JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna announced in a video message that he would appear before the SIT on May 31 and fully cooperate in the investigation. Prajwal Revanna is facing charges of sexually abusing women and is accused in an ‘obscene videos’ case. Revanna used his diplomatic passport to leave India and fled to Germany on April 27, the day after voting for Lok Sabha polls was held in the constituency where he was a candidate.
Tag: BJP Government
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The Rise of ‘Khata Khat’ in the 2024 Elections: Modi vs Rahul Gandhi – The Economic Times Video
In the 2024 Indian elections, the phrase ‘Khata Khat’ gained attention, as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and PM Modi used it in their campaigns with different connotations. The ‘Khata Khat’ battle continues, and the winner will be revealed on June 4th. Watch!
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'Great India' of 21st century is not possible without Ram Mandir: Sudhanshu Trivedi
'Great India' of 21st century is not possible without Ram Mandir: Sudhanshu Trivedi
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Modi govt indifferent to pain, anguish of Manipur people: Congress chief Kharge
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that the Narendra Modi government was “indifferent” to the pain and anguish of the people of violence-hit Manipur.
The Congress chief said MPs of the opposition alliance ‘INDIA’ who visited Manipur to assess the situation in the strife-torn state, heard heart-wrenching stories of pain from the people there.
“While Manipur faced turmoil, the Modi government appeared indifferent,” he said on Twitter while asserting that the divide between communities was “deeply concerning.”
“Despite time for poll rallies, self-PR train inaugurations, and attending BJP meetings, PM Modi seems to have no time to address the anguish and suffering of Manipur’s people or work towards resolving inter-community issues,” Kharde tweeted.
While Manipur faced turmoil, the Modi Government appeared indifferent.Our INDIA alliance MPs, after visiting the state, heard heart-wrenching stories of pain from the people. They engaged with all communities.Over 50,000 people, including 10,000 innocent children, are in… pic.twitter.com/ZgCEozt2sA
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 31, 2023
He also said, “The Modi government appears clueless and rudderless in handling the Manipur situation, evident in the absence of a comprehensive statement in Parliament.”Over 50,000 people, including 10,000 children, are in relief camps. The facilities there are inadequate, especially for women, and there are shortages of medicines and food, Kharge said.
“Economic activities have come to a halt, with children unable to attend school, farmers ceasing their farming, and people grappling with both financial losses and psychological hardships,” Kharge said on Twitter.
A delegation of 21 MPs of the INDIA alliance visited Manipur over the weekend and met many people in relief camps set up for those affected by violence in the state.
NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that the Narendra Modi government was “indifferent” to the pain and anguish of the people of violence-hit Manipur.
The Congress chief said MPs of the opposition alliance ‘INDIA’ who visited Manipur to assess the situation in the strife-torn state, heard heart-wrenching stories of pain from the people there.
“While Manipur faced turmoil, the Modi government appeared indifferent,” he said on Twitter while asserting that the divide between communities was “deeply concerning.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
“Despite time for poll rallies, self-PR train inaugurations, and attending BJP meetings, PM Modi seems to have no time to address the anguish and suffering of Manipur’s people or work towards resolving inter-community issues,” Kharde tweeted.
While Manipur faced turmoil, the Modi Government appeared indifferent.
Our INDIA alliance MPs, after visiting the state, heard heart-wrenching stories of pain from the people. They engaged with all communities.
Over 50,000 people, including 10,000 innocent children, are in… pic.twitter.com/ZgCEozt2sA
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 31, 2023
He also said, “The Modi government appears clueless and rudderless in handling the Manipur situation, evident in the absence of a comprehensive statement in Parliament.”Over 50,000 people, including 10,000 children, are in relief camps. The facilities there are inadequate, especially for women, and there are shortages of medicines and food, Kharge said.
“Economic activities have come to a halt, with children unable to attend school, farmers ceasing their farming, and people grappling with both financial losses and psychological hardships,” Kharge said on Twitter.
A delegation of 21 MPs of the INDIA alliance visited Manipur over the weekend and met many people in relief camps set up for those affected by violence in the state.
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Monsoon Session showdown: Opposition to raise key national issues; Centre aims to push 31 Bills
By Online Desk
Ahead of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session, ‘INDIA’, the newly formed alliance of Opposition parties is aiming to raise key issues including the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, while the Centre aims to take up as many 31 bills during the session.
Apart from the situation in Manipur, the opposition will also raise the issue of rail safety, on the back of the horrific triple train crash in Odisha’s Balasore district on June 2.
Unemployment, inflation, the status of the India-China Border and the trade balance between the two countries are among other key issues set to be raised by these parties.
AAP’s fight against the Union government’s ordinance — bypassing an SC verdict — on the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi will also take centre stage in the monsoon session.
Some of the parties have planned to move an adjournment motion over Manipur violence among other issues on day one of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session on Thursday.
The Monsoon Session will be conducted till August 11 and will have 17 sittings.
Almost all the parties including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharat Rashtra Smithi (BRS), Samajwadi Party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janata Dal United (JDU), Dravina Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), CPM, CPI, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) shared their plan while speaking to media followed by an all-party meeting called by the government in the Parliament premises. A total of 34 parties and 44 leaders participated in the meeting.
The Congress on Wednesday announced to raise the Manipur violence issue on day one of the Monsoon Session seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply over the matter.
“Today, in the beginning (of the meeting), I kept my point. Our first issue is the violence in Manipur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should come and answer in Parliament over the issue. We will bring adjournment motion over the matter tomorrow,” Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary told ANI after attending an all-party meeting called by the government.
Choudhary, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also said that there should be a discussion on the issue of flood and the federal structure of India.
In the meeting, Choudhary said, he asked the government to allow all opposition parties to speak in the House pointing “We have not come here for tourism so want discussion in House.”
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the opposition’s demand for a discussion on the situation in Manipur is “non-negotiable”, asserting that the government must shun its “my way or the highway” approach and follow a middle path for the smooth functioning of Parliament.
Ramesh said his party will oppose the bill that would be brought in to replace the Delhi ordinance, which he alleged “curtails constitutional rights and responsibilities of the elected government.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the government was ready for a discussion on the situation in Manipur but termed a “caveat for disruption” the opposition’s demand for a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.
“All parties have been demanding a discussion on Manipur. The government is ready for a discussion on Manipur whenever the Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Speaker decide a date and time,” Joshi said after the meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Asked about the opposition’s demand for a statement by the prime minister, Joshi said when the government has agreed to a discussion, then raising issues that the prime minister should come is like putting a caveat for creating disruption in Parliament.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh objected to bringing the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 and said his party as well as other like-minded Opposition parties will oppose when the Bill will be introduced in the House for its passage. He further stated his party will also raise Manipur violence and misuse of Central agencies among other issues.
IUML leader Mohd Basheer said he registered a strong protest against Uniform Civil Code in the meeting and “I say that it is dangerous and will disturb the harmony of the country.”
JDU raised the question of inflation, unemployment, flood, and no caste census as its leader Lallan Singh said “No one gave any answer on whether it will be discussed or not”.
DMK’s Tiruchi Siva raised the issue of the Tamil Nadu Governor’s recent activity in the state and demanded that RN Ravi should be recalled.
He also demanded that the Manipur incident should be discussed in the Monsoon Session and that PM Modi should come to the House and give his statement.
Issues of unemployment were raised by the DMK leader, who also demanded that the Uniform Civil Code should not be brought. “All issues raised to be considered by the government,” said T Shiva.
The contentious Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 is among 31 Bills that are listed for the Monsoon Session of the Parliament beginning on Thursday.
Apart from the Personal Data Protection Bill, the bill to replace the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, promulgated in May this year is among other key Bills listed for the monsoon session. The ordinance deals with the control of services in Delhi and was promulgated after the Supreme Court verdict on an appeal by the Delhi government.
As per a list, all these 31 Bills will be tabled in the Monsoon Session, which consists of 17 sittings in the old Parliament building.
The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (To replace ordinance) is on the top among all 31 Bills followed by the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019; the Mediation Bill, 2021; the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2022; the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022; the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2022; the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023; the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023; the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2022 (with respect to State of Himachal Pradesh); the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 (with respect to State of Chhattisgarh); he Postal Services Bill, 2023; the National Cooperative University Bill, 2023; and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
(With additional inputs from ANI and PTI)
Ahead of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session, ‘INDIA’, the newly formed alliance of Opposition parties is aiming to raise key issues including the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, while the Centre aims to take up as many 31 bills during the session.
Apart from the situation in Manipur, the opposition will also raise the issue of rail safety, on the back of the horrific triple train crash in Odisha’s Balasore district on June 2.
googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
Unemployment, inflation, the status of the India-China Border and the trade balance between the two countries are among other key issues set to be raised by these parties.
AAP’s fight against the Union government’s ordinance — bypassing an SC verdict — on the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi will also take centre stage in the monsoon session.
Some of the parties have planned to move an adjournment motion over Manipur violence among other issues on day one of the Parliament’s Monsoon Session on Thursday.
The Monsoon Session will be conducted till August 11 and will have 17 sittings.
Almost all the parties including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharat Rashtra Smithi (BRS), Samajwadi Party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Janata Dal United (JDU), Dravina Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), CPM, CPI, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) shared their plan while speaking to media followed by an all-party meeting called by the government in the Parliament premises. A total of 34 parties and 44 leaders participated in the meeting.
The Congress on Wednesday announced to raise the Manipur violence issue on day one of the Monsoon Session seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reply over the matter.
“Today, in the beginning (of the meeting), I kept my point. Our first issue is the violence in Manipur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should come and answer in Parliament over the issue. We will bring adjournment motion over the matter tomorrow,” Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary told ANI after attending an all-party meeting called by the government.
Choudhary, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also said that there should be a discussion on the issue of flood and the federal structure of India.
In the meeting, Choudhary said, he asked the government to allow all opposition parties to speak in the House pointing “We have not come here for tourism so want discussion in House.”
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the opposition’s demand for a discussion on the situation in Manipur is “non-negotiable”, asserting that the government must shun its “my way or the highway” approach and follow a middle path for the smooth functioning of Parliament.
Ramesh said his party will oppose the bill that would be brought in to replace the Delhi ordinance, which he alleged “curtails constitutional rights and responsibilities of the elected government.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the government was ready for a discussion on the situation in Manipur but termed a “caveat for disruption” the opposition’s demand for a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.
“All parties have been demanding a discussion on Manipur. The government is ready for a discussion on Manipur whenever the Rajya Sabha Chairman and Lok Sabha Speaker decide a date and time,” Joshi said after the meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Asked about the opposition’s demand for a statement by the prime minister, Joshi said when the government has agreed to a discussion, then raising issues that the prime minister should come is like putting a caveat for creating disruption in Parliament.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh objected to bringing the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 and said his party as well as other like-minded Opposition parties will oppose when the Bill will be introduced in the House for its passage. He further stated his party will also raise Manipur violence and misuse of Central agencies among other issues.
IUML leader Mohd Basheer said he registered a strong protest against Uniform Civil Code in the meeting and “I say that it is dangerous and will disturb the harmony of the country.”
JDU raised the question of inflation, unemployment, flood, and no caste census as its leader Lallan Singh said “No one gave any answer on whether it will be discussed or not”.
DMK’s Tiruchi Siva raised the issue of the Tamil Nadu Governor’s recent activity in the state and demanded that RN Ravi should be recalled.
He also demanded that the Manipur incident should be discussed in the Monsoon Session and that PM Modi should come to the House and give his statement.
Issues of unemployment were raised by the DMK leader, who also demanded that the Uniform Civil Code should not be brought. “All issues raised to be considered by the government,” said T Shiva.
The contentious Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023 is among 31 Bills that are listed for the Monsoon Session of the Parliament beginning on Thursday.
Apart from the Personal Data Protection Bill, the bill to replace the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, promulgated in May this year is among other key Bills listed for the monsoon session. The ordinance deals with the control of services in Delhi and was promulgated after the Supreme Court verdict on an appeal by the Delhi government.
As per a list, all these 31 Bills will be tabled in the Monsoon Session, which consists of 17 sittings in the old Parliament building.
The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (To replace ordinance) is on the top among all 31 Bills followed by the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019; the Mediation Bill, 2021; the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2022; the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022; the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2022; the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023; the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023; the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2022 (with respect to State of Himachal Pradesh); the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 (with respect to State of Chhattisgarh); he Postal Services Bill, 2023; the National Cooperative University Bill, 2023; and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
(With additional inputs from ANI and PTI)
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Kejriwal to meet Mamata, discuss Centre’s ordinance on administrative services
By PTI
KOLKATA: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be meeting his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Tuesday, an official said.
Kejriwal will be accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo is trying to drum up opposition support over the Delhi government’s fight against the Centre over an ordinance on the control of administrative services in the national capital.
Kejriwal and Mann are scheduled to land at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in the afternoon. They will hold a brief meeting with AAP leaders of West Bengal before visiting the state secretariat Nabanna to meet the Trinamool Congress chief.
“They are scheduled to have a closed-door meeting at the state secretariat. They may also hold a discussion on probable strategies for next year’s general elections,” a senior TMC leader said.
Kejriwal and Mann will leave the West Bengal capital on Tuesday evening.
Kejriwal has met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the ordinance issue and the latter has extended full support to AAP in its tussle with the Centre on the matter.
The AAP chief may also meet Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP leader Sharad Pawar on Wednesday in Mumbai.
The Centre promulgated an ordinance on Friday to create a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of IAS and DANICS cadre officers and disciplinary proceedings against them.
This came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services, excluding those related to police, public order and land, to the elected government in Delhi.
An ordinance has to be ratified by Parliament within six months. For this, the Centre will have to bring a bill for its passage in both Houses of Parliament.
KOLKATA: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be meeting his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Tuesday, an official said.
Kejriwal will be accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo is trying to drum up opposition support over the Delhi government’s fight against the Centre over an ordinance on the control of administrative services in the national capital.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
Kejriwal and Mann are scheduled to land at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in the afternoon. They will hold a brief meeting with AAP leaders of West Bengal before visiting the state secretariat Nabanna to meet the Trinamool Congress chief.
“They are scheduled to have a closed-door meeting at the state secretariat. They may also hold a discussion on probable strategies for next year’s general elections,” a senior TMC leader said.
Kejriwal and Mann will leave the West Bengal capital on Tuesday evening.
Kejriwal has met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over the ordinance issue and the latter has extended full support to AAP in its tussle with the Centre on the matter.
The AAP chief may also meet Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP leader Sharad Pawar on Wednesday in Mumbai.
The Centre promulgated an ordinance on Friday to create a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of IAS and DANICS cadre officers and disciplinary proceedings against them.
This came a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services, excluding those related to police, public order and land, to the elected government in Delhi.
An ordinance has to be ratified by Parliament within six months. For this, the Centre will have to bring a bill for its passage in both Houses of Parliament.
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RSS raising issues related to religious conversion to divert attention from BJP’s failures: Mayawati
By PTI
LUCKNOW: BSP president Mayawati alleged on Saturday that the RSS is raising issues related to religious conversion and the population policy to divert people’s attention from the failures of the BJP government at the Centre.
She also said the “silence” of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the present situation in the country is harmful.
“The discordant voice being raised by the RSS now over the new population policy and religious conversion for diverting the attention of the people of the country reeling under the curse of a massive inflation, unemployment, violence and disorder is grossly improper. This is a planned conspiracy to divert the attention from the failures of the BJP government,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said while addressing a daylong convention of the office-bearers of her party’s state unit here.
“Actually, this campaign by the RSS is being taken up before the next (2024) Lok Sabha polls as part of a conspiracy to support the BJP and its government and it is very important to make people aware of this,” Mayawati was quoted as saying in a release issued by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
She said it is an irony that the RSS supports the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in every election with its “eyes closed”, but “never openly opposes its government’s wrong and anti-people policies”.
“Its silence on the prevailing atmosphere in the country is not only sad but also harmful,” the BSP chief said.
Her comments came in the wake of RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale saying religious conversions and illegal migration from Bangladesh are leading to a “population imbalance” in the country.
Addressing reporters after a four-day all-India working committee meeting of the RSS in Prayagraj on Wednesday, Hosabale said the organisation is trying to raise awareness on conversions.
ALSO READ | BJP ‘terrorising’ Muslims on pretext of conducting madrassa survey: Mayawati
He also said the existing laws to prevent religious conversion need to be implemented strictly.
Mayawati, who gave necessary directives to BSP leaders for the upcoming local body polls, also instructed them to work with dedication and honesty for strengthening the party’s support base among the “sarv samaj” so that it emerges as the right and worthwhile alternative to the BJP.
“As it is, people are sad as their experience of giving power to the BJP for ‘achhe din’ (good days) has not been good in any way,” she said, adding that instead of paying attention to development and public welfare, governments led by the saffron party appear to be spending their time and resources on anti-poor activities and mere rhetoric.
Hitting out at the Uttar Pradesh government, she said the law-and-order situation in the state is deplorable, there is no rule of law and the high-handedness of the government continues.
Calling upon BSP workers to make people realise that they will get justice and their problems will be resolved only when their own government comes to power in the state, Mayawati said small cadre meetings should be organised in accordance with the traditions of the party.
“There is no need for the BSP to follow other parties who support the rich and their royal styles, which looks like making fun of the unemployed youngsters and the middle class,” she added.
The BSP supremo also asked her partymen to celebrate her birthday on January 15 as “Jan Kalyankari Diwas” with simplicity, sincerity and by helping the poor.
LUCKNOW: BSP president Mayawati alleged on Saturday that the RSS is raising issues related to religious conversion and the population policy to divert people’s attention from the failures of the BJP government at the Centre.
She also said the “silence” of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the present situation in the country is harmful.
“The discordant voice being raised by the RSS now over the new population policy and religious conversion for diverting the attention of the people of the country reeling under the curse of a massive inflation, unemployment, violence and disorder is grossly improper. This is a planned conspiracy to divert the attention from the failures of the BJP government,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said while addressing a daylong convention of the office-bearers of her party’s state unit here.
“Actually, this campaign by the RSS is being taken up before the next (2024) Lok Sabha polls as part of a conspiracy to support the BJP and its government and it is very important to make people aware of this,” Mayawati was quoted as saying in a release issued by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
She said it is an irony that the RSS supports the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in every election with its “eyes closed”, but “never openly opposes its government’s wrong and anti-people policies”.
“Its silence on the prevailing atmosphere in the country is not only sad but also harmful,” the BSP chief said.
Her comments came in the wake of RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale saying religious conversions and illegal migration from Bangladesh are leading to a “population imbalance” in the country.
Addressing reporters after a four-day all-India working committee meeting of the RSS in Prayagraj on Wednesday, Hosabale said the organisation is trying to raise awareness on conversions.
ALSO READ | BJP ‘terrorising’ Muslims on pretext of conducting madrassa survey: Mayawati
He also said the existing laws to prevent religious conversion need to be implemented strictly.
Mayawati, who gave necessary directives to BSP leaders for the upcoming local body polls, also instructed them to work with dedication and honesty for strengthening the party’s support base among the “sarv samaj” so that it emerges as the right and worthwhile alternative to the BJP.
“As it is, people are sad as their experience of giving power to the BJP for ‘achhe din’ (good days) has not been good in any way,” she said, adding that instead of paying attention to development and public welfare, governments led by the saffron party appear to be spending their time and resources on anti-poor activities and mere rhetoric.
Hitting out at the Uttar Pradesh government, she said the law-and-order situation in the state is deplorable, there is no rule of law and the high-handedness of the government continues.
Calling upon BSP workers to make people realise that they will get justice and their problems will be resolved only when their own government comes to power in the state, Mayawati said small cadre meetings should be organised in accordance with the traditions of the party.
“There is no need for the BSP to follow other parties who support the rich and their royal styles, which looks like making fun of the unemployed youngsters and the middle class,” she added.
The BSP supremo also asked her partymen to celebrate her birthday on January 15 as “Jan Kalyankari Diwas” with simplicity, sincerity and by helping the poor.
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BJP government in Gujarat ashamed of state’s schools: AAP leader Manish Sisodia
Manish Sisodia asked why the BJP could not improve the standards of schools in 27 years in Gujarat while the AAP had done it in five years.
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Places of Christian worship continue to come under attack in Karnataka even as assembly passes anti-conversion bill
By Online Desk
CHENNAI: Places of Christian worship continue to come under attack in Dakshina Kannada and other parts of BJP-ruled Karnataka. In a fresh incident on Thursday morning, a 160-year-old St Joseph’s church was attacked and the statue of St Antony disfigured in Chikkaballapur district, said sources.
More than a week ago, a pro-Hindu mob burnt Christian religious books in Hanumanapalaya in Srinivasapur in the Kolar district alleging they were being distributed among the local people by the Christian community.
In Hubballi sometime ago, a mob entered a church and shouted slogans and chanted Hindu religious songs. Surprisingly, the pastor who lodged a complaint with the police was arrested under charges of “outraging the religious feelings of any class,” the BBC reports.
A report by the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) listed 39 cases of threats or violence against Christians from January to November this year in Karnataka, the BBC report further said adding, these include alleged attacks on pastors by members of right-wing Hindu groups and even instances where they reportedly physically prevented them from holding religious services.
The attacks come amid protests by civil society organisations against the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom Bill 2021 tabled by the government in the ongoing assembly session.
President of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Prof Y J Rajendra reportedly said that the bill is against Article 25 of the Constitution and is trampling upon the constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of religion, privacy, and dignity.
The bill, among other things, would empower the state to deem interfaith marriages involving conversion as “null & void.” The government, aided by the bill, intends to prohibit conversion by “misrepresentation, force, allurement, fraudulent means, or marriage.”
The Bill reportedly proposes a maximum punishment of 10 years of imprisonment for forcible conversion of persons from Dalit and ST communities, minors, and women to another religion.
Similar laws are reportedly in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand.
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Stay number one in executing Central govt schemes: CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan tells ‘Team MP’
By Express News Service
BHOPAL: Just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a meeting of chief ministers and deputy CMs of BJP-ruled states in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a high-level meeting of cabinet ministers and top bureaucrats of the state in Bhopal on Wednesday evening.
Chouhan was back to work with his ministerial colleagues and top bureaucrats, with the clarion call, “take MP forward rapidly, try to stay number one in central government schemes by working on the instructions of PM Modi. Work on priority for both Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living.”
He said that ‘Team Madhya Pradesh’ should work day and night for the people. “Our priority is to control Covid by doing all necessary work. All arrangements should be appropriate. No person should go without getting vaccinated. Complete the target of the second dose on time.”
He added that all departments should utilize their budget on time. “The budget amount of those departments that are unable to spend the money, will be given to other departments.”
While making it clear that the state should be number one in implementing all central government schemes, Chouhan said “as soon as any new scheme of the central government is launched, we should pay attention to it immediately. Extra efforts should be made for revenue collection. Revenue is the basis of the development of the state. Revenue collection meetings should be held every week as the progress of the state depends on it. Try through experts to increase revenue. Maximize revenue collection.”
He said that the issue of diversification of agriculture is very important. Speedy efforts should be made for the cultivation of different crops.
Chouhan further said that a roadmap should be made for development, and targets must be set and completed within the time-limit. Revenue should increase, quality of work must improve. There should be no delay in infrastructure works. If quality work is not completed on time, action should be taken by imposing a penalty. Efforts should be made to increase trade, investment and employment. Self employment opportunities must be made available.
There should be focus on exports to bring in foreign exchange. Work should be done for “Ek Zila Ek Utpad”. Raw materials, agricultural products can be exported. Attention is must on the startup area. Work should be done by focusing on Atmanirbhar Bharat Nirman Yojana and Rozgar Yojana.
He laid particular stress on speedy work on the PM Gati Shakti Project. Work should be done in a shared vision with the central government in the field of better coordination and infrastructure.
Further preparations should be made to prepare master plans of cities. Cities cannot be planned without a master plan. The ministers-in-charge and the concerned officers should prepare the master plan for the districts under their charge. Also work must be done for the pride of the city.
While maintaining that the Ayushman Bharat scheme can bring revolution in the lives of the people, the CM stressed on implementing it by making it better and effective. In private hospitals, work should be done effectively to get the benefits of this scheme to the card holders.
Efforts should be made for road connectivity, drinking water, Ujjwala gas connection, electricity, Ayushman card and employment. Bring revolution to create a self-reliant family. No one should be deprived of basic facilities. People should have bank accounts also to make ration available to the eligible persons. Awareness in insurance and pension schemes should be increased.
He further said that focus should be made on PM Swanidhi Yojana. “We are number one in Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Swanidhi Yojana including Matruvandana and Sukanya Yojana.”