious day.

Earlier, the Centre had decided to celebrate Netaji’s 125th birth anniversary on January 23 every year as ‘Parakram Diwas’ to inspire the people of the country. The initiative was taken in order to honor and remember Netaji’s indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation.

After attending the event in Kolkata, the PM will travel Jerenga Pathar in Assam’s Sivasagar to distribute 1.06 lakh land pattas and allotment certificates, sources said.

10 BJP nominees, 2 of SP elected to UP Vidhan Parishad

TB Team
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10 BJP nominees, 2 of SP elected to UP Vidhan Parishad

Ten nominees of the ruling BJP, including its state President Swatantra Dev Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma, and two of the opposition SP were declared elected unopposed to the UP Legislative Council on Thursday.

The nomination papers of the 13th candidate, an independent, were rejected during scrutiny on Tuesday, leaving 12 candidates in the fray for as many vacant seats.

Former bureaucrat Arvind Sharma, Laxman Prasad Acharya, Salil Bishnoi, Govind Shukla, Kunwar Manvendra Singh, Ashwini Tyagi, Dharamvir Prajapati, and Surendra Chaudhary were the other BJP nominees declared elected.

Samajwadi Party’s Ahmad Hasan and Rajendra Chaudhary were also elected to the Vidhan Parishad.

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