[Nasheman news] Shimla Congress leader and six-time former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was diagnosed positive for swine flu, doctors said on Tuesday. His condition is stable.

He was admitted to the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla on Sunday with congestion and breathing trouble. Late on Monday, he was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus.

Forty-four people have so far tested positive for swine flu in the state.

Eighteen patients were reported in Kangra district, followed by 12 in Shimla. Nine lost their lives due to the virus, officials said.

[Nasheman news] New Delhi It was a cold Tuesday morning in the national capital with the minimum temperature recorded at 5.4 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season’s average, the weather office said.

“There was shallow fog in the morning and there will be haze throughout the day,” an India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said. 

The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 19 degrees Celsius.

At least 16 Delhi-bound trains were delayed on Tuesday morning due to fog.

At 8.30 a.m., humidity was recorded at 91 per cent while visibility was at 1,000 metres. 

Monday’s maximum and minimum temperature was recorded four notches below the average at 18.9 degrees Celsius and 5.5 degrees Celsius, respectively.

[Nasheman news] New DelhiPresident Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi along with many others from across political lines paid homage to former Union Minister George Fernandes, who died on Tuesday after prolonged illness.

Modi called the 88-year-old long-time socialist a “fiery trade union leader”, who resisted the Emergency “tooth and nail”, while Kovind described him as a “champion of democracy”.

The President said he was distressed to learn of Fernandes’ death, who served India in many capacities, including as the Railway and Defence Minister. 

“He epitomised simple living and high thinking. And was a champion of democracy, during the Emergency and beyond. We will all miss him,” the President’s office tweeted.

Modi said the former Minister represented the best of India’s political leadership. 

“Frank and fearless, forthright and farsighted, he made a valuable contribution to our country. He was among the most effective voices for the rights of the poor and marginalised,” he said in a tweet. “Saddened by his passing away.”

The Prime Minister said the former Samata Party leader fought for justice, and could humble the mightiest of politicians at the hustings; a visionary Railway Minister and a great Defence Minister who made India safe and strong.

He said Fernandes never deviated from his political ideology during his long years in public life.

“He resisted the Emergency tooth and nail. His simplicity and humility were noteworthy. My thoughts are with his family, friends and lakhs of people grieving. May his soul rest in peace,” Modi said.

On Facebook, Gandhi said: “I am sorry to hear about the passing away of former Parliamentarian and Union Minister, George Fernandesji. My condolences to his family and friends in this time of grief.” 

With the demise of Fernandes, India has lost a stalwart of its socialist movement, said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Twitter.

“He led many labour movements and fought against the injustice towards them… May his soul rest in peace,” he said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is the Janata Dal-United chief and has worked closely with Fernandes for three decades, described his death as the “loss of the tallest socialist leader”. 

All official programmes of the Bihar Chief Minister were cancelled for the day. 

Former JD-U chief Sharad Yadav remembered Fernandes as “a rare leader, who fought for working people for years”. 

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee tweeted that she was “very saddened” at Fernandes passing away and recalled him as the “much admired trade unionist”, whom she had known for decades. 

Other senior JD-U leaders K.C. Tayagi, party state president Vashist Narain Singh and former Minister Shayam Razak also condoled the death.

Fernandes was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and had been out of the public eye. He was been bedridden for more than eight years, family sources said.

Fernandes rose to political prominence when he led the Bombay Taxi Unions Association and defeated S.K. Patil, a Congress heavy-weight in the 1967 general election. 

A fire-brand and hardworking Fernandes, only 37 then, campaigned tirelessly, covering large swathes of the constituency with his workers getting a 48.5 per cent of the votes.

Fernandes later joined the Janata Dal. He served as Railway Minister in the V.P. Singh government from 1989 to 1990. He was instrumental in setting up the Konkan Railway project, connecting Mangalore and Bombay.

In 1994, Fernandes formed the Samata Party, which later allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party. 

He was appointed convenor of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and served as the Defence Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government for two terms, between 1998 and 2004. 

His term was eventful as it witnessed the Kargil War and the Pokhran test. 

[Nasheman news] New Delhi Former Defence Minister George Fernandes, long-time socialist and a trade unionist, who fought the Congress all his life died on Tuesday after prolonged illness. He was 88.

Fernandes, who was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, has been out of the public eye and has been bedridden for more than eight years, family sources said.

He had a cold and cough and was taken to the Max Hospital in Saket by his wife, Liela Fernandes, earlier in the day, when doctors said that the veteran leader was already dead.

His son, who lives in New York, is expected back in a day or two, after which the funeral will take place, the sources said.

Fernandes, a long-time socialist, rose to political prominence when he led the Bombay Taxi Unions Association and defeated “uncrowned king of Bombay” S.K. Patil, a Congress heavy-weight in the 1967 general election.

A fire-brand and hardworking Fernandes, only 37 then, campaigned tirelessly, covering large swathes of the constituency with his workers. And when the results were declared, he unseated the ‘king’ with 48.5 per cent of the votes.

Fernandes later joined the Janata Dal. He served as Railway Minister in the V.P. Singh government from 1989 to 1990. He was instrumental in setting up the Konkan Railway project, connecting Mangalore and Bombay.

In 1994, Fernandes formed the Samata Party, which later allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was appointed convenor of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and served as the Defence Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government for two terms, between 1998 and 2004. 

His term was eventful as it witnessed the Kargil War and Pokhran test. 

[Nasheman news] Jammu One-way traffic will move on the Jammu-Srinagar highway on Tuesday from Srinagar to Jammu, a traffic department official said. No vehicle will be allowed in the opposite direction.

“Traffic from Qazigund will move onwards after 1 p.m. as many trucks moving towards Srinagar as per Monday’s schedule have not crossed the Jawahar Tunnel yet,” he added. 

Reports also said a fresh landslide has hit the road at Anokhi Fall in Ramban district and clearance operation was underway.

The strategic highway was closed for six consecutive days and was partially restored from Jammu to Srinagar on Monday.

[Nasheman news] Patna Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday said the Ayodhya case that has been pending for almost 70 years, should be heard soon as the people of the country expect the construction of a grand Ram temple where the Babri Masjid once stood.

Speaking to the media here, Prasad said: “The Ayodhya case has been pending for the last 70 years. The Allahabad High Court order was in favour of the temple (in 2010), but then it is on hold in the Supreme Court now. This matter should be cleared soon.”

He said that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah have said that the matter should be resolved under a Constitutional ambit. 

The Minister said many people complain that many issues, including those relating to Sabarimala and adultery are heard expeditiously. 

“But the people feel that the Ram temple matter should also be heard soon without any further delay,” Prasad said, adding, “We all respect the Supreme Court, we have our faith in the judiciary.”

His remarks came after reports that the case would not be heard on January 29 as scheduled due to the non-availability of one of the judges of the five-member Supreme Court constitutional bench. 

[Nasheman news] New DelhiPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged first time voters to register and cast their ballots in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Delivering his first “Mann Ki Baat” address of 2019, Modi said: “This year, the Lok Sabha elections will be held in our country and this will be the first time that youth born after 2000 will vote.

“An opportunity has come for them to take the responsibility of the nation on their shoulders. They are now going to become a partner in the decision-making process of the country. I urge the youth to register themselves as voters.”

Modi also hailed the Election Commission (EC) for holding elections across the length and breadth of the country and said that the people of the country were proud of it. 

“The EC was formed on January 25, 1950 and the day is celebrated annually as National Voters Day. Seeing the scale on which the elections are held in India, it is natural for people across the world to be surprised. “

He said the EC was an institution that every citizen must be proud of. 

“In our country, no stone is left unturned to ensure that every citizen of India, who is a registered voter, gets an opportunity to vote.”

He said when we hear that a polling station is set up 15,000 feet above sea level in Himachal Pradesh, voting arrangements are made in far-flung islands of Andaman and Nicobar, or even in a remote forest area of Gujarat, where there is only one voter, “it is very natural to be proud of the Commission”.

“I commend the EC for contiinuous efforts to strengthen our democracy. I also commend the election in all the states, all security personnel. other employees, who participate in the voting process and ensure free and fair elections,” he added.

[Nasheman news] KochiPrime Minister Narendra Modi, who will arrive here later Sunday, is slated to dedicate the Rs 16,504 crore single largest investment in Kerala when he unveils an integrated Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) refinery expansion complex.

He will lay the foundation stone of the complex which is a complete “Make in India” initiative aimed at reducing dependence on imports.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to dedicate the Mounded Storage Vessel of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited and will then move on to Ettumannor in Kottayam district to lay the foundation stone of a Skill Development Institute, promoted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Later in the evening, Modi will address a state meeting of the Yuva Morcha in Thrissur after which he will return to Delhi.

This will be Modi’s second visit to Kerala this month. 

[Nasheman news] New Delhi Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday expressed his “deep sense of humility and gratitude” to the people of India for being awarded Bharat Ratna, saying that he had received much more from the people than what he had given in return.

“It is with a deep sense of humility and gratitude to the people of India that I accept this great honour, the Bharat Ratna, bestowed upon me. I have always said and I repeat that I have got more from the people of our great country than I have given to them,” the former President said in a statement.

Mukherjee urged the people strengthen their resolve to live up to the ideals of the Constitution.

“Our Founding Fathers have guided us this far, let us go farther with greater vigour and spirit to create an India of our dreams. On this Republic Day, let us strengthen our resolve to live up to the ideals of our Constitution,” Mukherjee said.

“The dynamism of our Constitution exemplified in the ideals of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity sets the tone of our development. We must strive to protect and preserve these foundational ethics,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the former President for his contribution to Indian politics and the growth trajectory.

“Pranab Da is an outstanding statesman of our times. He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation’s growth trajectory. His wisdom and intellect have few parallels,” Modi tweeted.

[ Nasheman news] BengaluruIn a bid to increase industrial production capacity, Karnataka is developing manufacturing clusters in nine districts under “compete with China” scheme of the state, Governor Vajubhai Vala said on Saturday.

“The state government is implementing the ‘Compete with China’ scheme, by developing industrial clusters in nine districts. Action is being taken to create one lakh jobs in each cluster,” the Governor said in his Republic Day address here.

The southern state, which is a pioneer in IT and manufacturing businesses, had approved 1,958 projects with an investment of Rs 3.49 lakh-crore, under its Industrial Policy 2014-19, Vala said.

These projects will create employment opportunities to 10.28 lakh people, he added.

“Karnataka stood first in the country in attracting investments,” Vala said in his speech.

According to the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s data from November last year, Karnataka saw the highest investment in the country for the first three quarters of 2018.

The ruling Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)-Congress coalition government led by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy last year announced identifying nine districts across the state to set up industrial clusters to foster innovation and product diversification, thereby creating new jobs.

Ballari, Bidar, Chikkaballapura, Chitradurga, Hassan, Kalaburagi, Kolar, Koppal and Mysuru were identified for the scheme, by developing industries that could compete with China in industrial production.

The scheme aims to have manufacturing-related activities taking place right from village level, to the taluk (sub-district) and district levels of each cluster.