Archives for 2021

Thiruvananthapuram,: A study by the Centre for Public Affairs (CPA) has selected Kerala as one of the best governed states in the country, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Wednesday.

The CM, in a Facebook post, said according to the Public Affairs Index 2021 (PAI) released by CPA, Kerala is one of the best governed states as it has excelled in a number of key areas such as infrastructure, education, health, employment, eco-friendly and all-round development.

The index is based on three criteria – equality, growth and sustainability, the post said.

The study also looked at the extent to which the state has excelled in implementation of programs such as the National Employment Guarantee Scheme and the National Health Mission, and also COVID prevention, he said.

New Delhi, Nov 3: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday appealed to the opposition parties not to link the bursting of firecrackers to religion and jeopardise the wellbeing of children and the elderly for political ambitions.

He also appealed to the Centre to issue an advisory to Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to mandatorily stop stubble burning during the Diwali period.

At a press conference, Rai alleged that some people of opposition parties are trying to sabotage the AAP government’s fight against pollution by linking firecracker bursting to religion.

“Some people want to fulfil their political ambitions… I appeal to them with folded hands not to play with the lives of Delhi’s children and the elderly. There are many other issues for politics. Please let people breathe. Diwali means diyas (lamps) not firecrackers,” he said.

Rai said places of worship were shut across India when coronavirus started ravaging the country. “It was not a matter of religion but people’s lives,” he said.

“The Arvind Kejriwal government is working to take care of the religious sentiments of people and to save children and the elderly simultaneously,” the minister added.

On October 27, the Delhi government had launched the ‘Patakhe Nahi Diye Jalao’ campaign to create awareness against the bursting of crackers. Action is being taken under relevant IPC provisions and the Explosives Act against anyone found burning crackers under the campaign.

On September 28, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee ordered a complete ban on the sale and bursting of firecrackers in the national capital till January 1, 2022.

Rai said Delhi’s air quality a day before Diwali was the best in five years.

“Favourable weather conditions and people’s support to the government’s anti-pollution campaign are reasons for best October air quality in five years,” he said.

“I also urge the Centre to issue a mandatory advisory to Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to stop burning stubble at least during the Diwali period so that people can breathe easy after the festival,” the minister said.

The national capital recorded an average air quality index of 173 in October this year, the lowest in the month in five years, he said, adding that October saw an average AQI of 265 in 2020; 234 in 2019; 269 in 2018 and 284 in 2017.

He said more than 13,000 kg of illegal firecrackers have been seized and 33 people arrested under the anti-cracker campaign.

As part of the drive to check dust pollution, a penalty of Rs 1.23 lakh has been imposed on 406 construction sites found violating dust control norms.

Rai said Pusa bio-decomposer, a microbial solution that can convert stubble into manure in 15 to 20 days, has been sprayed over 1,700 acres of agricultural land in Delhi.

“The spraying of the bio-decomposer got delayed due to rains in October. The rest of the fields will be covered by November 20,” he added.

New Delhi, Nov 3: Former captain Rahul Dravid was on Wednesday appointed as the head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team by the BCCI, a development that was expected after the batting great was convinced by the board’s top brass.

Dravid, who was working as the head of National Cricket Academy, has been appointed for a period of two years till the 2023 50-over World Cup in India.

The 47-year-old Dravid, one of the greatest to have played for India, was the only choice for BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and secretary Jay Shah, who had called him in Dubai and convinced him to apply for the position.

Once Dravid had applied, the BCCI didn’t even need to look at any other application.

“The Cricket Advisory Committee comprising Ms Sulakshana Naik and Mr RP Singh on Wednesday unanimously appointed Mr Rahul Dravid as the Head Coach of Team India (Senior Men). The former India captain will take charge from the upcoming home series against New Zealand,” the BCCI stated in a media release.

The BCCI had invited applications for the said position on October 26 to appoint incumbent Ravi Shastri’s successor, whose term gets over after the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup.

“It is an absolute honour to be appointed as the new head coach of the Indian cricket team and I am really looking forward to this role,” Dravid said.

He also thanked his predecessor Shastri for his role in shaping the current Indian team.

“Under Mr Shastri, the team has done very well, and I hope to work with the team to take this forward.”

New Delhi:The Indian Air Force has approved the rank of Group Captain for Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who had downed an enemy jet during an aerial combat with Pakistan in February 2019 and was held captive for three days, official sources said on Wednesday.

The rank has been approved and he will get it once a laid down procedure is completed, they said.

Explaining the process, they said any official after getting a new rank, is able to wear it once there is a vacancy for the position.

Varthaman downed a Pakistani jet on February 27, 2019 when the neighbouring country launched retaliation against India for the Balakot airstrikes a day before.

The strike by India’s warplanes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot and the Pakistani Air Force’s subsequent retaliation the next day triggered fears of a war between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The most visible face of the confrontation was Wing Commander Varthaman whose capture by Pakistan after downing his MiG-21 fighter triggered the most serious military crisis between the two neighbours in decades.

Before his jet was hit, Varthaman downed the F-16 fighter of Pakistan. Varthaman was released on the night of March 1 by Pakistan.

He had suffered injuries while ejecting from his MiG-21 Bison during the aerial combat.

Later that year, he was conferred with the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest war time gallantry medal.

Dubai: Opener Martin Guptill’s blistering 56-ball 93, which was built around monstrous sixes and authoritative batting, set up a 16-run win for New Zealand over a spirited Scotland in the T20 World Cup here on Wednesday.

In all, Guptill smashed seven sixes and six fours as New Zealand posted 172 for five in the Group 2 Super 12 match. Scotland replied with 156 for five in their allotted 20 overs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Michael Leask blazed away to an unbeaten 42 off 20 balls, but his effort was not enough for the Scots.

Most of his big hits were directed towards the mid-wicket region and by the time he was done with his knock, Guptill was overcome with exhaustion in the extreme heat.

One of New Zealand’s prolific run-scorers over many years, Guptill added 105 runs for the fourth wicket with Glenn Phillips (33) to put his team in a commanding position.

Asked to bat first, New Zealand were off to a brisk start with Guptill leading the way in the company of Daryl Mitchell (13).

As many as 13 runs came in the match’s very first over bowled by Bradley Wheal (2/40), but Safyaan Sharif (2/28) made an excellent start in the next over, giving away just one run.

Playing this game in place of an injured Josh Davey, Alasdair Evans was smashed for two successive boundaries by Guptill through the point region, the batter cutting with utter disdain on both occasions.

Mitchell too got himself a boundary against Wheal but the opener was trapped in front of the wicket by Sharif in the fifth over. The on-field umpire’s decision was challenged, albeit unsuccessfully, by the batter.

In the middle of the fine first spell, seamer Sharif got the big wicket of New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (0) four balls later, as a diving Matthew Cross completed a good catch behind the stumps after the batter failed to connect properly while playing it down the leg side.

Unperturbed by the double blows, Guptill smashed Evans for a maximum over backward square leg fence, as the Kiwis collected a productive 52 runs during power play, with 16 of them coming in the sixth over.

With that big hit, Guptill became only the second batter after Indian captain Virat Kohli to cross 3000 runs in T20 Internationals.

Scotland enjoyed another success right after spin was introduced for the first time, when slow left-armer Mark Watt castled Devon Conway (1) with his very first ball in the seventh over.

Only 18 runs came between the 6th and 10th over as Scotland tightened things.

However, the Scots had no answer to the onslaught launched on them by Guptill, who hammered their best bowler Sharif for two sixes.

There was also a six that travelled 102m, the second biggest in the Super 12 stage.

However, the NZ innings lost a bit of momentum after his dismissal as they could not manage only 22 runs in the last three overs.

Skipper Kyle Coetzer (17) started the proceedings for Scotland in earnest, hitting New Zealand’s lead pacer Trent Boult for fours on either side of the wicket.

Coetzer drove Tim Southee through cover-point for a boundary and then played a magnificent square drive off the back foot against Boult, who had his man two balls later when he deceived the batter with a slow off-cutter.

Two deliveries later, George Munsey (22) played one of the day’s best shots when he played Boult through the line on the on side.

After two quiet overs, Matthew Cross (27) hit Adam Milne for five fours on the trot as Scotland made 48 runs in the power play.

Munsey smashed Ish Sodhi for two sixes but in trying to hit one too many, he got out soon thanks to a fine running catch by a sliding Southee, who came back to knock Cross’ stumps to leave Scotland at 76 for three as the 12th over approached.

From there, the Scotland innings could not gather the momentum required to mount a challenge to their fancied opponents, despite Michael Leask’s lusty hits.

Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday termed the Janasevaka scheme of the state government delivering 58 services including ration at the doorstep, a gimmick.

“Supplying ration is the primary duty of the government. What they (government) are doing is a drama, a gimmick,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.

He was referring to the ‘Janasevaka’ scheme launched in Bengaluru by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai offering 58 services at the doorsteps of citizens. Bommai had said that the same would be implemented across Karnataka from January 26 onwards.

He also sought to know what the BJP government was giving to the public after stopping the previous Congress government’s populist programmes.

“They (BJP) reduced the rice quantity from seven kilograms to five kilograms to each individual a month under Anna Bhagya scheme. They closed Indira Canteens, stopped Shoe Bhagya, Shala Bhagya, Krishi Bhagya and Vidyasiri scholarships. So what are they giving to the public?” Siddaramaiah asked.

Siddaramaiah again challenged Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to come to a common platform for debate with him on the achievements of the government.

He said, “I had twice challenged him (Bommai) in Hangal (where bypoll was held on October 30 and which Congress won) for debate but he did not turn up.”

Demanding that the next assembly session be held at Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi, the Congress leader said for the past three years no session took place there.

Siddaramaiah said he used to hold the session there every year.

To a query on BJP staging demonstration against him in Bengaluru on Wednesday for allegedly insulting Dalits during his public speech in Sindgi on October 26, Siddaramaiah alleged that the accusations were baseless as he never spoke anything against Dalits.

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has restrained the heads of nine JNU centres from taking any major decisions and said that their appointment by the varsity’s Vice Chancellor was prima facie without any authority.

A bench headed by Justice Rajiv Shakdher stated that the Vice Chancellor is not vested with the power to appoint Chairpersons of Centres or Special Centres as the JNU statute confers the power of appointment on the Executive Council.

The bench, also comprising Justice Talwant Singh, was dealing with an appeal against a Single-Judge order which had refused to grant a stay on the appointments on a petition by Professor Atul Sood.

Observing that it was cognizant of the fact that the Centres/Special Centres need Chairpersons for effective functioning , the court requested the Single Judge, who is hearing the challenge to the appointments, to advance the hearing on the writ petition.

We are prima facie of the view that respondent no.2 (Vice Chancellor) is not vested with the power to appoint Chairpersons of Centres/Special Centres. The Statute confers the power of appointment on the Executive Council. Thus, clearly the appointment of Chairpersons of Centres/Special Centres by respondent no.2 is, as is evident at this stage, prima facie, without authority, the bench opined in its order dated October 26.

Pending decision in the writ petition, the nine (9) Chairpersons, who have been appointed.. (as stated in) Minutes of the 296th meeting of the Executive Council, will not take any major decisions, including functions relating to convening of selection committees and/or carrying out selection(s), concerning the Centres/special centres, it added.

The court clarified that the views are only prima facie and the single judge will decide the writ petition on merits, after hearing both sides.

Lawyer Abhik Chimni, representing the appellant, said that the exercise of power of appointment in the present case by the Vice Chancellor was null and void in law and the Executive Council could not have approved the same subsequently.

JNU counsel Monika Arora stated that the power to appoint chairpersons to various centres is exercised by the Vice Chancellor from time to time, which is subsequently ratified by the Executive Council.

She informed that the single judge has indicated that he would examine the aspect as to whether the Vice-Chancellor could at all initiate the process of appointment of Chairpersons to various Centres/Special Centres, under the provisions of the JNU statute.

Mangaluru: The Congress party won the by-election in Hanagal constituency despite the money power used by the BJP as the people have realised the administrative failure of the government, former state minister B Ramanath Rai said on Wednesday.

Addressing reporters here, he alleged that the ruling party misused administrative machinery. However, the Congress could win the hearts and minds of the people there, he said.

He said it is meaningless to link price rise to the Covid pandemic.

The BJP will be taught a befitting lesson if it continues to play with the sentiments of the people to hide real issues affecting the common man, the former minister said.

The ruling party is trying to divide society on religious grounds to hide the failures of the government, he claimed.

They bring out emotional issues and indulge in moral policing in several parts of the state to cover up their ineptitude, Rai alleged.