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Archives for February 2023

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde held first meeting of Shiv Sena; to demand Bharat Ratna to Savarkar

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena party led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had called its first national office bearers meeting at a five-star luxury hotel in Mumbai where they decided to propose the name of VD Savarkar for Bharat Ratna.

After the election commission of India recognised even allotted them the traditional Shiv Sena symbol – bow and arrow, it was the first meeting of Shiv Sena on Tuesday late evening. The meeting was chaired by the chief minister.

Maharashtra cabinet minister Uday Samant after the meeting said that they decided that the Maharashtra government will propose the name of freedom fighter VD Savarkar for Bharat Ratna. “We will request to the central government that VD Savarkar should be conferred with the highest civilian award Bharat Ratna. Besides, they will also demand giving classical language status to Marathi language and ensuring 80 per cent reservations for local people in jobs,” said Samant.

He said that Veermata Jijabai, Ahilya Bai Holkar, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj names should be included in the list of national icons. “We will work within the framework of the election commission of India. Besides, we will also expand the party network and will not make the mistake that was done by Uddhav Thackeray during his tenure. There will also be a disciplinary committee that will ensure discipline in the party. The disciplinary committee is headed by minister Dada Bhuse, while Sambhuraj Desai and Sanjay More will be members of this committee,” Samant added.

Deshpande’s aide, ex-BJP MLA jump ship to JDS

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BENGALURU: Former Hubballi Dharwad East BJP MLA Veerbhadrappa Halaharavi and former MLC S L Ghotnekar, a close aide of former minister R V Deshpande, and Kochimul director Vadaguru Harish Gowda from Bagepalli joined the JDS, giving a shot in the arm for former CM H D Kumaraswamy. 

“There is a chance of winning at least four seats out of six in Uttara Kannada district. In 2023, Ghotnekar and Halaravi will be elected to the Assembly. Even in Belagavi district there, is an atmosphere of winning six out of eighteen seats,” predicted Kumaraswamy, alleging that BJP government has failed to deliver benefits for farmers and did not even waive off farm loans. 

Claiming that he had pooled in Rs 25,000 crore against the farm loan waiver scheme in 2019, when he was the chief minister, he alleged that the BJP government has not released Rs 1,800 crore that was part of the scheme as yet. 

“It is a shame on the BJP government which has been going to polls without addressing the farmers’ issue. As soon as JDS comes to power, we will release Rs 1,800 crore with interest against the loan waiver scheme that will help 2.35 lakh farmers’ families,” he said.    

The valedictory of the Pancharatna programme would be held either in the Mysuru-Mandya or Hassan region, with over 10 lakh people expected to attend the rally, he said.

Ola invests in Tamil Nadu: Bommai govt slammed

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Ola Cabs.

BENGALURU: A day after Ola Electric Mobility signed an MoU for investment worth Rs 7,614 crores with the Tamil Nadu government to set up an electric vehicle hub with integrated two-wheeler, four-wheeler and lithium cell gigafactories, industry experts and the Opposition Congress in Karnataka have slammed the Bommai-led BJP government for losing out on the investment.

Taking to Twitter, former director of Infosys Mohandas Pai said: “Why is the state losing out on EV? We had the first EV policy in India! Very disappointed at the lack of concern at this loss.” Congress MLA Priyank Kharge, who also heads KPCC communication cell, said that Ola, which cut its teeth in Bengaluru, is now investing heavily and employing thousands in Tamil Nadu. “There is policy paralysis in Karnataka. The government is unable to convince investors and provide a conducive ecosystem. Is Ease of Doing Business only for 40%?” he questioned.

Miscreants throw stones at Owaisi’s Delhi residence

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NEW DELHI:  AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday alleged his residence in the national capital was attacked by unidentified miscreants, and said this was the fourth such incident since 2014.

The All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader, who was on a visit to Rajasthan, said he has submitted a complaint to Delhi Police in connection with the incident.

“My Delhi residence has been attacked again. This is the fourth incident since 2014. Earlier tonight, I returned from Jaipur & was informed by my domestic help that a bunch of miscreants pelted stones that resulted in broken windows. @DelhiPolice must catch them immediately,” he said in a series of tweets.

“It’s concerning that this has happened in a so-called ‘high security’ zone. I’ve submitted a complaint to the cops & they’ve reached my residence,” Owaisi added.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Pranav Tayal said a complaint has been received and investigation taken up accordingly.

‘I eat beef and I am in BJP, I see no problem in it’: Meghalaya BJP chief

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Meghalaya BJP chief Ernest Mawrie

GUWAHATI: The political situation in poll-bound Meghalaya is both interesting and confusing. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s top leaders are training their guns on their former coalition partner Conrad Sangma and his National People’s Party (NPP), with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma leading the attack.

Meghalaya has become the number one corrupt state in the country under NPP rule, according to Shah, despite that BJP has been a partner of the government led by the NPP for the last five years and still continuing in it.

The BJP leaders have said that they do not have any alliance with Conrad Sangma’s party, however, NPP is a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The BJP state president, Ernest Mawrie an explainer of what has been cooking in the hill state.

There is a lot of confusion. Are the NPP and BJP allies?

 In Meghalaya, we have not forged any alliance with the NPP, and we have not done so in 2018. We are fighting on our own, and they are also fighting on their individual strengths. NPP has been involved in large-scale corruption for the last five years, and our party has taken a stand for zero tolerance against corruption.

But you were also part of the NPP-led government.

Yes, we have been in the MDA government. But the BJP had only two MLAs and a single minister, and we did not have any important portfolio in the ministry. The departments like power and others where most of the corruptions happened over the last five years were either with the NPP or their alliance partner, the UDP.

How could you know about the corruption?

Through a lot of RTI applications we filed in the last year or so, we have seen how rampant corruption was going on in Meghalaya under the current regime. We have all records.

Then why did not you leave the government and surprisingly you have a minister till today!

Look, BJP is a national party, and we cannot take the decision to leave or forge an alliance at the local level. We had informed the party hierarchy about what has been happening in Meghalaya and were waiting for them to take a call in this matter.

The NPP has been continuing to be a part of the NDA and the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) here. So, the NEDA chairman or the party leaders in Delhi must decide on this issue.

Have you discussed the corruption issue with NEDA chairman Himanta Biswa Sarma?

Yes, yes. Whenever the Assam Chief Minister met us in the last couple of years, we told him about the corruption. He advised us to wait for a decision.

Political analysts are saying that the BJP has been keeping a door open to be back in the government if NPP returns to power.

No, you should not look into it that way. This time, we have fielded candidates for all 60 seats in the state. We are expecting a good show, and after the poll result, we may look for parties whose hands are not immersed in corruption.

But, you have too few options to choose from. You cannot go with Congress or TMC.

It is impossible to go with these two parties. Right now, we are concentrating on winning as many seats as possible. We have a projection to win 34 out of the total 60 seats in the assembly.

Between Conrad Sangma and Mukul Sangma, who is the better Chief Minister?

I cannot draw a comparison between them. I have already talked about Conrad Sangma’s corruption. If Trinamool wins here, the state will witness large-scale Bangladeshi infiltration. We have been facing this issue for quite a long time, and we just cannot ‘invite’ more Bangladeshi people here.

But the BJP has brought the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

First, in the CAA, a timeline has been established after which no people from Bangladesh will be allowed to live here. Moreover, the Centre introduced CAA more than three years ago. Have you seen any Bangladeshi infiltration issues? The answer is no.

In a state like Meghalaya, where at least 90 per cent follow Christianity, do you believe that people are ready to accept the BJP’s hardliner stands on the beef ban, CAA, and other issues?

It has been nine years since the BJP came to power at the Centre, and we have not seen any Church under attack. There is no restriction being put on consuming beef too. I eat beef and I am in BJP, there is absolutely no problem with this. I am assuring you that the people of Meghalaya are with the BJP this time. You will see that on March 2.

Telangana is ‘Afghanistan of India and KCR its Taliban’: Sharmila on being detained amid padayatra

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Hyderabad: YS Telangana party president YS Sharmila addresses the media in office.

HYDERABAD: YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) president Y S Sharmila on Sunday attacked Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao by accusing him of acting like the “Taliban” and termed the state as the “Afghanistan of India”.

Mahabubabad district in connection with a case booked against her for making alleged derogatory remarks against BRS MLA Banoth Shankar Naik and brought to Hyderabad.

Speaking to reporters here, she said: “He (Telangana Chief Minister) is a dictator, a tyrant. There is no Indian Constitution in Telangana. There is only KCR’s Constitution. Telangana is the Afghanistan of India and KCR (as Rao is known) is its Taliban”.

Sharmila was booked under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act following a complaint by a local BRS leader, who accused her of ‘insulting’ the legislator belonging to the tribal community, through her comments during her ongoing statewide padayatra ‘Praja Prasthanam’ in Mahabubabad district on Saturday.

Police said they have cancelled permission for the foot march citing law and order situation, as her statement triggered protests by BRS party personnel, demanding action against Sharmila.

“We have taken her into preventive custody and for her own safety, she has been shifted to Hyderabad,” a senior police official told PTI.

Sharmila, reacting to a query on her next course of action, said: “KCR doesn’t understand democratic language. So, I have to probably approach the court again and will have to get fresh permission again (for the padayatra)”.

She accused the MLA and other BRS leaders of using objectionable language against her and calling her by names.

“We only responded to him strongly and paid him back in the same coin. As a woman, don’t I have a fundamental right to react to it?” Sharmila further alleged that her padayatra was attacked.

“The BRS deliberately created a law and order problem. My escort vehicle was destroyed. The law and order problem was created by them and then the blame was put on me. I was detained and brought to Hyderabad. There is no respect for women in Telangana. All women should rise up against the insults hurled at a woman, who is standing for the rights of the people of Telangana,” she said.

Accusing the government of not fulfilling promises made to the people of Telangana, she alleged that KCR has been trying to foil her padayatra.

In November 2022, while Sharmila was undertaking padayatra in the Warangal district, a caravan being used by her was attacked and set on fire besides windowpanes of one vehicle were damaged.

Following the remarks of Sharmila against BRS MLA from Narsampet P Sudarshan Reddy, activists of the party then protested.

In view of the law and order situation, police had then stopped Sharmila and she was sent back to Hyderabad with police escort even as police “temporarily cancelled” permission for the padayatra.

The Telangana High Court in December 2022 directed the police to accord permission to Sharmila to resume her padayatra with conditions after the YSRTP approached the court and questioned the rejection of permission by police.

The padayatra of Sharmila, daughter of former CM of undivided Andhra Pradesh Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, and sister of current AP Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, has currently covered over 3,800 km and will complete 4,111 km when it reaches Palair in Khammam district.

A massive public meeting is scheduled to be held on March 5 in Palair, where the padayatra is set to conclude, the party had recently said.

The padayatra began on October 20, 2021 from Chevella.

No Opposition unity without our leadership, says Congress

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NEW DELHI: Welcoming Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s call to take the lead in forging an alliance with oppisition parties to defeat the BJP in 2024, the Congress on Sunday said the party is already on the job, adding that no opposition unity is possible without its active participation. 

The upcoming Congress plenary session will deliberate on Opposition unity, said Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh. Chhattisgarh’s Nava Raipur will start from February 24 and is expected to be attended by 15,000 delegates. 

On Saturday, Nitish Kumar had said he was waiting for a signal from the Congress to bring Opposition parties together. Kumar said the BJP would not be able to cross 100 seats in the 2024 polls if the opposition parties fight together.

While reacting to Nitish, the Congress also took potshots at some of the opposition parties such as the Trinamool for not being on the same page. “We know our role very well. We don’t need to give a certificate to anyone to take the lead role. Because, any attempt towards Opposition unity will be unsuccessful without Congress,” said Ramesh, claiming that the Congress is the only party that never had an alliance with the BJP. 

He also accused certain opposition parties of siding with the BJP on critical issues. “Some parties were in agreement with us in demanding a JPC inquiry into the Adani issue. But, some of them demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe. That is a political move to save PM Modi from the crisis,” said Ramesh, while addressing a press conference here on Sunday.

AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said the party has already taken the initiative by inviting like-minded political parties during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. “Certainly, the Congress will play a bigger role as suggested by Nitish Kumar,” he said, adding: “Our main job is to lessen the numbers of the BJP.” 

Karnataka budget: CM Bommai announces farmer-friendly schemes raises loan term limits, agri subsidies

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Basavaraj Bommai

BENGALURU: Seeking to woo farmers in an election year, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday announced an increase in the limit of interest-free short-term loans given to farmers from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh from the coming financial year.

This would ensure the availability of hassle-free and need-based loan facilities for making necessary preparation for farm-related activities, Bommai, who also holds the finance portfolio, said presenting the 2023-34 budget in the state Legislative Assembly.

“This year, a loan of Rs 25,000 crore will be distributed to more than 30 lakh farmers,” he said.

A ‘majestic’ temple dedicated to Lord Ram will be built in Ramadevara Betta of Ramanagara district, the Chief Minister said.

The government, Bommai said, decided to give an additional subsidy of Rs 10,000 in the year 2023-24 under a new scheme ‘Bhoo Siri’ for ‘Kisan Credit Card’ holders.

This would facilitate the farmers to purchase seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and other farm inputs in times of exigencies, the Chief Minister said.

The state would contribute Rs 2,500 and NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) would give Rs 7,500.

“This will benefit around 50 lakh farmers of the state,” he said.

Assembly elections in Karnataka are expected to be held during April-May. The Chief Minister, in the budget, also announced ‘Shrama Shakthi’ scheme that would provide financial assistance of Rs 500 per head every month to landless women farm labourers through direct benefit transfer (DBT).

Aimed at enabling all children who graduate from high school to continue their higher education, he announced free education in Government Pre-University and Government Degree Colleges under the ‘CM Vidya Shakti Scheme’.

This will benefit eight lakh students of the state, he added. Noting that for the first time in the state, post-COVID pandemic, revenue receipts are estimated to be more than revenue expenditure by Rs 402 crore, Bommai said this is a “revenue-surplus” budget.

Bajrang Dal, VHP cadres vandalize under-construction mosque in UP

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Bajrang Dal Flag

The cadres of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Wednesday vandalized an under-construction mosque located near the Balkhandi Naka area in the Banda district of Uttar Pradesh.

The video of the vandalism has gone viral on social media.

The cadres went berserk even as the police officers, who were called to control the commotion, stood as mute spectators

According to a report, the violent mob parked their bikes in the middle of the road and started yelling slogans against the construction of the mosque, which also caused hindrance in traffic movement.

On information, police rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. But instead of controlling the unruly mob, the policemen remained a silent spectator to the acts of the right-wing group. 

Khawaja scores fifty but Ashwin pegs back Australia

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NEW DELHI: Usman Khawaja made a compact fifty but Ravichandran Ashwin’s twin strike gave India the upper-hand as Australia were pegged back at 94 for 3 at lunch on the opening day of the second Test here on Friday.

Ashwin (2/29 in 10 overs) removed Marnus Labuschagne (18) and Steve Smith (0) in quick succession despite Khawaja’s well compiled knock that had eight fours and a six over extra cover off the senior off-spinner.

This was after Khawaja and David Warner (15) added 50 runs for the opening stand as the visiting team gave a better account of themselves after skipper Pat Cummins opted to bat first.

While Khawaja was more assertive with his footwork and started with a square driven boundary, Warner struggled a lot during the first hour.

In fact, the Kotla strip aided better bounce and carry with Mohammed Siraj (0/14 in 6 overs) bowling a brisk first spell.

While Mohammed Shami (1/31 in 6 overs) erred in length during his first three-over spell from the Old Pavilion End, Siraj bowled quick and hurried both Warner and Khawaja with pace and bounce.

Warner’s slowed down reflexes cause him trouble with Siraj rattling him with quick deliveries.

Warner got hit on the elbow, which required medical attention and then on the head, which required on-field concussion test.

Having been softened up by Siraj, skipper Rohit Sharma changed Shami’s end and brought him from the Delhi Gate side.

Having pushed him on the backfoot, Shami went wide of the crease and angled one in, forcing Warner to jab at it and the regulation catch was accepted by keeper Kona Bharat.

Khawaja, however, started using his feet against Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja (0/11 in 3 overs) and collected a few boundaries but it was Labuschagne, who got an off-break from Ashwin that beat him and DRS went in favour of India.

In case of Smith, full credit to keeper Bharat’s reflexes and technique as he kept a low centre of gravity and nick was collected inches off the ground to unsettle Australia who had good first 90 minutes before losing track.

Brief Scores:

Australia 1st Innings: David Warner c Srikar Bharat b Shami 15 Usman Khawaja batting 50 Marnus Labuschagne lbw b Ashwin 18 Steven Smith c Srikar Bharat b Ashwin 0 Travis Head batting 1 Extras: (B-9, NB-1) 10 Total: (For 3 wickets in 25 Overs) 94 Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-91, 3-91.

Bowling: Mohammed Shami 6-2-31-1, Mohammed Siraj 6-2-14-0, Ravichandran Ashwin 10-3-29-2, Ravindra Jadeja 3-0-11-0.

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