Archives for February 2021

NEW DELHI: Former Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence here and it is learnt that they discussed considering an active role for him in the party, sources said.

It is speculated that Sidhu, who has remained away from Punjab politics ever since he resigned from the state cabinet, is reconsidering taking up a ministerial berth.

The cricketer-turned-politician had recently met Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh over breakfast.

Sidhu is considering his return to the Punjab cabinet but is likely to be given a ministry other than he held earlier, sources said.

Sidhu had been the local bodies minister and also held the charge of tourism ministry in Punjab.

Bringing Sidhu back into the party fold will help Congress put its house in order ahead of next Assembly elections slated in January 2022.

All India Congress Committee general secretary for Punjab Harish Rawat and party general secretary K C Venugopal were also present at the meeting which lasted for around half an hour, sources said.

Sidhu has been eyeing the post of Punjab Congress chief but Singh is not keen to hand over the party reins to him, sources said.

NEW DELHI: Petrol and diesel prices on Tuesday climbed to fresh highs in the country as rates were hiked after a three-day hiatus.

Petrol and diesel prices were hiked by 35 paise per litre each, according to price notifications of state-owned fuel retailers.

The increase took petrol prices to a fresh high of Rs 87.30 a litre in Delhi and to Rs 93.83 in Mumbai. Diesel rates rose to Rs 77.48 per litre in the national capital and to an all-time high of Rs 84.36 in Mumbai.

Prices were last hiked by 30 paise on February 5. Rates have risen by Rs 3.59 per litre in case of petrol and by Rs 3.61 on diesel in 2021.

Brent crude oil price on Monday rose above USD 60 per barrel for the first time in more than a year on improving demand outlook amid the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

Last week, Mukesh Kumar Surana, head of India’s third-largest fuel retailer Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), said that a sudden spike in international oil prices because of a perception of mismatch in demand and supply as well as a cut in production by Saudi was fuelling the retail price hikes.

He had said that only 25-30 per cent of the retail pump rates are dependent on cost and the rest are central and state taxes.

“We probably have no choice but to pass on the variation (in benchmark cost) to the consumer,” he had said.

“The government has taxation handle.” Also last week, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question that excise duty levied by the central government makes up for Rs 32.98 per litre of the price of petrol in Delhi and sales tax or VAT of the state government constitutes Rs 19.55. For diesel, the central excise adds up to Rs 31.83 and VAT to Rs 10.99, he had said.

Besides, the price includes a dealer commission of a minimum Rs 2.6 per litre on petrol and Rs 2 on diesel.

Retail petrol rates have risen by Rs 17.71 per litre since mid-March 2020 after the government raised taxes by a record margin to mop up gains arising from fall in international oil prices. Diesel rates have gone up by Rs 15.19.

With his arrest, the total number of people nabbed by Delhi Police in connection with the violence that took place across the city on January 26 has gone up to 127. 

CHANDIGARH:  The Delhi Police on Sunday arrested a 60-year-old man from Chandigarh in connection with the clashes that took place on the premises of iconic Red Fort during the farmers’ tractor rally on Republic Day.

With his arrest, the total number of people nabbed by Delhi Police in connection with the violence that took place across the city on January 26 has gone up to 127. 

Sukhdev Singh by the crime branch team, which is probing 13 cases registered in connection with the violence.

The police had earlier announced a cash reward for Singh and three others for allegedly instigating protesters.    

They have also announced cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information that can lead to the arrest of actor Deep Sidhu, Jugraj Singh, Gurjot Singh and Gurjant Singh who hoisted flags at the Red Fort or were involved in the act.

A senior police officer said Singh was allegedly leading the mob at Red Fort on the day of the incident and he was found to have an “active presence” at the spot.   

Thousands of farmers protesting the Centre’s new agri laws had clashed with the police during the tractor parade on January 26.

Many of the protesters, driving tractors, reached the Red Fort and entered the monument.

Some protesters even hoisted religious flags on its domes and a flagstaff at the ramparts, where the national flag is unfurled on Independence Day.

JP Nadda had flagged off the BJP’s ‘Paribartan Yatra’ from Nabadwip and addressed a farmers’ rally in Malda on Saturday.

KOLKATA: The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal on Sunday alleged that while the BJP-led government at the Centre was “waging a war” against farmers protesting the new agriculture laws, saffron party chief JP Nadda was “faking his love” for the ploughmen.

Nadda cannot claim to be a friend of the farmers while his government continues to carry out atrocities against the agriculturists in Delhi, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said at a party meeting in Nabadwip in Nadia district.

“While they are waging a war against farmers in Delhi, putting nails at the dharna site, putting up barricades disrupting communications, the same BJP is flaunting a pro-farmer image before the elections.

“If you really care about farmers, you protest against such acts of the BJP government. You need not do photo sessions at the house of a farmer.Such photo sessions don’t help in solving farmers’ problems,” he said, in an apparent jibe at Nadda.

Nadda had flagged off the BJP’s ‘Paribartan Yatra’ from Nabadwip and addressed a farmers’ rally in Malda on Saturday.

On the ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan controversy, Ghosh said that Lord Ram is very close to the heart of everyone in Bengal and so is Ram Mohan Roy, who was instrumental in the abolishment of the Sati practice, saving the lives of hundreds of women from death on the husband’s pyre.

He accused the BJP of harping on the “divisive communal agenda of hatred” for political interest.

“The BJP’s Paribartan Yatra is aimed at polarising the people but their designs will be thwarted by the people of West Bengal,” he said.

Elections to the 294-member state assembly are due in April-May.

NEW DELHI: Indian security forces have not only restricted Pakistan’s nefarious acts to the borders only but are also giving a befitting reply to them, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

During the Question Hour, the minister also informed the House that 11 Rafale fighter jets have arrived in the country and the number will reach 17 by March this year.

Singh added the entire fleet of the fighter jets will arrive in the country by April 2022.

“There is no question of being lethargic. I want to make it clear the way our army has acted, the actions of Pakistan have been restricted to borders only,” he said, replying to a question related to ceasefire violations by Pakistan.

He said the Indian Army, BSF and other security forces must be complimented.

Stating that 4,649 ceasefire violations took place in 2020, Singh said Indian security forces are fully alert and are giving a befitting reply to nefarious acts of Pakistan.

Singh also told the House the government has decided that 101 defence-related items will be manufactured in India and not imported.

The chairperson to three urban local bodies were elected unopposed while the election was held for the remaining 87 bodies on Sunday.

JAIPUR: The Congress has formed its board in 48 urban local bodies in Rajasthan while the BJP got 37 among the 90 that went to the polls for which results were declared on Sunday.

The chairperson to three urban local bodies were elected unopposed while the election was held for the remaining 87 bodies on Sunday.

Apart from the major political parties, three independent candidates — one from Rashtriya Loktantrik Party and NCP — managed to get their candidate elected as chairperson to the urban local bodies.

Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra congratulated party workers for the victory.

“The result of the 90 urban local body elections in the state have shown good results. Out of a total of 90, Congress has won 50 seats with support of two independent candidates and the BJP, which was on 60 seats last time has been reduced to only 37.

Many congratulations and thanks to all the Congress workers for this magnificent victory,” Dotasra said in a tweet.

BJP state president Satish Poonia said the party has achieved good results and people will clear all doubts in the upcoming assembly bypolls.

“Congress, which claimed to form its boards in more than 50 bodies has been restricted to fewer seats. The people has once again taught the Gehlot government a lesson after the Panchayati Raj elections.

“The people will clear the Congress party’s doubt in the upcoming assembly by-elections Congratulations and best wishes to the newly elected body chairpersons,” Poonia said in a statement.

CHENNAI: South star Suriya has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently undergoing treatment for the virus.

The 45-year-old actor took to Twitter late Sunday evening to share his diagnosis and urged his fans to be cautious amid the pandemic.

“I am undergoing treatment for COVID-19 and I am better now. Let us all realise that life hasn’t returned to normalcy yet. We also cannot be filled with fear and let life come to a standstill. We still need to be careful and safe. Lots of love and gratitude to the dedicated doctors and medical staff standing by my side,” Suriya wrote.

New Delhi: WWE wrestler ‘The Great Khali’ joins Unlu, India’s Largest Celebrity Engagement App. The platform enables all fans out there to interact with their favourite celebrities.

Khali, an ex Punjab police officer also known as Dalip Singh Rana who comes from a humble background created history by becoming the first Indian WWE World champion. His inspiring journey from a small village to becoming an international name has inspired many.

The WWE icon, Khali didn’t just stop at wrestling, but went on to explore acting, modelling and now has become a major influencer in the field. He has appeared in several Hollywood and Bollywood movies besides being a part of various reality shows.

Unlu is a b2b and b2c platform which helps brands with celebrity endorsements at a fraction of price within a turn- around time of just 48 hours. With the addition of Khali in the Unlu family, the platform will target various sports and fitness brands for product promotions and endorsements.

Unlu is a fan engagement platform founded by Vipul Agrawal, Himanshu Periwal, Anurag Dalia and Akshay Pruthi that basically have different service lines such as celebrity shoutouts, Unluclass, brand endorsements etc. It allows both brands and fans to have an interaction with their favourite celebrities. Every week, Unluclass launches a new course conducted by top celebrities.

In the last six months, since its inception the brand has collaborated with over 2000 celebrities like Guru Randhawa, Saina Nehwal, Nupur Sanon, etc. “We are thrilled with Khali joining the Unlu family. Further we are planning on onboarding many more top national and international celebrities in the coming months for the loyal fans”, says Co-founders Vipul Agrawal and Himanshu Periwal.

With their partnership with the international sensation Khali, Unlu has now reached international markets.

The Congress also hit out at Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who defended the three new farm laws and criticised the Opposition while speaking in Rajya Sabha.

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday extended support to the countrywide ‘chakka jam’ called by farmer unions on February 6, saying party workers will stand shoulder to shoulder with farmers in their protest.

The Congress also hit out at Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who defended the three new farm laws and criticised the Opposition while speaking in Rajya Sabha. Whatever the agriculture minister said was “not only totally bereft of facts” but also “grossly objectionable”, the party claimed.

Farmer unions on Monday had announced ‘chakka jam’ on February 6 when they would block national and state highways for three hours in protest against the internet ban in areas near their agitation sites, harassment allegedly meted out to them by authorities, and other issues.

Congress general secretary (organisation), KC Venugopal, said the party fully supports the farmers’ movement and appeals to the government to climb down from the “high horse of false and misplaced pride”, and accede to the justified demands of the farmers by repealing the three farm laws.

On February 6, when the farmer organisations will hold a three-hour nationwide ‘chakka jam’ from 12 pm to 3 pm in a non-violent and peaceful manner on the national and state highways, the Congress will extend its full support to farmer groups, Venugopal said in a statement.

He said that Congress workers in solidarity with the protesting farmers will stand shoulder to shoulder in this “symbolic and Gandhian” way of protest. Venugopal noted that farmers’ organisations have already exempted emergency and essential services from this protest. “Joining in the spirit, Congress workers will take full care that the ambulance services, school bus, elderly, patients and women and children are not inconvenienced due to the bandh call,” he said.

Venugopal said that this farmers’ movement, which is being steadfastly supported by the poor, farm labour, SCs, STs, OBCs as well as every “right- minded Indian”, is not only aimed at protecting agriculture and farming but also saving the public distribution system.

“However, the power drunk Modi government is trying every mean trick of the trade to tire out and defame the protesting millions. Even today, the Union Agriculture Minister (Narendra Singh Tomar), while speaking in the Parliament, blatantly tried to mislead the House and the nation,” Venugopal alleged.

It is public knowledge that the farmers’ organisations have held eleven rounds of talks with the government during which they provided point-wise detail of the deficiencies and lacunae in the three laws, “consequent to which even the government has openly agreed to bring about as many as 18 amendments to the said laws”, he said.

“In the light of this, whatever the agriculture minister said today in Parliament is not only totally bereft of facts but is grossly objectionable,” Venugopal said.

Intervening in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar alleged that farmers were being misled by the Opposition and the agitation was only in one state.

Hitting out at the government, Venugopal alleged, “Driven by the sole motive of benefiting its corporate cronies and steamrolling the laws by the brute force of parliamentary arithimatical majority, the government neither consulted the opposition parties nor took any farmers organisation in confidence, before enacting the laws.”

Thousands of farmers have been protesting at Delhi’s borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh demanding the rollback of the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the “mercy” of big corporations. However, the government has maintained that the new laws will bring farmers better opportunities and usher in new technologies in agriculture.