Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister bereaved

TB Team
-
0
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister bereaved

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s father-in-law E.C. Gangi Reddy passed away on Saturday.

He passed away while undergoing treatment in Hyderabad.

Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan expressed profound grief and sadness over Gangi Reddy’s death.

“Gangi Reddy was a renowned pediatrician in YSR Kadapa district and popular as a people’s doctor,” said Harichandan.

He prayed for his soul to rest in peace.

The Governor has also offered his heartfelt condolences to the chief minister and his wife Y. S. Bharati.

Atal Tunnel will give new strength to border infrastructure: Modi

TB Team
-
0
Atal Tunnel will give new strength to border infrastructure: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the majestic Atal Tunnel, beneath the lofty Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu district, would give new strength to India’s border infrastructure.

“It is an example of world-class border connectivity. There have been demands to improve border infrastructure but for a long time, such projects either couldn’t get out of planning stage or got stuck midway,” Modi said in his address after dedicating the highway tunnel, one of the world’s most challenging and a marvel of engineering motorways, in the Himalayas to the nation.

The tunnel would be a lifeline for Ladakh and would boost border security.

Earlier, Modi inaugurated the 9.02km long Atal Tunnel from its south portal near here. It will connect Manali to the Lahaul-Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh.

It is the longest highway tunnel in the world built at an altitude of 3,000 meters.

Modi said the Atal Tunnel, the dream of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, is going to be “Sanjeevani Buti” for the residents of Lahaul-Spiti, especially during winters when the entire district “gets covered under snow and road connectivity through the Rohtang Pass gets snapped.

Praising the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), a wing of the Defence Ministry, Modi said, “One of our top priorities is to strengthen the international border on all sides.”

He blamed the previous government in the Centre for deliberately ignoring the projects of strategic importance.

“There is nothing more important for us than protecting the country. But the country has also seen a period when the defense interests of the country were compromised.”

“Even in the case of Atal Tunnel, if the pace of the construction continued as in the previous governments it would have been completed by 2040,” Modi, donning a Himachal cap, said.

“In the year 2002, Atalji laid the foundation stone of the approach road to the tunnel.

“After Atalji’s government, this work was forgotten. The situation was that by 2013-14, only 1,300 meters of the work for the tunnel was completed,” said Modi.

“Work on Atal Tunnel was accelerated after 2014; in just six years, we completed the work of 26 years.”

“My brothers and sisters of Himachal Pradesh can understand what it means to reduce the distance of three-four hours on the mountain with the completion of this tunnel,” he said.

Cong workers stage midnight protest at Goa hotel to meet Javadekar

TB Team
-
0
Cong workers stage midnight protest at Goa hotel to meet Javadekar

Nearly a dozen Congress workers, including vice president Sankalp Amonkar, were detained by the police in Panaji for protesting outside a five-star hotel, where the Union Minister for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar was putting up for the night.

The workers were demanding a meeting with the Union Minister.

The incident occurred just after midnight on Friday. Javadekar is in Goa to conduct meetings with the farmers’ groups over the controversial farm laws which were passed by Parliament recently.

“JUNGLE RAJ in Goa – @INCGoa delegation led by Vice President @SankalpAmonkar @JanaBhandariGoa @varadmardolkar @AdvArchitNaik @RautMeghashyam @SudinNaikGoa & 10 others arrested by @DGP_Goa for seeking an appointment with @PrakashJavdekar & waiting to meet him in the hotel lobby in Panaji,” Chodankar tweeted after the Congress leaders and workers were rounded up by the police and detained at the Panaji police station.

Speaking to reporters, as the opposition party workers were being taken away to the police station, Amonkar said that the congressional delegation had arrived at the hotel here, to meet Javadekar and seek a formal appointment to discuss the Mhadei inter-state river water sharing issue.

“We are being arrested just because we want to seek an appointment with a Union Minister,” Amonkar said. Congress had in the past accused Javadekar of being partial to Karnataka, one of the two other states which are a part of the river water sharing dispute, over the Mhadei issue.

Police, however, said that the Congress workers were arrested because they insisted on meeting Javadekar in the dead of the night. “It was a preventive arrest only, to avoid a law and order situation from occurring,” a senior police official said.

Andhra CM asks people to pay tributes to village volunteers

TB Team
-
0
Andhra CM asks people to pay tributes to village volunteers

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has called on people in the state to pay tributes to all the village and ward volunteers by giving them a round of applause as the state’s village secretariat system has completed a year on Friday.

“On this day last year, we invigorated Gandhiji’s ideas of gram swaraj with the establishment of gram sachivalayams (secretariats) to make our villages self-reliant,” said Reddy.

He said the village secretariats are meant to bring non-corrupt governance to people’s doorsteps.

For every 50 households, the government has appointed a volunteer to take government schemes such as old-age pensions and others.

The Chief Minister called on people to clap for the services of the volunteers on Friday 7 p.m., taking a leaf out of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s similar request while fight the COVID pandemic earlier.

Punjab CM slams Akalis for ‘political theatrics’ over farm laws

TB Team
-
0
Punjab CM slams Akalis for ‘political theatrics’ over farm laws

Formally launching the Congress signature campaign in the state against the ‘black’ farm laws, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday slammed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for their “political theatrics” over Harsimrat Kaur Badal’s resignation from the Union Cabinet, which they were projecting as a big sacrifice instead of a duty towards Punjab.

Recalling that he himself had resigned from Parliament twice to uphold the interests of the state and its people, he said he had done it out of a sense of duty and never as a “sham sacrifice”, as had been done by Harsimrat Kaur.

Trashing the SAD protest over the agriculture laws as a “complete failure”, Amarinder Singh termed it as an attempt to vitiate the atmosphere of Punjab.

“Where were they when the state government moved a resolution in the Vidhan Sabha on August 28 seeking withdrawal of the anti-farmer ordinances and demanding that the Centre make MSP a statutory right,” he asked.

“Their gimmicks now would not help the Akalis woo the farmers, whose lives they themselves were party to destroying as allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),” he said, reiterating that his government will challenge the new laws constitutionally.

“This is not a political fight about the BJP or the Congress, but a fight about our Kisani, about Punjab, our vajood (existence),” the Chief Minister said while addressing the state’s sarpanches virtually, on the sidelines of the virtual inauguration of three projects to mark the birth anniversaries of the father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri from the Civil Secretariat here.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Sunil Jakhar and Punjab Youth Congress (PYC) president Brinder Singh Dhillon were present at the launch of the signature campaign against the farm laws.

Pointing out that despite being just two percent of the country’s population, Punjab has fed the entire nation for over six decades, Amarinder Singh said soon after the promulgation of the three farm ordinances by the Central government on June 5, he had written to the Prime Minister to convey his government’s strong reservations and concern.

However, the Centre did not address the state’s concerns but went ahead to enact the anti-farmer agricultural laws through brute majority, he added.

Noting that agriculture is a state subject, the Chief Minister said the Centre had encroached on the states’ powers with these laws, which would devastate the farm sector, and reiterated his commitment to the farmer unions of the full support of the state government in their fight against the “draconian laws”.

Setback for Pinarayi as HC says let CBI probe into Life Mission continue

TB Team
-
0
Setback for Pinarayi as HC says let CBI probe into Life Mission continue

Let the CBI probe continue, was the statement that came from the Kerala High Court on Thursday after Life Mission moved the court to plead for the quashing of an “illegal” FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation over its housing project at Thrissur.

With this, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has suffered yet another blow in his attempts to show everything in his pet project – Life Mission – as normal and transparent, despite vociferous allegations of corruption in the project by the opposition Congress and the BJP.

It was on Wednesday that the state government after taking advice on the matter from legal brains, who pointed out that the FIR could be quashed as it was illegal and that the government had no role in the matter, gave the nod for Life Mission to file this petition.

Moving the petition, Life Mission which brought in a senior counsel from the apex court, pointed out that this is a politically motivated probe and the state government has no role in this.

But the court which not only did not intervene in the petition, directed Life Mission to cooperate with the probe and said let the CBI investigation continue. It posted the case for further hearing on October 8.

Life Mission CEO UV Jose, a senior IAS officer, has been summoned to appear before the CBI with all the relevant documents on October 5.

The Mission’s contention is that the agreement for the construction was inked between UAE-based charity Red Crescent, which is funding the construction at Wadakkancherry in Thrissur district, and Unitech Builders. The state has no role and hence the FIR is illegal and should be quashed.

Earlier this week, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala warned of legal and political steps against any move by the Vijayan government to bring an ordinance to keep the CBI out of the probe.

Reacting to the turn of events in the high court on Thursday, Chennithala said it is a setback for the Vijayan government in its attempt to keep the corruption in this project under wraps.

“Now that the attempt to run away from the CBI probe has failed, the Vijayan government should withdraw the case and cooperate with the CBI. The state government is spending a huge amount of money to bring in counsel from outside the state and this is happening when the state is precariously placed as far as its finances are concerned. What all fail to understand is, the Vijayan government is saying there is no corruption at all and if so, then why are they trying to run away from the ongoing CBI probe,” asked Chennithala.

The Life Mission project, a pet project of Vijayan ever since he assumed the CM’s office in 2016, was floated to build houses for the homeless and landless, using funds raised through sponsorships. The state’s role was limited to only providing the land.

The project, however, ran into trouble when Anil Akkara, a Congress legislator, first raised questions about alleged wrongdoings in a building project in his Wadakkancherry constituency, for which funds came from Red Crescent.

The project was routed through the UAE Consulate, where smuggling case main accused Swapna Suresh and PS Sarith earlier worked. It turned murkier when news surfaced that a son of Industries Minister EP Jayarajan was also close to Swapna.

Vijayan’s media adviser John Brittas had claimed that Rs 4.25 crore in commission was paid in the project, a stand endorsed by two state Ministers.

The CBI has already questioned Santhosh Eapen, whose company was given the contract to build the houses.

Vijayan is Life Mission Chairman while his trusted aide and Local Self-Government Minister AC Moideen is the Vice-Chairman. Incidentally, the project MoU was inked in Vijayan’s office.

Rahul Gandhi pushed on ground, detained en route Hathras

TB Team
-
0
Rahul Gandhi pushed on ground, detained en route Hathras

High drama prevailed on Thursday After Uttar Pradesh Police personnel pushed former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on the ground on the Yamuna Expressway and detained him, while he was walking towards Hathras to meet the family of the rape victim.

Gandhi, along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior leaders had left Delhi on Thursday to meet the family of the Hathras rape victim.

However, they began marching towards Hathras after their vehicle was stopped near the Yamuna Expressway.

Visuals of the incident clearly show Uttar Pradesh Police personnel pushing both Rahul and Priyanka. After the push Rahul can be seen falling on the ground.

Later Rahul Gandhi told the media, “Just now police pushed me, lathicharged me and threw me on the ground. I want to ask, can only (Narendra) Modiji walk in this country? Can’t a normal person walk? Our vehicle was stopped, so we started walking.”

The Uttar Pradesh Police Personnel also told Gandhi he was being detained as he was marching in an area where section 144 has been imposed. The section relates to assembly of not more than five people at one place.

Gandhi said that even if Section 144 had been imposed, he will walk alone towards Hathras to meet the family of the rape victim.

The Congress leaders then had a heated exchange with police personnel.

According to Ranvijay Singh, Additional DCP, Gautam Budh Nagar, Rahul Gandhi has been taken into custody and he won’t be allowed to go further as the police have a letter from DM Hathras saying that if Gandhi goes there, it may disturb the law and order situation in the district.

Also, there is the issue of providing security cover.

Rahul Gandhi along with Priyanka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Rajiv Shukla and several other top leaders were walking towards Hathras to meet the family of the victims a day after the last rites of the rape victim was allegedly performed during the night in the absence of her family members.

RLSP, BSP and JP-S join hands for Bihar Assembly polls

TB Team
-
0
RLSP, BSP and JP-S join hands for Bihar Assembly polls

Parting ways with the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) of former MP Upendra Kushwaha on Tuesday announced to join hands with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Janvadi Party (Socialist) to contest the Assembly elections.

Kushwaha, a former Union Minister of State, announced the coalition in the presence of the BSP and JP-S state unit chiefs in Patna.

He said the coalition will contest all the 243 seats in the Assembly.

Kushwaha said that he would welcome other like-minded political parties to come on board, if they wished.

Earlier, Jan Adhikar Party President Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav said that Kushwaha should come with him.

Kushwaha formed the new political front after his talks with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Leader of Opposition and RLD leader Tejashwi Yadav on seat-sharing failed to bear fruit.

Lashing out at Nitish Kumar, the RLSP chief said: “In the last 15 years, Nitish Kumar has just saved his own chair and nothing else. And to achieve it, he made several compromises. His claims on development in all sectors in Bihar are just false and nothing else. The ground reality is completely different from what he is claiming.”

Kushwaha also alleged that the education sector in Bihar was at its lowest whereas the crime graph and corruption was the highest. “Nitish’s rule is similar to that of the RJD government’s 15 years,” he remarked.

Kushwaha also attacked the Rashtriya Janata Dal, alleging that the opposition party was “run by an undermatriculate”.

“We have two CMs (Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi) who failed to ensure matriculation by their sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap. Now, they have given the party command to one of them,” the former MP said.

“I asked top RJD leaders for a change in party leadership but they turned it down. Hence, I decided to part ways with the Grand Alliance,” Kushwaha claimed.

“On the other hand, the saffronisation of Nitish Kumar and his Janata Dal-United is complete. I even have doubts that the RJD is also under the influence of BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh,” the RLSP chief said.

Kangana takes a dig at Maha govt after Bhiwandi building collapse

TB Team
-
0
Kangana takes a dig at Maha govt after Bhiwandi building collapse

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has taken a dig at the Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra by comparing the death toll at the Bhiwandi building collapse with the Pulwama terror attack.

On Thursday, Kangana reacted to a news piece about the building crash in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi town that killed 40 people.

Kangana tweeted from her verified account in Hindi addressing Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut.

“Uddhav Thackeray, Sanjay Raut when @myBMC was breaking my house in an unlawful manner, had you paid attention to this building at that time then at least these 50 people approximately would have been alive today. So many jawans have not been martyred in Pulwama by Pakistan as many innocent lives lost due to your negligence. God knows what will happen to Mumbai,” her tweet reads.

Earlier this month, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished parts of Kangana’s office in Bandra citing illegal construction. The demolition drive was stopped after a High Court stay order. Kangana subsequently tweeted photographs of her demolished office building, calling it a “rape” of her “dreams, confidence, self-respect and future”.

Pappu Yadav launches party manifesto after filing an affidavit

TB Team
-
0
Pappu Yadav launches party manifesto after filing an affidavit

The Jan Adhikar Party headed by Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav on Thursday claimed that voters will not allow Gujarati CM in Bihar any longer.

Playing the regional pride card, Yadav targeted the coalition government of the JDU and the BJP, alleging that the Gujarati leaders in the BJP are exerting a huge influence on CM Nitish Kumar.

“The people of Bihar do not want a Gujarati CM anymore. In the 2020 elections, a Bihari leader will emerge as the CM of the state,” Ranjan said.

The strong man of North Bihar also launched the party manifesto. Ranjan said he had submitted an affidavit before a first-class judicial magistrate in the Patna High Court before releasing the manifesto.

The affidavit was given on Wednesday in which it was mentioned that his party was ready to face legal action in case it failed to fulfill the promises made in the manifesto.

“As per the manifesto, every point shall be completed in a time-bound manner once my party forms the government in Bihar,” Yadav said.

Ranjan said that if his party did not turn Bihar into a corruption-free state within six months, he will tender his resignation and sent it to the governor’s office.

According to the manifesto, CCTV cameras will be installed in every shop as well as every home within one year to prevent crime. Any person found outraging the modesty of women will be punished within two weeks. There will be also a provision of deleting their names from the voters’ list.

Ranjan promised to develop Patna into Asia’s top city within three years. A film city will be set up in the name of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, land acquisition will be done as soon as any industrialist was ready for investment. The other points of the manifesto promise stopping the migration of people from Bihar within two years and permanently resolving the flood situation within three years.

“We have given the slogan of three years versus 30 years of RJD and NDA regime. This would be the first time in the history of the world that a political party has given an affidavit in High Court with a promise to fulfill the promises made in the manifesto in a time-bound manner,” He said.

“I have a list of 60 scams that happened during the NDA regime. All of these will be investigated,” added the four-time MP.

Andhra CM discusses state’s issues with Shah

TB Team
-
0
Andhra CM discusses state’s issues with Shah

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the second time during his Delhi tour and discussed issues related to the state’s development, official sources said.

The second meeting lasted 45 minutes. The two earlier met for around an hour on Tuesday evening after the Chief Minister arrived in Delhi, during which the issue of central funds was also discussed.

As per the laws enacted vis-a-vis bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the state is eligible for central funds.

Reddy told Shah that Andhra Pradesh had suffered immensely after its bifurcation — which led to the birth of Telangana state — whereas the coronavirus pandemic had proved to be a double whammy.

He told the Home Minister that the state was suffering due to a lack of funds and sought central assistance to tide over the crisis. The Chief Minister also discussed the issues of women’s protection initiative Disha, and the abolition of the Legislative Council.

After winding his Delhi tour by Wednesday afternoon, Reddy will fly from Delhi to Renigunta near Tirupati to participate in the Brahmostavams. He will then proceed to the Tirumala temple by road.

Reddy’s visit to the renowned temple comes amid controversy about whether he will sign the faith declaration. Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam Chairman YV Subba Reddy said there was no need for Reddy to sign the declaration.

RS passes Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill

TB Team
-
0
RS passes Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill

The Rajya Sabha passed the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda Bill, 2020. The Bill seeks to merge three Ayurveda institutes into one institution — Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda. The Bill declares the institute to be an institution of national importance.

The Bill was moved by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan in the absence of Ayush Minister Sripad Naik, who is recovering from Covid-19.

Harsh Vardhan said, “The ministry is giving deemed university status to the institutes in various parts of the country and the matter is referred to the UGC and Education Ministry.”

The Minister said that there are 103 institutes of national importance, but there was none in Ayurveda. He said the Jamnagar institute has been chosen because this is one of the oldest institutes of the country founded by the Government of India in 1956.

Many MPs from the TRS, Bodoland People’s Front, AIADMK, CPM, BSP, and others demanded similar institutes in other states also.

The Chairman, M. Venkiah Naidu, said, “The minister should take into consideration the demand of such institutes in every state.”

Congress leader L. Hanumanthiah raised objections during the discussion. He said, “Why Gujarat is given so much importance and Kerala should also be given prominence, which is a pioneer of the Ayurveda.”

While Thambidurai AIADMK member supported the Bill, he demanded a National Institute of Siddha in Tamil Nadu.

Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal raised the issue of mental health and said House the mental counseling is needed in COVID times.

RJD MP Manoj Jha demanded a regulator for the Ayurvedic medicines so that no misuse takes place. He cited the claims made by Ramdev that he has made medicine for Covid-19.

The Bill seeks three institutes to be merged — the Institute of Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Shree Gulabkunverba Ayurved Mahavidyalaya, Jamnagar, and, the Indian Institute of Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Sciences, all in Jamnagar.

The proposed Institute will be situated in the campus of Gujarat Ayurveda University, Jamnagar.

The Institute will be developed on the patterns of teaching in medical education in Ayurveda and pharmacy, bring together educational facilities for training of personnel in all branches of Ayurveda, and attain self-sufficiency in postgraduate education to meet the need for specialists and medical teachers in Ayurveda, also make an in-depth study and research in the field of Ayurveda.

The Bill provides that the Institute will consist of 15 members and the Director of the Institute of Post Graduate Teaching and Research in Ayurveda, Jamnagar will be appointed as the first Director of the Institute.

The Bill states that there will be a Governing Body of the Institute, which will exercise powers and such functions of the Institute, as specified.

Karnataka minister Basavaraj tests Covid positive

TB Team
-
0
Karnataka minister Basavaraj tests Covid positive

Ahead of the Monsoon Session of the Karnataka Legislature from September 21, state Urban Development Minister Byrati Basavaraj tested COVID positive and was admitted to a private hospital in the city, an official said on Tuesday.

“Basavaraj tested COVID positive and has been admitted to the Columbia Asia Hospital in the city’s northern suburb for treatment,” the minister’s secretary said here.

Basavaraj, 56, is the ruling BJP’s Legislator from the K.R. Puram Assembly segment in the city’s eastern suburb.

“The minister had body ache and no other symptoms on Monday when he took the COVID test,” the official said.

Basavaraj defected from the Congress and was re-elected from the same constituency in the December 5 Assembly by-elections. He revolted against the 14-month JD(S)-Congress coalition government and resigned from the Assembly seat in July 2019.

State Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chauhan also tested positive for the coronavirus on September 9 at Bidar in the state’s northern region.

“As Chauhan was asymptomatic, he was advised to quarantine at home after his car driver, the gunman, and personal assistant contracted the virus on September 8, said his special officer Shivakumar Katte in a statement earlier.

Bidar is 680km north of Bengaluru in the southern state.

In a related development, opposition Congress legislator H. P. Manjunath from Hunsur in Mysuru district also tested COVID positive on September 11 and is under treatment at home as he is asymptomatic.

Early this month, state Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar tested positive on September 5 and has been in home quarantine for treatment at Yellapur in Uttara Kannada district in the state’s northwest coastal region.

Besides state Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa, half-a-dozen ministers, including B. R.Sriramulu (Health), C. T.Ravi (Tourism), Shashikala Jolle (Women and Child Development), Anand Singh (Forests & Environment), and S. T.Somashekar (Cooperation) tested for the virus and were discharged after they recovered over the last one month.

Opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah, his party’s state unit president D. K. Shivakumar and scores of lawmakers of the BJP, Congress, and Janata Dal (Secular) were affected by the virus and recovered after treatment since July.

With so many ministers and Legislators getting infected, Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Kageri Hegde on September 8 directed all the MLAs to undergo RT-PCR test in their respective constituencies on September 18 before the eight-day Monsoon Session from September 21 at Vidhana Soudha.

“Only those who test negative will be allowed to attend the session. The Legislators should carry a certificate from a state-run hospital showing they tested negative for the virus when they enter the Assembly,” said Kageri.

The state Legislature has made elaborate arrangements for the session in compliance with the standard operating procedure of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the COVID-induced guidelines of the Union Health Ministry to prevent the pandemic spread.

“As in Parliament, seating has been re-arranged in the treasury and opposition benches to ensure physical distancing with transparent shields separating them from each other to avoid physical contact,” a secretariat official told IANS here.

Wearing a mask, washing hands with sanitizers, and maintaining social distancing will be mandatory for all the Legislative members.

Khattar back in Chandigarh after Covid-19 recovery

TB Team
-
0
Khattar back in Chandigarh after Covid-19 recovery

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday returned to the state capital Chandigarh after recovering from Covid-19.

He asked people to follow all guidelines like wearing masks and physical distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.

Khattar was discharged from the Medanta hospital in Gurugram on September 10.

After testing positive for novel coronavirus on August 24, just ahead of the day-long monsoon session of the state Assembly, he was admitted to Medanta hospital for treatment.

Lok Sabha passes two AYUSH Ministry Bills

TB Team
-
0
Lok Sabha passes two AYUSH Ministry Bills

The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2020, and the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2020 by voice vote on the first day of the Monsoon Session.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan introduced both the bills in the absence of AYUSH Minister Shripad Yesso Naik in the House.

The homeopathy Bill seeks to improve the medical education system through the availability of adequate and high-quality homeopathy practitioners across the country. The Bill promotes equitable and universal healthcare by making the services of homeopathy professionals accessible to all citizens.

The Bill promotes national health goals, encourages homeopathy practitioners to use the latest medical research in their work and also to contribute to research, and facilitates maintenance of a homeopathy medical register for India. It is flexible to adapt to the changing needs and ensures an effective grievance redressal mechanism.

The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill too aims to improve access to quality and affordable medical education. The purpose is to ensure the availability of adequate and high-quality professionals in the Indian System of Medicine in the country.

It also promotes equitable and universal healthcare, promotes national health goals, encourages medical professionals to adopt the latest medical research in their work, and also to contributes to research.

The Bill also focuses on an objective, periodic, and transparent assessment of medical institutions and facilitates, maintenance of a medical register of the Indian System of Medicine and enforces high ethical standards in all aspects of medical services, and flexibility to adapt to the changing needs, and an effective grievance redressal mechanism.

Monsoon Session begins in LS with obituary references to 15 members

TB Team
-
0
Monsoon Session begins in LS with obituary references to 15 members

The Monsoon Session began on Monday with the Lok Sabha holding its first session with obituary references to 15 parliamentarians who passed away this year.

Soon after the lower House assembled for the day, Speaker Om Birla read out the obituary references in memory of the departed lawmakers that included former President Pranab Mukherjee, who passed away here on August 31 after undergoing treatment for nearly three weeks.

The House, which began at 9 a.m., also remembered sitting MP H. Vasanthakumar, eminent vocalist Pandit Jasraj; Gurdas Singh Badal (Member, 5th Lok Sabha); Nepal Singh (MP, 16th Lok Sabha); Ajit Jogi (MP, 12th and 14th Lok Sabhas); P. Namgyal (7th, 8th, 11th); and Paras Nath Yadav (MP, 12th, and 14th).

Besides, Madhav Rao Patil (12 Lok Sabha member); Haribhau Madhav Jawale (14th and 15th); Saroj Dubey (10th); Lalji Tandon (15th); Kamal Rani (11 and 12th); Chetan Chauhan (10 and 12th); and Surendra Prakash Goel (14th) were also remembered by all parliamentarians.

The Lok Sabha observed a 2-minute silence to honor the parliamentarians, following which the Speaker adjourned the house for an hour.

There will be 36 Parliamentary sittings — 18 each for both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha — in the Monsoon Session which will continue till October 1.

Yogi cracks the whip, more policemen suspended

TB Team
-
0
Yogi cracks the whip, more policemen suspended

Aggressively pursuing his zero-tolerance policy for corruption, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath continues to crack the whip on corrupt police officials.

After suspending two IPS officers within 24 hours, the state government, on Thursday night, suspended more police personnel on charges of corruption and dereliction of duty.

A case for extortion has been registered in Mahoba against suspended SSP Mani Lal Patidar.

In Mahoba, the government suspended Rajesh Kumar Saroj, a former inspector of Charkhari police station, former station officer Kharela, Raju Singh, former SO Karbai, Devendra Shukla, and constable Rajkumar Kashyap.

SSP Mahoba Mani Lal Patidar was earlier suspended on Wednesday and a vigilance probe has been ordered against him.

In Prayagraj, where SSP Abhishek Dixit was suspended on Tuesday, nine more police personnel have faced action.

Kareli inspector Anjani Kumar Srivastava, Atarsuiyya inspector Sandeep Mishra, Kareli inspector Nagendra Kumar Nagar, Sub-Inspectors Gaurav Tiwari, Prem Kumar, Kuldeep Kumar Yadav, Durgesh Rai, Ibrar Ansari and Head Constable Ram Pratap Singh have been placed under suspension.

According to official sources, action has been taken based on the complaints received against these police personnel and more heads could be expected to roll in the coming days.

A senior police officer in the rank of ADG, said, “Action should have been taken much earlier but it is still welcome. It will help in cleansing the system and inculcate discipline in the force. A large number of police personnel who have affiliations with political leaders, do not toe the line of discipline which naturally makes working difficult.”

For DGP Vikram Singh said that the results of this action would take about six months to start showing and if the strictness continues, UP police will regain lost glory.

Yogi allows Covid test without prescription

TB Team
-
0
Yogi allows Covid test without prescription

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has adopted the guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for ‘testing on-demand’ for COVID.

People wanting a Covid-19 test can now walk into private pathology labs across Uttar Pradesh and get themselves screened. They will no longer need any prescription but will have to specify the reason for the test.

Pathology labs have also been allowed the collection of COVID samples from homes.

The ICMR officials had stated that the move aims at simplifying modalities such as doing away with the need for prescription and setting out the method of testing, especially for domestic and international travelers, who need a Covid-19 negative report for easier screening at the airports.

“Tests on demand should be allowed for all individuals who wish to get themselves tested and all individuals undertaking travel to other countries or states, mandating a negative Covid-19 test at the point of entry,” the advisory said.

A committee of health officials in Uttar Pradesh also believed that ‘there was no problem in adopting the recommendation’ though no formal government order has been issued in this regard yet.

“The ICMR guideline is sufficient in its own way. Government orders are issued only to facilitate the implementation of different guidelines. But in this case, everything is clear,” said a senior health official.

The move will also allow the home collection of Covid-19 samples which is a major relief for patients suffering from other diseases who need ‘Covid-19 negative report’ to continue their regular treatment.

“Prescription was made mandatory for Covid-19 testing by the local administration, which was hampering self-reporting of suspected cases that do not fit in the classical definition of the primary or secondary contact. In addition, a number of pregnant women, ailing elderly persons and those who need to join jobs were facing difficulty on account of the verbal order,” said the owner of a pathology lab in Lucknow.a

Parimal Nathwani takes oath as Rajya Sabha MP for third term

TB Team
-
0
Parimal Nathwani takes oath as Rajya Sabha MP for third term

Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday administers the oath to Parimal Nathwani who was re-elected for a third term as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

Nathwani of Yuvajana Sramika Rythu (YSR) Congress Party was re-elected as a member of Rajya Sabha in the biennial election from Andhra Pradesh.

Nathwani was elected to Rajya Sabha in May 2008 for his first term and in April 2014 for his second term.

Rajya Sabha Secretary-General Desh Deepak Verma and other senior officers of the Upper House Secretariat were also present on the occasion.

Rajasthan CM postpones all meetings for one month

TB Team
-
0
Rajasthan CM postpones all meetings for one month

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has postponed all meetings for a month beginning from Wednesday.

The decision came on Tuesday night, a state government press release said.

Around 40 employees in the Chief Minister’s residence and office were found COVID infected. They also included the police and Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) personnel, who were associated with the Chief Minister’s security.

Gehlot said following the norms of social distancing and health protocols are the main measures that can fight the spread of Covid-19. This infection can be controlled by protecting ourselves.

“For this reason, on the advice of doctors, I have decided not to meet anyone for the next month. However, I will participate via video conference for matters to discuss good governance,” he said in the release.

Gehlot said that in this crisis of the Covid-19 epidemic, protecting the lives of the people of the state was the highest priority of the government. For this, the state government was making every effort by strengthening the medical facilities, but the infection of this epidemic can be prevented with everyone’s support, he said.

The Chief Minister appealed to the people of the country to wear masks, keep social distancing, avoid crowds, keep social interactions to a minimum, leave home only when necessary and cater to all other health protocols with full responsibility.

1...878889...281Page 88 of 281