News Analysis India

Tag: Piyush Goyal

  • Train service between Nepal and Bihar soon

    By Express News Service
    PATNA: The new rail line and gauge conversion work between Jayanagar in Madhubani to Kurtha in Nepal has already been completed and the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been prepared to run direct passenger trains between the stations, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal has said.

    Replying to a query in Rajya Sabha on Friday, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that the work of gauge conversion project between Jayanagar and Kurtha was completed in October 2018 at a cost of 548 crore.

    “Now the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been prepared to run the train between Bihar to Nepal. The Nepal government has purchased two DEMU trains from the Konkan Railway Nigam Ltd to run them between the two stations”, the Railway Minister disclosed while answering a question raised by Bihar MP Sushil Kumar Modi.

    The Railway Minister further said that the date of operation of the trains will be announced after receiving approval from the Government of Nepal.

    Goyal said that the 18.6 km railway line project, being executed between Jogbani and Viratnagar at a cost of Rs 422 crore, was approved in 2010-11. The work of its first phase was completed in 2018 with an estimated cost of Rs 286 crore.

    The railway sources said that the development works for goods shed and other facilities have been started in Bathnaha Custom Yard and Nepal Custom Yard.

  • Highest ever allocation for Bengal in rail budget, state govt causing project delays: Piyush Goyal

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The allocation of Rs 6,636 crore to poll bound West Bengal is the highest ever funds earmarked for the state in the history of Indian Railways, minister Piyush Goyal said Thursday, blaming successive state governments for the delay in rail projects in the state.

    West Bengal has 53 ongoing projects including new lines, gauge conversion, doubling projects costing Rs 48,275 crore for 4,463 km. “The allocation for West Bengal is the highest ever in the history of Indian Railways. It is 2.5 times the average amount allocated between Budget 2009-2014 and 26 per cent more than last year,” he said while addressing a press briefing.

    “Projects there remain incomplete or are delayed because the state governments – first it was the Left front government and now the TMC– have been unable to provide land to us. Projects which are 45 year old are pending in the state. I appeal to Mamata didi to expedite the process and give us land,” he said.

    Goyal said that due to non-availability of land, as many as 34 projects in the state have received only token allotment in the budget 2021-22. With an eye on the upcoming Assembly polls in the state, Goyal said that there was no shortage of funds for West Bengal.

    “I want to assure the people of West Bengal that there is no shortage of funds for projects in the state. Only there should not be any shortage of land and local issues are sorted then projects will be completed on time,” he said.

    Goyal further took a dig at pre-BJP budgets where the Railway Budget was separate and said that at that time there was a tendency to announce rail projects for political gains and not for the need of the people. “Once someone became a minister, he would announce projects without first checking if there were funds available, if land was available and if the project was feasible. That is the reason why none of the projects which were announced then could be completed and there would be major cost overruns. So, inspired by politics this harmed the railways,” he said.

    “Now, we have decided that we will start a project only after we have the land required for it. We have identified critical and super critical projects which would be completed in a focussed manner. Over the next four years, the Railways will emerge as a vibrant contributor to the Indian economy,” he added.

  • Union ministers start 11th round of talks with protesting farmer unions over new laws

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The eleventh round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers got underway here on Friday to break the nearly two-month-long deadlock on the three new agri laws. In the last round of meeting held on Wednesday, the government yielded some ground in its bid to end the farmers’ protest on various border points of the national capital.

    The Centre had offered to put on hold the three laws for 12-18 months and also set up a joint committee to find solutions. However, the farmer unions on Thursday rejected the government’s offer and remained stuck to their two major demand — repeal of three farm laws and legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP).

    Farmers group said they will continue protest and also hold tractor rally on January 26, the Republic Day.

    Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash are holding the talks with the representatives of 41 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here.

    “In a full general body meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha…, the proposal put forth by the government…was rejected. A full repeal of three central farm acts and enacting a legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement,” Samkyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting unions, had said in a statement on Thursday.

    Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three laws.

    Farmer groups have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced.

    On January 11, the Supreme Court had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse. Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann had recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court.

    Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat and agriculture economists Pramod Kumar Joshi and Ashok Gulati, the other three members on the panel, started the consultation process with stakeholders on Thursday.

  • Agri laws: Union Ministers start ninth round of talks with protesting farmer unions

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The ninth round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers got underway here on Friday afternoon to break the over-a-month-long deadlock on the three new agri laws.

    Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab, are holding the talks with the representatives of around 40 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here.

    Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three laws.

    ALSO READ: Rahul Gandhi leads Congress protest in support of agitating farmers

    On Thursday, Tomar had said that the government’s ninth round of negotiations with protesting farmer unions would take place as scheduled and the Centre was hopeful of positive discussions.

    “The government is ready to hold talks with farmer leaders with an open mind,” Tomar had told reporters here.

    The Supreme Court on January 11 had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.

    ALSO READ: Rahul seeks public support for farmers as Congress to release booklet to highlight pitfalls of agri laws

    Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann on Thursday recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court.

    Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat, International Food Policy Research Institute’s Pramod Kumar Joshi and agriculture economist Ashok Gulati are the other three members on the panel.

    On January 8, the eighth round of meeting remained inconclusive as the Centre ruled out repealing the three contentious laws claiming nationwide support for the reforms.

    ALSO READ: NGO plans to install blood count measurement machine to help farmers protesting at Singhu

    However, farmer leaders had said that they were ready to fight till death and their ‘ghar waapsi’ would happen only after ‘law waapsi’.

    Though talks till now have remained inconclusive, in the sixth round held on December 30 last year some common ground was reached on two demands — decriminalisation of stubble-burning and continuation of power subsidies.

  • Just before crucial eighth round of talks, government says hopeful of resolving farmers’ issues

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Hours before the eighth round of formal talks between the Centre and the farmers’ groups agitating against three recent farm laws, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhury hoped that a resolution will come out of Friday’s meeting.

    The eighth round of talks between three Union ministers — Narendra Singh Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Parkash — and the 40 protesting farmer unions to end the farmers’ agitation is scheduled to begin at the Vigyan Bhawan here at 2 pm.

    Just before the talks, Union Agriculture Minister Tomar is likely to call on Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the issue, sources said.

    Talking to PTI, Choudhury said, “I am hopeful that a resolution will be reached at Friday’s meeting. We could have ended the deadlock by now had the protesting farmer unions discussed the issues raised at the first meeting.”

    There was no demand for a repeal of the three farm laws at the first meeting, he added.

    Asserting that the new laws enacted by the Centre are in the interest of farmers, Choudhury said the legislations are just a beginning and added that the unions are agitating against the laws under the “influence of arhtiyas (commission agents)”.

    “Next, the Pesticide (Management) Bill and the Seed Bill will come. At that time too, farmers can be misguided,” he said.

    Asked if the Centre would encourage religious leaders from Punjab to mediate between the government and the protesting farmers, Choudhury said, “We welcome everyone. We want a resolution. If they are ready to talk in that direction, we welcome them.”

    Punjab’s Nanaksar Gurdwara head Baba Lakha, a renowned religious leader of the state, met Tomar on Thursday and wished to mediate between the Centre and the protesting farmers.

    The last seven rounds of talks between the Centre and the protesting farmers remained inconclusive, although there was some breakthrough at the December 30 meeting when the government conceded to two demands of the agitating farmers pertaining to power subsidy and stubble-burning.

  • Piyush Goyal Alleges ‘farmers Being Misled’, Confident PM Modi ‘cleared All Their Doubts

    Following PM Narendra Modi’s unique interaction with farmers, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on December 25 claimed that efforts are being made to confuse the farmers in the country. While PM Modi busted lies being spread about the new agriculture reform laws, Goyal said those who were protesting in the Central hall, their own Delhi government has notified accepting the new agricultural law. Further, he also said that the Prime Minister’s address on Friday have cleared the misunderstanding around the three new agricultural laws.

    Goyal’s comment comes after PM Modi released over Rs 18,000 crore to more than nine crore farmers under ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi’ scheme. Under the PM-KISAN Scheme, a financial benefit of Rs.6000/- per year is provided to the eligible beneficiary farmers, payable in three equal 4-monthly instalments of Rs.2000/- each. The fund is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. The PM also had a conversation with farmers from seven different states who shared their experiences with PM-KISAN and also on various other initiatives taken by the Government for the welfare of farmers. 

  • SP Fumes Over Red & Green Tiles Used in Gorakhpur’s Railway Hospital Toilet

    Anew controversy has started over the colour of tiles used in the toilet of the Railways Hospital in Gorakhpur. Criticising the ruling party over the use of red and green tiles, which are quite similar to the colour scheme used in the flag of the Samajwadi Party, the SP demanded immediate action against the people responsible for it. The party also said it has lodged a complaint with Railways Minister Piyush Goyal.

    Responding to Samajwadi Party’s tweet, the North Eastern Railway clarified that the tiles had no connection with any political party and that they were fixed in the toilets years ago under the Samajwadi to ensure cleanliness in the toilets. The organisation urged Samajwadi party to cooperate in maintaining cleanliness.

    In a tweet from its official handle on Thursday morning, the party said: “Painting the walls of the toilet in the Gorakhpur Railway Hospital in the colour of SP flag due to political malice by the corrupt minded politicians, is a shameful incident which tarnishes democracy! The insult to the colours of the flag of a major political party is downright reprehensible. Action should be taken on this with cognizance and it should be changed immediately. Samajwadi Party has also complained to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and the Railway Ministry on Twitter about this.”

  • Piyush Goyal gets additional charge of Ram Vilas Paswan’s ministry

    A day after the death of Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, President Ram Nath Kovind has given additional charge of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. 

    A release issued by the President’s office said, “On the advice of the Prime Minister, the President of India has directed that Cabinet Minister Piyush Goyal be given additional charge of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution apart from his existing departments. ” 

    The Union Cabinet mourned the death of Paswan, and also observed two minutes of silence in memory of the late leader. The cabinet approved a state funeral for Paswan and passed a resolution stating, “The cabinet expresses deep grief over the demise of Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan.” With his death, the nation has lost a prominent leader, a distinguished MP and a qualified administrator.

  • Piyush Goyal gets additional charge of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

    According to a release by the President Ram Nath Kovind’s office, Goyal will hold the charge of this Ministry in addition to his existing portfolios.

    Union Minister Piyush Goyal has been assigned the additional charge of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution by President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday.

    According to a release by the President Ram Nath Kovind’s office, Goyal will hold the charge of this Ministry in addition to his existing portfolios. Goyal is the Minister of Railways and Commerce and Industry in the Cabinet.

    He is replacing late Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan who passed away following an illness on Thursday.

    Paswan, who hailed from Bihar, passed away at the age of 74 at AIIMS, Delhi.

  • Editorial :- Vijay Mallya becomes football for the Congress and the BJP.

    Vijay Mallya’s mili-Bhagat was from the BJP or from the Congress? Many news stories have been published in this regard today:

    >> Kingfisher is used to travel freely by  Rahul, Havala connection to company: BJP
    >> Congress leader and former PM helped Vijay Mallya: Piyush Goyal
    >> Bank against the fugitive Vijay Mallya reached the UK court.
    >> Jaitley explained Mallya’s lies.
    >> Mallya reverses his statement, said-no official meeting with Finance Minister Jaitley
    >> And there are also connections from Rahul Gandhi’s hawala company.

    The allegations made by Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders in the context of Jaitley and Vijay Mallya  BJP today prove that  Vijay Mallya is a Satyarthi Harishchandra for all of them.
    In response, the BJP and Jaitley also had to come to the ground.
    That is why financial criminal Vijay Mallya has said, “Both the big parties have made him political football and later I have been made a goat”.

    While giving an interview in India News on July 07, 2013, the former Raw Officer had disclosed that through Hafiz Saeed the Congress is sending its black money abroad through hawala.
    : The BJP on Thursday accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi of making big allegations about Black money and Vijay Mallya. The BJP spokesperson said that Rahul Gandhi has a share in the Young India Company, Rahul has misappropriated 5 thousand crore. The BJP accused the Gandhi family of helping Vijay Mallya and taking advantage of them.

    The concerned said that the Government of Manmohan Singh helped Mallya to forgive Malya’s loan during her government.

    The concerned Patra said that Rahul Gandhi has gone on the back foot at Kingfisher Airlines. Sometimes it seems that the ownership of the airlines was not owned by Mallya, but was in proxy by the Gandhi family. The benefits of Gandhi family Kingfisher Airlines are in the public domain through business class upgradation, free tickets etc. Patra told that there were many correspondence between RBI and SBI, which has revealed that Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh had sidelined the rules about Mallya and Kingfisher Airlines.