Archives for August 2022

New faces likely in Jharkhand cabinet 
Amid the row over the alleged conspiracy to topple the state government in Jharkhand, a major cabinet reshuffle is likely to take place among Congress legislators after August 15 – giving chance to the new faces. Congress MLAs have been demanding removal of the four ministers from the Congress quota since long alleging that they are being sidelined by the state ministers who are not even ready to meet them. According to the disgruntled Congress MLAs, the 4 ministers from the Congress quota have failed to perform, and hence, young leaders must be given a chance. 

ECI concludes hearing on case against Soren
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday concluded the hearing of the case related to office of the profit against Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the judgment is likely come any time after August 18. Soren sought some time from the ECI to make a written submission latest by August 18. The BJP, which is the petitioner in the case countered the argument that obtaining the lease of a stone mine doesn’t attract Section 9 A of the People’s Representation Act 1951. ECI had issued a notice following complaints filed by former Jharkhand CM and BJP leader Raghubar Das.

IIT ISM Dhanbad to douse Jharia fire
IIT (ISM) has taken up the challenge of dousing the 106-years-old underground fire in Jharia coal mines. According to IIT (ISM)officials, the Central Mining Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL) and Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) have assigned the project to IIT ISM for dousing the underground fire in Jharia mines. According to BCCL, at present, the fire has been reduced to under 9 square km at 95 spots; while at the time of nationalisation of coal mines in 1973, the fire was spotted spread over 17.32 square km. Underground fire in Jharia mines was spotted first in 1916. 

AHMEDABAD:  Six Congress MLAs from Saurashtra are likely to leave the party and join the BJP ahead of Rajasthan chief minister and party’s Gujarat in-charge Ashok Gehlot’s visit to the state. Gehlot is set to visit the state from August 16-18. 

According to sources, Bhavesh Katara, Chirag Kalgaria, Lalit Vasoya, Sanjay Solanki, Mahesh Patel and Harshad Ribadia had a meeting with Gujarat BJP chief C R Patil on Saturday night. Four of them are  Patidar MLAs and Vasoya is a close friend of Hardik Patel. 

After these six cross-voted in the presidential election in favour of NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu, the Congress formed a probe panel. Sources said former home minister Naresh Raval, former Rajya Sabha member and Dalit leader Raju Parmar, who resigned from the Congress, will join the BJP on August 17. The six MLAs are also likely to join the BJP on the same day.

Lalit Vasoya told reporters, “I don’t want to state that I am with the Congress forever. The day I will make any decision, I will let everyone know.” Congress’ Saurashtra in-charge Ramkishan Ojha said, “I have received media reports that the six MLAs are in touch with the BJP. The ruling party is misusing power.”

NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu in her maiden address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day talked about India’s vibrant democracy, success story of Covid vaccines, Atmanirbhar Bharat and the growth of the country’s economy after the pandemic.

The President on Sunday said that it is a cause of celebration “not only for all of us but also for every advocate of democracy around the world”.

“When India won independence, there were many international leaders and experts who were sceptical about the success of democratic form of government in India. They had their reasons to be doubtful. In those days, democracy was limited to economically advanced nations. India, after so many years of exploitation at the hands of foreign rulers, was marked by poverty and illiteracy. But we Indians proved the skeptics wrong. Democracy not only grew roots in this soil, it was enriched too,” the President said.

Murmu said that ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ festival is dedicated to the people of India.

“Based on the success achieved by the people, the resolve to build ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ is also a part of this Mahotsav. Citizens from all age-groups have keenly participated in a series of events held across the country,” she added.

Talking about the vaccine success story that the country has achieved, President Murmu said: “The world has seen a new India rising in recent years, more so after the outbreak of Covid-19. Our response to the pandemic has been appreciated everywhere. We launched the biggest vaccination drive in human history with vaccines manufactured in the country itself.

“Last month, we crossed the 200-crore mark in cumulative vaccine coverage. In combating the pandemic, our achievements have been better than those of many developed countries. For this feat, we are grateful to our scientists, doctors, nurses, paramedics and the staff associated with vaccination.”

She said the pandemic has uprooted lives and also economies in the entire world.

“When the world has been battling the economic consequences of the great crisis, India got its act together and is now moving forward. India is among the fastest growing major economies in the world. India’s start-up eco-system ranks high in the world. The success of start-ups in our country, especially the growing number of unicorns is a shining example of our industrial progress.

“The government and policy-makers deserve credit for beating the global trend and helping the economy flourish. During the last few years, unprecedented progress has been made in the development of physical and digital infrastructure,” she added.

The President said: “The success of start-ups in our country, especially the growing number of unicorns is a shining example of our industrial progress. The government and policy-makers deserve credit for beating the global trend and helping the economy flourish.”

Murmu also talked about India’s achievement in the Commonwealth Games saying that a large number of our winners come from underprivileged segments of society.

“Our daughters are the biggest hope for the nation. Some of them brought laurels for the country at the recently held Commonwealth Games. Of course, India’s sportspersons have been making the country proud by their performance in international competitions,” she added.

In her maiden speech, the President said that the keyword for India today is compassion; for the downtrodden, for the needy and for those on the margins.

“Some of our national values have been incorporated in our Constitution as the fundamental duties of the citizens. I appeal to every citizen to know about their fundamental duties and follow them in letter and spirit so that our nation reaches new heights,” she added.

She also quoted the iconic Kannada poet Kuvempu in her first address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day to urge the youth to make a total sacrifice for the motherland and upliftment of fellow citizens, as they intend to build the country of 2047.

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said his government’s priority is to work for the common man and it is committed to extending the reservation benefits to the Other Backward Classes, Maratha and Dhangar communities.

Speaking on the country’s 76th Independence Day after hoisting the national flag at the state secretariat as the CM for the first time, Shinde said several parts of the state have witnessed floods due to heavy rainfall.

“We started working from day one and our priority is to work for the common man, farmers, the working class,” he said.

“The government is committed to extending the benefits of reservation to the OBCs, Maratha and Dhangar (shepherd) communities,” he added.

The CM said 15 lakh hectares of land in 28 districts of the state has been affected due to floods.

The assistance to the affected people has been doubled, he said.

“To find a permanent solution to the floods, we are undertaking a programme of deepening and desilting of rivers in a scientific manner,” he said.