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Tag: Narendra Modi

  • PM Narendra Modi’s whirlwind West Bengal, Assam tour starts tomorrow

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will head to the poll bound states of West Bengal and Assam on January 23.

    In West Bengal, the prime minister will take part in the celebrations of the 125th birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose, while he will distribute land rights to the indigenous people in Assam on the same day. 

    While the BJP will be seeking to retain power in Assam, the saffron outfit is building up a campaign in West Bengal to wrest power from the ruling Trinamool Congress.  

    “Prime Minister will visit Kolkata to address the Parakram Diwas celebrations on January 23 to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary year of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Prime Minister will also visit Jerenga Pathar in Sivasagar, Assam to distribute 1.06 lakh land pattas/allotment certificates,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a media statement.

    The Prime Minister will preside over the inaugural function of the Parakram Diwas at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata.

    “In order to honour and remember Netaji’s indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation, the government has decided to celebrate his birthday on January 23 every year as Parakram Diwas to inspire people of the country to act with fortitude,” the PMO added.

    The PMO also stated that a permanent exhibition and a projection mapping show on Netaji will be inaugurated on the occasion.“A commemorative coin and postage stamp will also be released by the Prime Minister. A cultural programme Amra  Nuton Jouboneri Doot, based on the theme of Netaji, will also be held,” added the PMO. 

    Renewed land policy

    In Assam, the PM will distribute 1.06 lakh land pattas in Sivasagar. “Taking into account an urgent need to protect the land rights of indigenous people Government of Assam came out with a new land policy with renewed emphasis on protecting their land rights. The issuance of patta for indigenous people of Assam has been given highest priority in order to instill a sense of security amongst them,” said the PMO in the statement

  • Ahead of polls, PM to ‘patta’ allotment scheme to over 1 lakh indigenous people in Assam

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday will launch a special programme of the Assam government to distribute land ‘patta’ or land allotment certificates to over one lakh landless indigenous people.

    This is for the first time since independence that such a large number of people will be given ‘patta’ in Assam in one go.

    “The prime minister will formally launch the distribution of land ‘patta’ to more than one lakh indigenous people who have been living uncertain lives for decades. No government in Assam has ever took such a people-friendly initiative in the past,” Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal told PTI.

    The event will be held at Jerenga Pothar in Sivasagar district, a historical place connected with Assam’s erstwhile Ahom kingdom.

    Sonowal said many government land, tribal blocks were encroached by suspected illegal immigrants and his government took the initiative to evict them and provide the land to the indigenous people — most of them are tribals, OBCs and ex-tea garden labourers.

    “The successive Congress governments ignored the pleas of the local people to give the land rights as a result the people have been living a life of constant fear.

    We will end this uncertainty and the prime minister will begin this noble process,” he said.

    Sonowal said to fulfil people’s aspirations, the BJP-led government took this initiative to safeguard ‘jati, mati and bheti (community, land and roots).

    “It is an irony that due to the previous government’s lackadaisical approach and indifferent attitude, the landless indigenous people were deprived of their rights for long 70 years.

    They even had to go through intense sufferings to safeguard their base,” he said.

    An official said because of the uncontrolled migration from across the border, the demography of the state, especially the lower Assam region had gone through unprecedented changes.

    “The phenomenon snowballed into a grave problem of changing the demographic profile in some districts of the state.

    Some of the lower Assam districts have borne the brunt of implosion of doubtful citizens which were once dominated by indigenous communities,” the official said.

    To reverse this trend, it became imperative for the present state government to ensure granting of land to the indigenous land less families, the official said.

    The Sonowal government has already allotted land ‘patta’ to more than one lakh landless indigenous families.

    The state government will allot a total of 2,28,160 land ‘pattas’ in just 4.5 years and the prime minister will initiate the beginning of allotting pattas to 1.06 lakh people on January 23 at the historic Jerenga Pothar in Sivasagar, another official said.

       The  state government even took steps in freeing the encroachments from Kaziranga National Park and ‘Xatras’ (Vaishnavite monasteries).

    As a result, rhino poaching has come down to almost zero.

    The Jerenga Pothar is where the great Sati Jaimati showed her grit and patriotism and the government’s decision of handing over of land pattas to the local indigenous families assume great importance, the official said.

    Assam had 5.75 lakh landless families in 2016.

  • PM Narendra Modi greets people on statehood days of Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted the people of Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya on their statehood days and offered his best wishes to them.

    “Statehood day greetings to the people of Manipur, India is proud of its contribution to national development,” he tweeted, adding that the state is a powerhouse of innovation and sporting talent.

    Modi wished the state the very best in its journey towards progress.

    “Best wishes to the people of Tripura on the special occasion of their Statehood Day. The culture and warm-hearted nature of the people of Tripura is admired across India. The state has achieved outstanding progress in various fields. May the same spirit continue,” he said in another tweet.

    Extending his greetings to people of Meghalaya, the prime minister said the state is known for its remarkable kindness and spirit of brotherhood.

    “Youngsters from Meghalaya are creative and enterprising. May the state keep scaling new heights of progress in the times to come,” he added.

  • Narendra Modi government withdraws plea on farmers’ tractor rally as SC says won’t intervene

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The Centre on Wednesday withdrew its plea seeking an injunction against the proposed tractor rally being planned by the farmers’ groups on January 26 against the new agriculture laws after the Supreme Court allowed the Delhi Police to withdraw the application, saying “it is a police matter”. 

    The bench headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde refused to keep the application pending, asserting that “this is not a matter for the court to decide. You (the police) have the powers under the law”.

    During the hearing, Attorney General K K Venugopal informed the court that 5,000 tractors were going to enter Delhi for the rally. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also demanded that the case be considered on January 25, after seeing how the situation develops.

    ALSO READ: Narendra Modi government proposes to put farm laws on hold for two years to break the ice

    “No, no. This is not a matter for the court to decide. You have the powers under the law. It’s highly inappropriate for the court to act as the first authority to allow or disallow protesters. We can allow you to withdraw the application. You are the executive and you have the power to look into this. It’s an issue of law and order and of the police,” the court said.

    The Delhi Police had approached the SC seeking direction to stop farmers’ proposed tractor rally on Republic Day. 

    “Right to protest is always subject to the countervailing public order and the public interest. The right to protest can never include maligning the nation globally,” Delhi Police had submitted.

    ALSO READ: Terrorists sitting at farmers’ protest sites, says BJP MP; kicks up row in Rajasthan

    Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for some farmer unions, said that farmers are convinced that the new farm laws are against them.

    “Suppose, we uphold the law then you protest. You counsel them properly. The only rider is to ensure that the people of Delhi are in peace,” the bench said.

    The bench said the authorities can record the statement of Bhushan’s clients that they also want peace and they should talk on the issue.

  • PM Narendra Modi should come clean on Balakot leak: Congress

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Leaking sensitive military details is treason and those involved in such “anti-national activities” must be punished, former defence minister AK Antony said as he demanded the PM to come clean in the row involving senior journalist Arnab Goswami.

    Antony was joined by party colleagues Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sushilkumar Shinde and Salman Khurshid at a press conference on Wednesday, with the Congress cranking up the pressure on the Centre in the controversy over Goswami’s purported WhatsApp chats.

    On Tuesday, ex-Congress chief Rahul Gandhi had asserted that the leak of sensitive information was a “criminal act”.

    At the press briefing, Antony said those involved in such acts deserve no mercy and an inquiry into the information leak about the Balakot air strikes must be ordered immediately.

    “Leaking of official secret is a criminal act. Leaking official secret about military operation, national security matters, sensitive military operations especially military strike is treason, anti-national. They have to be punished for anti-national activities, for treason. They deserve no mercy.” 

    India’s security has never been compromised in such a way and never have the high offices of the prime minister, home minister and others been brazenly compromised, Antony claimed.  

    Recalling his long stint as defence minister, he asserted, only one of the top five in the government are suspect in this case.

    Later, a joint statement by the Congress leaders questioned whether the government had any right left to continue in office after such “damning revelations”.

    “We demand that the prime minister should come clean on these accusations immediately in order to restore the severely damaged credibility of the highest office of the country,” they said in the statement.

  • West Bengal accident: PM Narendra Modi anguished, announces Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for kin of deceased

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he was extremely anguished over the road accident in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the incident.

    He also said that Rs 50,000 each would be given to those injured, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

    Fourteen members, including four children, of a marriage party were killed and 10 others injured in a collision between a stone-laden truck and their three vehicles.

    The accident took place in Jaldhaka area of Dhupguri block Tuesday night, police said.

    ALSO READ: 14 members of marriage party killed in Bengal road accident

    “The road accident in Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri (West Bengal) is extremely anguishing. In this time of sadness, prayers with the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon,” Modi was quoted as saying by the PMO.

    “From the PMNRF (Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund), Ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each would be given to the next of kin of those who have lost their lives due to the accident in West Bengal. A sum of Rs 50,000 each would be given to those injured,” he said.

    The cars of the marriage party were going towards Dhupguri on the wrong side of the road and the collision took place due to dense fog, a senior police officer said.

  • Not scared of PM Narendra Modi, will continue to oppose three farm laws: Rahul Gandhi

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Launching a scathing attack on the Centre, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said the new farm laws are designed to “destroy” the agriculture sector and hand it over to three or four crony capitalists, asserting that the only solution to the farmers’ issue is to repeal the Acts.

    “The three new laws are designed to destroy Indian agriculture. How have they designed to do it, by destroying the mandi, by destroying the Essential Commodities Act and by making sure that no Indian farmer can go to court to protect himself and to me.

    ALSO READ: Farmers have constitutional right to take out rally – Unions

    It is a tragedy that this entire country is just watching this ridiculous show. It is a tragedy because it shows me that the country itself is not able to understand the depth of what is happening,” Gandhi said at a press conference where he released a booklet highlighting the “plight” of farmers in the wake of the three farm laws. 

    Responding to a question about BJP president JP Nadda’s remarks that he was distracting the farmers, the former Congress chief said he was not scared of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he was a “clean person” and he would continue to fight alone even if no one sided with him. 

    ALSO READ: Supreme Court panel to meet farmer leaders on Thursday

    “Is J P Nadda my professor that I am answerable to him. Who is he?… I am not scared of Modi or anyone. I am a clean person, and they cannot touch me. They can shoot me. I will stand alone even if everyone is standing on the other side but will fight as it is my religion,” he said. 

    He said that even during the UPA government, the Congress stood with the farmers in Bhatta Parsaul.“Our farmers are sitting outside in the cold, I don’t know why Modi Ji thinks, this is something to be proud of. The whole world is looking and saying what is going on,” the Congress leader said. 

    Sharad Pawar, Uddhav  Thackeray to take part in protest in Mumbai

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav  Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar will take part in a protest to be staged in Mumbai in support of the farmers’ agitating against Centre’s three new farm laws on borders of New Delhi, state Minister Nawab Malik said on Tuesday.

    Some farmers’ organisations have planned to hold protests in Mumbai from January 23 to January 25.

    “Sharad Pawar will take part in the protest to be held at Azad Maidan (in south Mumbai) on January 25.

    ALSO READ: Such arm-twisting tactics won’t weaken farmers’ resolve: Amarinder on NIA notices to union leaders

    The NCP has opposed the farm laws. The chief minister and leaders of the ruling MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) will also take part,” said Malik, who is the national spokesperson of the NCP.

    Thousands of farmers from Nashik in Maharashtra had joined the ongoing protests at the borders of the national capital against the three new agricultural laws.

    Inappropriate to raise issues by foreign MPs: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla

    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday said that it’s not appropriate for Parliaments to comment on laws passed by other countries.  

    Birla made the remark at the virtual meeting of the Standing Committee of the Conference of the Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth, indirectly referring to MPs of various countries raising the contentious farm laws in their House.

    “The Covid pandemic has affected the functioning of Parliaments across the world. Even during the pandemic, some important legislative businesses were transacted by the Lok Sabha…,” Birla added.

    Notably, MPs in Canada, UK had spoken about the farm protests. Thirty-six British MPs had written United Kingdom foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, urging him to raise their concern with India over the farm protests.

  • Rahul Gandhi attacks PM Narendra Modi on reports of Chinese village in Arunachal Pradesh

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of national security after reports that China has built a village in Arunachal Pradesh.

    “Remember his promise – ‘??? ??? ????? ???? ?????’ (Will not let the country bow),” Gandhi said on Twitter as he posted a link of a news report about the alleged “Chinese village”.

    Congress leader Randeep Surjewala also slammed the prime minister on the matter.

    ALSO READ: Tracking report on intrusion into Arunachal Pradesh – Government

    “Modiji where is that 56-inch chest,” he asked on Twitter.

    In a cautious reaction to the reports, India had on Monday said it keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on the country’s security, and takes necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Congress leader P Chidambaram had on Monday demanded answers from the government on the issue, alleging that BJP MP Tapir Gao has claimed that China has built a 100-house village in the “disputed area” deep into Arunachal Pradesh.

    ALSO READ: Chidambaram demands explanation from Modi government on BJP MP’s claim of ‘Chinese’ village in Arunachal

    He said if the allegation made out by the BJP MP is true, will the government again give a clean chit to China or will blame the previous governments for it.

    “Mr Tapir Gao MP, belonging to BJP, has alleged that deep into Arunachal Pradesh, in a  ‘disputed area’ within Indian territory, the Chinese have built  a 100-house village, a bazaar and a two-lane road in the last year.

    “If this is true, it is clear that the Chinese have altered the status quo by converting a disputed area into a permanent settlement of Chinese nationals. What has the government to say about these startling facts,” he had said on Twitter.

    ALSO READ: Have taken necessary measures to safeguard sovereignty – India on reports of Chinese village in Arunachal

    The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC).

    China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet, while India contests it.

    India and China are locked in a bitter border standoff in eastern Ladakh for over eight months.

    India and China have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks in order to resolve the eastern Ladakh standoff, but no significant headway has been made for its resolution.

  • Work underway on over 1,000 km metro network in 27 cities: PM Narendra Modi

    Work is in progress on over 1,000 km long metro rail network in 27 cities in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

  • PM Narendra Modi takes dig at Congress, says previous government had no modern approach for metro

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a veiled dig at previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, saying that the previous government had no modern approach and policy for metro.

    Speaking at the ‘Bhoomi Poojan’ of Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase-II and Surat Metro Rail Project via video conferencing, the Prime Minister said over 450 kms of metro network became operational in the last six years.

    “Work on projects worth Rs 17,000 crore is starting from today. This shows that the country’s efforts for new infrastructure projects is increasing during COVID-19. Ahmedabad and Surat are cities that will empower self-reliant India. Ahmedabad and Surat are receiving very important gifts today. Metro will further strengthen the connectivity in two major business centres of the country – Ahmedabad and Surat,” he said.

    “These metro projects are being conceptualised to meet the needs of the future. Our cities will get better facilities,” PM Modi said.

    He further added that during the previous regime there was less significant work on expansion of metro railways in the country.

    The Prime Minister said work is underway on 1,000 kms long metro network in 27 cities.

    “Before 2014, only 225 kms of metro line became operational in 10-12 years. In last 6 years, over 450 kms of metro network became operational. At present, work is underway on 1,000 kms long metro network in 27 cities. Once there was no modern approach for metro, and there was no metro policy. As a result, there are different metro in different cities based on different techniques and facility. There was no integration of metro with other public transport mediums,” he asserted.

    “Today, we are developing transportation system of cities as integrated system. We are developing cities’ transport system like integrated system, which means that bus, metro, rail will not ply as per their own design but work as collective system, complementary to each other,” he added.

    The Prime Minister said Surat is eighth biggest city in terms of population and fourth fastest growing city in the world. “Nine out of 10 diamonds are cut in Surat. In Surat, 20 per cent population used to live in jhuggis and now it is only 6 per cent,” he added. (ANI)