Nasheman

India's largest selling Urdu weekly, now also in English

You are here: Home / Archives for Nasheman

Rahul sacks AICC secretary attached to Priyanka

by

Nasheman News : A day after appointment as AICC secretary, attached to party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Kumar Ashish was sacked from the position by Congress President Rahul Gandhi, here on Wednesday. He has been replaced by Sachin Naik.

Though no reason was cited for Ashish’s sacking by the party in its release, sources say his blotted past could have prompted the Congress President’s decision.

As a youth Congress leader in 2005, Ashish had been booked by the Patna police for alleged involvement in the Bihar board examination papers leak. Even then, he had been sacked by the party. 

As part of efforts to ramp up the party organisation in Uttar Pradesh ahead of Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi had on Tuesday replaced AICC secretaries Prakash Joshi and Naseeb Singh with six new faces to assist party general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jyotiraditya Scindia.

A party release said Zubair Khan, Kumar Ashish and Bajirao Khade would be party secretaries attached to Priyanka Gandhi, party in-charge of eastern UP.

Rana Goswami, Dhiraj Gurjar and Rohit Chaudhary were appointed secretaries attached to Scindia, in-charge of western UP.

Priyanka Gandhi and Scindia were appointed General Secretaries last month.

Flight cancellations affect Jan air passenger growth

by

Nasheman News :India’s domestic air passenger traffic growth slowed in January as airlines cancelled flights due to reasons like weather related events.

According to industry observers, seasonal factors too contributed to slowing of growth rate in January to 9.10 per cent on the year-on-year basis.

In December 2018, the number of passengers flown by domestic airlines grew at 12.91 per cent, while in November it increased 11.03 per cent.

As per the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data, last month passenger traffic grew to 1.25 crore from 1.14 crore in January 2018.

“Passengers carried by domestic airlines in January were 125.08 lakh against 114.65 lakh during the corresponding period of previous year, registering a growth of 9.10 per cent,” the DGCA said in its monthly domestic traffic report here on Wednesday.

According to the data, low-cost carrier SpiceJet had the highest passenger load factor (PLF) — a measure of capacity utilisation of the airline — at 90.9 per cent, followed by GoAir with 87.4 per cent, AirAsia India 88.4 per cent and IndiGo 86.4 per cent in January.

“In January, we recorded 90.9 per cent PLF. This is the 46th month in a row that SpiceJet, among the major scheduled carriers, has flown with the highest loads in the Indian skies,” said Shilpa Bhatia, Chief Sales and Revenue Officer, SpiceJet.

“Besides setting new benchmarks in global aviation, this record has helped us establish our pre-eminence as the most preferred airline, month-on-month,” she said.

“The January PLF has shown a decreasing trend compared with previous month due to the end of tourist season,” the DGCA said.

According to the data, GoAir led the industry with 75.9 per cent punctuality rate (on-time performance) at the four major airports of Bengaluru, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. It was followed by Vistara (75.3) and IndiGo (69.2).

The overall cancellation rate of scheduled domestic airlines for January stood at 1.81 per cent. Also, 917 passenger-related complaints were received last month.

IndiGo led the industry with the highest market share of 42.5 per cent, followed by SpiceJet (13.3), Air India (12.2), Jet Airways (11.9) and GoAir (8.7).

AirAsia India had a market share of 5.3 per cent, followed by Vistara (3.8), JetLite (1.7) and Trujet (0.5).

“Both air traffic and fares were affected in January largely due to weather and operational factors. Unexpected cancellations of flights by airlines also led to a substantial hike (20-25 per cent) in the last minute domestic airfares,” said Aloke Bajpai, CEO and Co-founder, ixigo.

Fares for major domestic sectors would continue to see an all-time high throughout February, which would further affect the passenger growth, Bajpai said. Travellers can avoid high prices this season by booking tickets, preferably, 15-30 days in advance, he added.

According to Sharat Dhall, COO (B2C), Yatra.com: “The percentage of growth has been affected due to unprecedented flight cancellations by various airlines, impacting the overall capacity and market growth”.

“With January marking the end of the holiday season, there has been a dip in travel. But we expect a pickup in demand towards the end of February and March with the semester breaks in schools as well as long weekends like Maha Shivratri and Holi,” Dhall said.


Modi popular but will be tough for BJP to replicate 2014 in UP: Survey

by

Nasheman News :Prime Minister Narendra Modi still remains popular with the masses but it would be difficult for the BJP to replicate its 2014 success in Uttar Pradesh, says a survey on the evolving political scenario in the state ahead of the upcoming elections.

The survey also says that the tension after the Pulwama terror attack will have a significant bearing on the upcoming general elections.

Released on Wednesday, the survey report by market research and brokerage firm CLSA says that the BJP would find it difficult to replicate its 2014 success, though it could still win over half of the Lok Sabha seats in the country’s most populous state.

“Our discussions with various politicians, including those of the BJP, indicate that the BJP would likely win 40-45 seats (out of 80) in UP, on the higher side against 73 back in 2014,” the report adds.

A CLSA team travelled across Uttar Pradesh over the past two weeks to reach its conclusions. 

During the course of its survey, it also found that Modi still remains popular on the ground across different castes, a factor that could translate into more votes in the caste-sensitive state.

And in what may come as good news for the Opposition, the CLSA report says the entry of Priyanka Gandhi — which has already energised the Congress cadres — may hurt the prospects of the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party (SP-BSP) combine and give the BJP a tough fight. 

The SP and the BSP have joined hands to corner the Muslim and Dalit votes. 

“Though the alliance is a formidable opposition to the BJP, the entry of Priyanka Gandhi can still take away some of SP-BSP vote share. If not formal, at least, an informal alliance with the Congress will be required for the combine to work,” the CLSA report says.

The survey adds that a possible alliance of the SP-BSP with the Congress can turn the tables and limit the gains made by the BJP, preventing a clean sweep of sorts registered by the party in the last general elections.

“We understand that the SP-BSP might tie-up with the Congress, at least informally, which could possibly limit the gains for the BJP,” says the report.

There is also a possibility of disgruntled party workers from the SP and the BSP, after the two joined hands, shifting to the Congress, which might help the BJP. 

But CLSA says that cow vigilantism in the state has badly hurt farmer sentiments turning a large section against the ruling party. 

Vigilantism has prevented farmers from selling their cattle and the excess cattle are, in turn, destroying farm produce.

The confusion in the state and the emerging political scenario does not portent good for the markets. 

The CLSA survey says that in the short term, domestic equity flows will likely reflect these political uncertainties over the next three months, driving the market lower.

Modi may inaugurate PM Kisan scheme on Sunday

by

Nasheman News : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the direct income support scheme – PM KISAN – on Sunday by releasing the first instalment to the beneficiary farmers, an official said.

Modi will address the two-day national conclave of the BJP Kisan Morcha on Sunday and later release the money – Rs 2,000 per land holding – electronically to the bank accounts of farmers, mostly from Uttar Pradesh, with the click of a button. 

The UP government is working on war-footing to upload details of eligible farmers on the central database by Friday.

The BJP government intends to ensure release of first instalment to all eligible farmers – small and marginal – before the model code of conduct kicks in. 

In the interim budget, the Modi government announced direct income support of Rs 6,000 per year to 12.5 crore small and marginal farmers with land holding up to 2 hectares under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. 

India, Saudi Arabia condemn Pulwama attack, call for sanctioning of terrorists, organisations by UN

by

Array

Nasheman News : India and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday strongly condemned the terror attack on Indian forces in Pulwama, called upon countries to renounce use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy and underlined the importance of comprehensive sanctioning of terrorists and their organisations by the United Nations.

The remarks on the UN sanctions regime during discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman comes two days after the joint statement issued during visit of the Saudi Arabian leader to Pakistan which had “underlined the need for avoiding politicisation of UN listing regime”.

Briefing the media following delegation-level talks between Modi and Salman here, Secretary (Economic Relations) T.S. Tirumurti said they expressed strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

India is keen to get Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist by the United Nations. JeM has cliamed responsibility for the Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel. 

Asked how the remarks of the two leaders squared up with Saudi-Pakistan joint statement, Tirumurti said he did now want to comment on it, but “if you are really looking at politicisation, you know who is politicising it”. 

Tirumurti said the two leaders called on all states to reject the use of terrorism against other countries, dismantle terrorist infrastructure, cut off any kind of support and financing to terrorists from all territories against other states and bring the perpetrators of terrorism to justice.

“The two leaders condemned in the strongest terms the recent terrorist attack on Indian forces in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir. Both leaders called upon all countries to renounce use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy. They called on states to deny access to weapons to commit terrorist acts against other countries. 

“Both leaders underlined the importance of comprehensive sanctioning of terrorists and their organisations by the United Nations. They called for concerted action by the international community against terrorism and early adoption of the UN comprehensive convention on international terrorism,” he said. 

Answering a query, he said the complicity of Pakistan in Pulwama attack was very much underlined. 

The official also said both sides agreed to set up a Strategic Partnership Council and Saudi Arabia will invest $ 100 billion in India in a range of areas. He said the two leaders agreed to constitute a comprehensive security dialogue at the level of NSAs. 

He said that Prince Mohammed appreciated “consistent efforts” by Modi since May 2014 including Prime Minister’s personal initiatives to have friendly relations with Pakistan”. 

“In this context both sides agreed on the creation of conditions necessary for resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan,” he said.

He also said that no mediation was offered by the Saudi authorities.

Tirumurti said that the Crown Prince highlighted extremism and terrorism as matters of common concern and expressed his determination to cooperate with India to fight this menace particularly through strong intelligence partnership.

“To enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts and benefit mutually in real-time intelligence sharing, the two leaders agreed to constitute a comprehensive security dialogue at the level of National Security Advisors and set up a joint working group on counter-terrorism.

On the defence front, they agreed to hold the first naval exercises at the earliest and expand defence relations in other areas like defence exercises, joint production, supply chain development,” he said. 

Tirumurti said the meeting was held in “an atmosphere of great warmth and friendship testifying to the close rapport between the two leaders”. 

He said the visiting leader conveyed his appreciation of the Indian model which signifies the ethos of inclusiveness, pluralism and tolerance. 

“Both sides agreed to set up a Strategic Partnership Council which will be guided by Prime Minister and the Crown Prince and will have ministerial representation covering all aspects of bilateral relations. This is an extremely important development in line with desire of Saudi Arabia to deepen partnership with eight strategic partners one of which is India.”

He said Modi welcomed the announcement of Crown Prince to invest $ 100 billion in India in a range of areas like energy, refining, petrochemicals, infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing. 

“This is a clear reflection of confidence of Saudi Arabia in the vibrancy of Indian economy,” he said adding there was talk of realising untapped potential in trade particularly non-oil trade.

He said they expressed satisfaction at first joint venture in energy of a refinery and petrochemical project estimated at $ 44 billion and the prime minister welcomed Saudi Arabia’s participation in India’s strategic petroleum reserves.

Tirumurti said the two leaders agreed to increase the frequency of of direct flights of carriers India and Saudi Arabia by 3,84,000 seats per annum which will give a huge boost to tourism as well as large Indian community.

He said at India’s request, Saudi Arabia decided to increase haj quota from India to two lakhs. India, he said, has also decided to extend e-visa facilities to Saudi nationals. 

Tirumurti said Saudi Arabia also agreed to resolve issues related to Indian workers who are currently stranded in SA due to closure of one foreign country. 

The two leaders agreed to enhance maritime security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean Region and agreed to cooperate along with other Indian Ocean rim countries in serving as the net security provider for IOR.

In a veiled reference to China’s ‘One Belt, One Road project’ which also includes China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Triumurti said both sides agreed that regional connectivity projects should be based on univsersally recognised international norms including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. 

The two leaders expressed serious concern over cyber terrorism and misuse of cyber space and said they will also work together to address the problems and issues of fugitive economic offenders. 

Answering queries, Tirumurti said Afghan situation was not discussed, but there was a discussion on areas relating to Middle East, Syria, Palestine.

Answering a query, he said the two sides agreed for comprehensive sanctioning of not only terrorists but terrorist organisations by the UN. 


25 lakh farmers’ loans would be waived by March 5: Kamal Nath

by

Nasheman News :  Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath here on Wednesday said despite the states finances not being in good shape, his government would fulfil its promise of loan waiver for farmers.

Taking part in a discussion on farmers’ issues in the Assembly, Nath said loans of 25 lakh farmers would be waived by March 5. He underlined that the state’s financial situation was not good but the government was committed to fulfilling the promise made to farmers. 

Responding to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s question why enough amount was not allocated for loan waiver in the state budget, Nath said it would be clear on March 5 how loans would be waived. 

The Congress has promised to waive up to Rs 2 lakh loans of 55 lakh farmers in Madhya Pradesh. The government has sought applications from the needy farmers in this regard.


TN must demand release of 7 convicts in Rajiv Gandhi case: Stalin

by

[Nasheman news] Chennai DMK chief M.K. Stalin on Thursday said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami must meet Governor Banwarilal Purohit and urge him to allow release of seven persons convicted for former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination.

Perarivalan, Murugan, Nalini, Shanthan, Ravichandran, Jayakumar and Robert Pyas have been in jail for naerly three decades after Gandhi was killed in a blast triggered by a human bomb in Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991. 

In a statement issued here, Stalin said the state cabinet had passed a resolution for the release of the seven and had sent the same to Purohit in September 2018.

The DMK leader said the Tamil Nadu cabinet had taken the decision as per the Supreme Court order and the Governor should have accepted the same.

“It is painful to note the Governor is keeping silent on the matter and not taking any action on the cabinet recommendation,” Stalin said.

Stalin said the Chief Minister is also keeping silent by not taking up the matter with Purohit.

He said it is not known whether the AIADMK had set conditions to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) relating to the release of the seven convicts; non construction of dam across Cauvery at Mekadatu by Karanataka; exemption for the state from NEET (common medical exam).

After announcing that AIADMK will align with parties who have done good for the state Palaniswami should at least demand the release of the seven prisoners first.

Stalin said Purohit should release the seven convicts under Article 161 of the Constitution.

Vadra questioned for over 3 hours in money laundering case

by

Nasheman News :  Robert Vadra, brother-in-law of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, was on Wednesday questioned for over three hours by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case.

A senior ED official said: “We could question Vadra for only three-and-a-half hours as he complained of poor health. 

“We have asked him to appear before us again on February 22 at 10.30 a.m.,” the official told media.

Vadra arrived at the ED office in central Delhi at 10.30 a.m. and was questioned till 2 p.m.

Outside, hundreds of Youth Congress workers raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ED. 

On February 16, a Delhi court had extended Vadra’s interim bail till March 2. 

This was the fourth time that Vadra, husband of Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been questioned in connection with the money laundering case. 

The earlier quizzing took place on February 6, 7 and 9. 

The case relates to the ownership of undisclosed assets abroad worth 1.9 million pounds, allegedly belonging to Vadra.

Vadra was also questioned on February 12 and 13 by the ED in Jaipur in connection with a land deal case in Bikaner, Rajasthan. 

The ED on February 15 attached Vadra’s Sukhdev Vihar house in Delhi, a property worth Rs 4.43 crore. The house was in the name of Vadra’s company Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd. 

On February 2, the court granted Vadra interim bail till February 16 and asked him to join the investigation on February 6.

The ED also lodged a money laundering case against Vadra’s employee Manoj Arora after his role came up during an Income Tax Department probe in a 2015 anti-black money case involving absconding arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari.

The ED had alleged that Arora was aware of Vadra’s overseas undeclared assets and was instrumental in arranging funds.

Karnataka CM flexes is muscles

by

With the JD(S) and Congress yet to formalise a seat-sharing arrangement for the 28 Lok Sabha seats, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesdaysaid the JD(S) were not beggars to be bullied by their alliance partner. “If the Congress has decided to give us three or five or seven seats, I would like to say that we are not beggars. I would like to clearly state this,” Deccan Chronicle quoted him as saying. The CM, who was responding to a query by reporters in Mysuru, added, “The Congress leaders have not discussed this with me, so I have not thought of it.”

Former CM Siddaramaiah, however, appeared to ease the tension. Reacting to the CM’s statements, Siddaramaiah, who was in Bengaluru at a Youth Congress meeting, said, “No one needs to beg from anyone. This is a coalition government and neither JD(S) nor the Congress is a beggar.’’

The decision to form a pre-poll alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls were taken by the top brass of the two parties in a press conference just a week after Kumaraswamy won the floor test after days of political uncertainty in Karnataka in mid-2018. The press conference was addressed by CM Kumaraswamy, KC Venugopal, former CM Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar and Congress Lok Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

At present, after the recent bye-poll victories, the Congress has 10 seats while the JD(S) has two.

According to the political grapevine, former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda has agreed to lower his initial demand of 12 seats to 10 seats with the Congress maintaining that they will not give up any of the seats they currently hold.

With the JD(S)’s stronghold being limited to the Cauvery delta region of Old Mysuru, the party is assured of the seats in the Vokkaliga dominant regions. Other than that, they are seeking seats from Bidar, Vijaypura and Shimoga. With Deve Gowda touted to leave his stronghold of Hassan for his grandson Prajwal, the Congress might leave Bengaluru North seat, too, for the JD(S).

Agencies

Won’t speak before acting against Pak says Army chief

by

Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat has said that country will keep quiet on the retaliatory action against Pakistan in wake of the Pulwama attack.

“Why do you want to inform Pakistan beforehand. This time we will not say anything,” he said when asked about the army’s response to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement yesterday.

Rawat is in Bengaluru for the inaugural function of biennial Aeroshow 2019.

Earlier on Tuesday, Imran Khan, in his address to Pakistan had said they won’t hesitate in engaging in war with India, in wake of increased geopolitical tensions in the subcontinent after a terror attack on Central Reserve Police Force Convoy in Kash…

“All this ‘attack Pakistan’ talk is all keeping elections in mind. But if at all these are serious, please make note of one thing clearly – Pakistan will not think of retaliating, it will retaliate,” Khan had said in his first statement on the worst ever terror strike on security forces in Kashmir.

Agencies

KNOW US

GET INVOLVED

PROMOTE

Archives