News Analysis India

Tag: G Kishan Reddy

  • Vaccination is key for the revival of the tourism sector: Minister G Kishan Reddy

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday said his ministry is talking to various stakeholders for the recovery of the tourism sector affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, while stressing that vaccination is key for its revival.

    On the occasion of World Tourism Day, the Union tourism ministry organised a conference on “Tourism for Inclusive Growth” here.

    Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was the chief guest at the event.

    Speaking on the occasion, Reddy noted that the tourism sector was the worst-hit during the pandemic.

    “The government has taken various measures for its revival and recovery, including five lakh free VISAs for foreign tourists,” he said.

    The minister said the Centre has also announced various packages and relaxations for the sector in the aftermath of the pandemic.

    Asking all the stakeholders in the tourism sector to focus on health and safety issues in the wake of the pandemic, he said, “Vaccination is key for the revival of the tourism sector and India has already vaccinated more than 85 crore people.”

    Asserting that the country has an immense potential for tourism, Reddy said his ministry has been organising various events for promoting tourism in far-flung and unexplored areas of the country.

    A similar event was also organised for promoting tourism in the northeast, he added.

    Echoing similar sentiments, Birla said tourism is the growth engine of the economy and the country has a huge potential in this sector as it offers a wide range of destinations — from beaches to deserts.

  • Sikh leaders meet Union MoS Home G Kishan Reddy, seek anti-conversion law

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: A delegation of Sikh leaders met Minister of State (Home) G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday to discuss the alleged forced conversion and wedding of Sikh women in Jammu and Kashmir. The delegation comprising BJP spokesperson and former BJP MLA from Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar RP Singh, Jago Party president Manjit Singh GK and others submitted a memorandum seeking a strong anti-conversion law.

    After meeting the Sikh leaders, Reddy said: “Forced conversion and wedding of Sikh girls in Kashmir is wrong and the delegation has submitted a memorandum. I will discuss this with the Union Home Minister regarding the action that needs to be taken.”

    The meeting took place less than 24 hours after members of the Sikh community staged protests in parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) also took part in the demonstrations. President of DSGMC, Manjinder Singh Sirsa said a delegation is likely to take up the matter with Union Home Minister Amit Shah soon.

    Earlier, Shah had also assured to meet these leaders to discuss the issue of religious conversion and possible action against those found guilty. The Sikh leaders said they had faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he had been working towards normalisation in Jammu and Kashmir.

    On Monday, a massive protest was staged at J&K House in New Delhi. Shiromani Akali Dal leader and president of DSGMC, Sirsa met J&K LG Manoj Sinha on Monday to discuss the matter. Sirsa handed over a memorandum, demanding a minority commission in Jammu and Kashmir and implementation of the inter-religious marriage act.

    District Commissioner Pandurang Pole, IGP (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar and SSP (Srinagar) Sandeep Chaudhary attended the meeting.

  • 15000 cases of post-poll violence in West Bengal, 7000 women molested: Fact-finding team report

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday promised to take action on the report of a fact-finding team which claimed that there were 15,000 incidents of post-poll violence in West Bengal in which 25 people were killed and 7,000 women were molested.

    According to Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy, the report of the civil society group — Call for Justice — headed by former Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court Justice (Retd) Permod Kohli stated that the magnitude and reach of the post-poll violence touched many villages and towns all across West Bengal simultaneously beginning the night of May 2 when the results of the assembly elections were declared. “This is a clear indication that most of the incidents are not sporadic but premeditated, organised and conspiratorial,” the report stated.

    The five-member team included two retired IAS and one IPS officers. “The Home Ministry will study the report and will try to implement its recommendations,” Reddy told reporters after the group submitted it to him.

    The report was prepared after the five-member team visited West Bengal and met a cross section of people there. Citing the report, Reddy said 16 districts of the state were affected by the post-poll violence. “The report said that due to the post-poll violence, many people have left their homes in West Bengal and had taken shelter in Assam, Jharkhand and Odisha,” he said.

    According to the report, some of the hardened criminals, mafia dons and criminal gangs who were already in police records allegedly “led and carried the deadly attacks unhindered, (which) reveals that there is clear political patronage even before the elections and same being used to silence the political rivals”.

    The report claimed the incidents of targeted destruction and vandalisation of properties, residential and commercial, have the sole purpose to deprive people of their livelihood and choke them economically. It claimed that the worst-affected people are those who depend on day-to-day work or business who are pushed into financial degradation and unmitigated misery.

    “In most of the cases, victims were afraid to lodge a complaint with the police either due to fear of reprisal or due to the lack of faith in the police. Those victims who gathered courage and went to report, police either turned (them) away to settle the matter with the culprits or flatly refused to register the case. Many people left their homes and villages to safer destinations and took shelter in camps within and outside the state,” the report said.

    The fact-finding team suggested that the report should be placed before the Supreme Court.

    In the light of overwhelming, ample, substantial and convincing evidence, the Supreme Court may consider constituting a special investigation team (SIT) immediately and monitor its work either through a sitting judge or a retired judge of the Supreme Court for fair investigation and early justice, the team said.

    They also suggested that the central government should initiate disciplinary proceedings on those delinquent officers, including all-India service officers, who failed to discharge their duties in protecting lives and destruction of properties.

  • Union MoS Home G Kishan Reddy calls on L-G in Jammu, discusses J&K security situation

    By PTI
    JAMMU: Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy on Sunday called on Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhavan here and discussed the prevailing security situation in the Union Territory, an official spokesman said.

    Reddy was in Jammu for the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple.

    “The MoS and the Lt Governor discussed a range of issues pertaining to the internal security, law and order management and public welfare in Jammu and Kashmir,” the spokesman said.

    He said a discussion was also held on the functioning of DRDO’s COVID hospital in the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar.

    The Lt Governor expressed gratitude towards the Ministry of Home Affairs for extending necessary interventions for the welfare of the people of J&K, the spokesman said.

    He said the minister also shared his views with Sinha about the present developmental and security scenario in the UT.

    Jammu and Kashmir: MoS (Home) G Kishan Reddy called on Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha at Raj Bhavan today pic.twitter.com/aCwPiWAPx3
    — ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2021

  • 15.5 lakh cyber security incidents in 2019, 2020, Govt tells Lok Sabha

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Over 15.5 lakh cyber security incidents have been reported in the last two years and 11.58 lakh of them were recorded in 2020 alone, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

    Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) is serving as the national agency for responding to cyber security incidents in accordance with the provisions of Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

    According to the information reported to and tracked by the CERT-In, 3,94,499 and 11,58,208 cyber security incidents were observed during 2019 and 2020, respectively, he said in a written reply to a question.

    Reddy said the CERT-In receives inputs from its situational awareness systems and threat intelligence sources about malware infections in networks of entities across sectors.

    Whenever any incident comes to the notice of CERT-In, it issues alerts and advisories to the entities concerned and sectoral Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) for remedial measures, he said.

  • ‘Spikes installed at at farmer protest sites to check future violence’: MHA informs Parliament

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The Centre on Wednesday defended its decision to install spikes at farmer protest sites on the Delhi-UP border, saying it is to prevent a repeat of the Republic Day violence. 

    “The barricades at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border were strengthened to prevent any possible repeat of the conduct displayed on January 26,” Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy said in the Rajya Sabha. 

    The minister said no road was dug up at the Delhi border in view of farmers’ agitation. 

    Thousands of protesters had clashed with police near Delhi’s ITO during the tractor parade called by various farmer unions on January 26, with a section storming the Red Fort and clashing with security. Over 300 police personnel were injured during the clashes.

    The minister said the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, a forum representing 40 farmer unions, broke barricades on Republic Day in violation of the permission granted for taking out a tractor parade on a mutually accepted route.

    “They proceeded towards Central Delhi despite being stopped inside the city and broke those barricades as well,” Reddy said. 

    Delhi Police have registered as many as 38 cases in connection with the violence. The minister said the government has taken adequate steps to alleviate the hardships caused to the commuting public due to the activities of the protestors. 

    ALSO READ | Will go to Kolkata, urge farmers to defeat BJP in polls, says Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait

    The minister’s written reply in the Rajya Sabha came in response to a question from AAP member Narain Dass Gupta on whether nails were fixed on the road at the farmers’ protest site near the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border.

    Reddy said the Delhi Police has informed that on January 26, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha broke the barricades, in violation of permission granted for taking out Kisan tractor parade on a mutually accepted route and it proceeded towards central Delhi despite being stopped at other barricades inside the city and broke those barricades as well.

    “In view of this experience, and the manner in which the protesting farmers used tractors as weapons for breaking the barricades and injuring policemen, the barricades at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border were strengthened to prevent any possible repeat of the conduct displayed on January 26,” he said.

    When the farmers’ unions called a tractor parade on January 26, large scale violence was reported in different parts of the national capital.

    A group of protesters also went to Red Fort, indulged in vandalism at the monument and hoisted a Sikh religious flag there.

    Replying to another question, the minister said the Delhi Police has informed that no road has been dug up at Delhi borders in view of the farmers’ agitation.

    Reddy also said that the Delhi Police has registered 38 cases against people, including foreigners, following the January 26 violence.

    “The Delhi Police has informed that 38 cases have been registered against the persons, including foreigners, who violated various legal provisions, including cyber crime, recently in Delhi, while protesting in the name of farm laws,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Farmers ready to continue protest on Delhi borders till Modi government lasts: Narendra Tikait

    The minister said in order to alleviate the hardships caused to the commuting public due to the activities of the protesters, adequate deployment of police personnel is made for providing alternative routes to the general public, ensuring law and order and for ensuring smooth movement of traffic at borders.

    (With PTI Inputs) 

  • Anti-India elements want to spread instability, says MoS Home

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: The Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy on Tuesday said that many anti-India elements want to spread instability within the country and the national capital had been the focal point.

    MoS Home Affairs was speaking at the 74th Raising Day of Delhi Police as the Chief Guest of the event.

    Addressing the Delhi Police personnel at the event, Reddy said, “There are many anti-India elements that want to spread instability. Delhi remains their focal point. The riots and illegal protests that took place in February 2020 were a part of this scheme.”

    Appreciating the efforts of the Delhi Police the MoS said the way Delhi Police handled the riots and illegal protests are examples for other police forces.

    The northeast Delhi violence took place in February 2020, in which at least 53 people were killed and several others were injured. So far, over 250 charge sheets have been filed in the violence-related cases.

    Reddy further said, “On January 26, we witnessed how anti-India powers used farmers’ protest to disrupt the law and order situation in Delhi.”

    “Despite their anti-national activities and provocative behaviour, Delhi Police exercised restraint and tackled the situation responsibly,” he added.

    On Republic Day, during the tractor march by farmers to protest against the three farm laws, protestors violated the agreement about the route to be taken and entered central Delhi after forcibly removing barricades. Several policemen were injured in the violence and vehicles were damaged.

    So far, a total of 14 people have been arrested in connection with the violence.

    Motivating the police personnel, Reddy said the Delhi Police has the full support of the Home Ministry in their upgradation, welfare and latest training.

    Meanwhile, Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava, who also present at the event, said, “Delhi Police tackled the COVID-19 lockdown in a commendable manner, earning the title of ‘Dil Ki Police’. We lost 34 police personnel during this period.”

    Shrivastava further said, “We conducted an impartial investigation in northeast Delhi violence using technology and evidence. 1 constable lost his life while many personnel got injured. Didn’t discriminate on the basis of religion and registered 755 cases.”

    The Delhi Police is celebrating its 74th Raising Day today. 

  • BJP appoints in-charges for poll-bound Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday appointed Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, G Kishan Reddy and Pralhad Joshi its assembly election in-charges for Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively, the party said on Tuesday.

    The party added that Arjun Ram Meghwal has been appointed in-charge for the assembly polls in Puducherry. Union ministers Jitendra Singh and VK Singh will be co-incharges for the assembly polls in Assam and Tamil Nadu respectively, the statement added.

    The party said that Karnataka deputy chief minister CN Ashwathnarayan and Rajeev Chandrasekhar will be co-incharges for Kerala and Puducherry polls respectively. Assembly polls are slated in these states in April-May.

  • No plans to enact nationwide anti-conversion law to curb interfaith marriages: Govt

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The central government does not intend bringing in any anti-conversion law for curbing inter-faith marriages, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. 

    When asked if the government believes that inter-faith marriages are happening due to forceful conversions, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kishan Reddy said forceful conversions are primarily a concern of the various state governments and Union Territories.

    “Public order and ‘Police’ are state subjects as per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. Hence prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of offences related to conversions are primarily the concerns of the state governments/Union Territory administrations. Action is taken as per existing laws by the law enforcing agencies whenever instances of violation come to notice,” Reddy said in a written reply. 

    The question comes in the backdrop of the controversial anti-conversion laws introduced by the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

    Since the law was passed, there have been controversial arrests, mostly of Muslim men, who have been accused of trying to forcibly convert Hindu women for marriage. 

    The governments of Assam and Karnataka have also announced that they would soon bring in a similar law to curb inter-faith marriages.

    Notably, all the above-mentioned states are ruled by BJP. Last month, Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench had ruled that it should be optional rather than mandatory for an inter-faith couple to give a prior notice of 30 days to a marriage officer to register their wedding under the Special Marriage Act of 1954.