News Analysis India

Tag: Puducherry

  • Security up as 15 foreign, 50 Indian delegates arrive in Puducherry for G-20

    Express News Service

    PUDUCHERRY:  Security was beefed up on main roads across Puducherry in view of the Science-20 (S-20) Inception Meeting at Suganya Convention Centre on January 30 and 31. Around 37 NDRF personnel were deployed on Airport Road in  Lawspet, ECR from Karuvadikuppam to Rajiv Gandhi statue, 100-ft Road, Cuddalore Road, Kamaraj Salai, and Anna Salai.

    Police, Indian Reserve Battalion, along with fire and rescue personnel are on standby. Section 144 had been implemented in these areas, and a mock security drill was performed on Saturday. 

    Elaborate arrangements are underway as delegates began arriving in the Union Territory on Sunday morning. Major buildings including the Assembly, Chief Secretariat, and Raj Nivas were decorated with lights and welcome banners. Two hotels in Puducherry town and a beach resort in Chinna Veerampattinam were booked for accommodation, said a senior government official.

    Around 50 delegates from academic institutions across the nation are set to participate. Meanwhile, 15 foreign delegates from 10 other G-20 countries — Australia, Brazil, China, European Union, France, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, Russia, United Kingdom, and the USA — will take part in the summit, said a press release. 

    “India, as the president of G-20, aspires to make the meet ‘inclusive, ambitious, decisive, and action-oriented as exhorted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The S-20 agenda reflects this principle in the use of science for inclusive and sustainable development,” the statement said.  

    The summit, based on the theme of ‘Disruptive Science for Innovative and Sustainable Development’, will focus on three areas — clean energy for a greener future, universal holistic health, and connecting science to society and culture. “The S-20 will catalyse fruitful scientific dialogue between the G20 member states and provide constructive solutions for global problems,” said the statement.

    Subsequent meetings would be held in Agartala in Sikkim, Bangaram Island in Lakshadweep, and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. The final summit is set to take place in Coimbatore. Dr Ashutosh Sharma, president of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and co-chair of the summit explained the S-20 will focus on science and technology that would aid the growth of nations.“The participants will share and listen to inputs. This would be useful for the government in governance and planning.

     The meeting will start with comments from three countries: former G-20 president Indonesia, India, and the next president Brazil.” Citing the need for global cooperation to solve problems, Sharma mentioned that the G-20 provides a platform to aid collaboration. “Solution for major issues is a global matter and is not for one community or nation. Science and technology are going to be the main ingredients in solving the problems.” It may be noted the S-20 engagement group, comprising national science academies of the G-20 countries, had been initiated in 2017, during Germany’s presidency.

    PUDUCHERRY:  Security was beefed up on main roads across Puducherry in view of the Science-20 (S-20) Inception Meeting at Suganya Convention Centre on January 30 and 31. Around 37 NDRF personnel were deployed on Airport Road in  Lawspet, ECR from Karuvadikuppam to Rajiv Gandhi statue, 100-ft Road, Cuddalore Road, Kamaraj Salai, and Anna Salai.

    Police, Indian Reserve Battalion, along with fire and rescue personnel are on standby. Section 144 had been implemented in these areas, and a mock security drill was performed on Saturday. 

    Elaborate arrangements are underway as delegates began arriving in the Union Territory on Sunday morning. Major buildings including the Assembly, Chief Secretariat, and Raj Nivas were decorated with lights and welcome banners. Two hotels in Puducherry town and a beach resort in Chinna Veerampattinam were booked for accommodation, said a senior government official.

    Around 50 delegates from academic institutions across the nation are set to participate. Meanwhile, 15 foreign delegates from 10 other G-20 countries — Australia, Brazil, China, European Union, France, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, Russia, United Kingdom, and the USA — will take part in the summit, said a press release. 

    “India, as the president of G-20, aspires to make the meet ‘inclusive, ambitious, decisive, and action-oriented as exhorted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The S-20 agenda reflects this principle in the use of science for inclusive and sustainable development,” the statement said.  

    The summit, based on the theme of ‘Disruptive Science for Innovative and Sustainable Development’, will focus on three areas — clean energy for a greener future, universal holistic health, and connecting science to society and culture. “The S-20 will catalyse fruitful scientific dialogue between the G20 member states and provide constructive solutions for global problems,” said the statement.

    Subsequent meetings would be held in Agartala in Sikkim, Bangaram Island in Lakshadweep, and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. The final summit is set to take place in Coimbatore. Dr Ashutosh Sharma, president of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and co-chair of the summit explained the S-20 will focus on science and technology that would aid the growth of nations.“The participants will share and listen to inputs. This would be useful for the government in governance and planning.

     The meeting will start with comments from three countries: former G-20 president Indonesia, India, and the next president Brazil.” Citing the need for global cooperation to solve problems, Sharma mentioned that the G-20 provides a platform to aid collaboration. “Solution for major issues is a global matter and is not for one community or nation. Science and technology are going to be the main ingredients in solving the problems.” It may be noted the S-20 engagement group, comprising national science academies of the G-20 countries, had been initiated in 2017, during Germany’s presidency.

  • Puducherry gets ready for G20 meet, Section 144 till Jan 31

    By Express News Service

    PUDUCHERRY: Section 144 of CrPC has been promulgated in Puducherry from January 29 to 31 in view of the G-20 summit to be held on January 30 and 31, said collector E Vallavan. It prohibits the gathering of four or more people, agitations, rallies or any form of protest. There will be no restrictions on the movement of people. He dispelled rumours about the closure of educational institutions and shops, liquor shops and bars and said that one person who spread the rumour has been arrested.

    Around 70 delegates from G-20 nations and 20 other nations will participate in the conference that will be held at Suganya Convention Centre. They will hold discussions on global partnerships for disruptive science for innovation and sustainable development. The discussions will be initiated by three chairpersons from three countries – Brazil, Indonesia and India – in three sessions. The three sessions will feature discussions on – universal holistic health: cure and prevention of diseases, clean energy for a greener future and connecting science to society and culture.       

    The delegates will arrive on January 29 and will be put up at Radisson Blu, Hotel Accord and Residency Towers.  Puducherry government will host a welcome dinner at Hotel Accord and a gala dinner at Radisson Blu. Puducherry’s culture will be showcased by artists from Puducherry and Karaikal at the dinners, said Vallavan.

    PUDUCHERRY: Section 144 of CrPC has been promulgated in Puducherry from January 29 to 31 in view of the G-20 summit to be held on January 30 and 31, said collector E Vallavan. It prohibits the gathering of four or more people, agitations, rallies or any form of protest. There will be no restrictions on the movement of people. He dispelled rumours about the closure of educational institutions and shops, liquor shops and bars and said that one person who spread the rumour has been arrested.

    Around 70 delegates from G-20 nations and 20 other nations will participate in the conference that will be held at Suganya Convention Centre. They will hold discussions on global partnerships for disruptive science for innovation and sustainable development. The discussions will be initiated by three chairpersons from three countries – Brazil, Indonesia and India – in three sessions. The three sessions will feature discussions on – universal holistic health: cure and prevention of diseases, clean energy for a greener future and connecting science to society and culture.       

    The delegates will arrive on January 29 and will be put up at Radisson Blu, Hotel Accord and Residency Towers.  Puducherry government will host a welcome dinner at Hotel Accord and a gala dinner at Radisson Blu. Puducherry’s culture will be showcased by artists from Puducherry and Karaikal at the dinners, said Vallavan.

  • Amit Shah to be on 3-day visit to MP, Bihar and Puducherry from April 22-24

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a three-day trip to Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Puducherry between April 22 and April 24, top government sources said.

    During the visit, Shah will be in Madhya Pradesh on April 22 followed by Bihar on April 23 and Puducherry on April 24. On April 22, the Home Minister will be participating in the 48th All India Police Science Congress (AIPSC) meeting in Bhopal as the chief guest at 11 am.

    Madhya Pradesh Police in association with the Home Ministry and the Bureau of Police Research and Development is organising the event at the police headquarters in Bhopal. Police officers, academicians, researchers, judicial and scientific experts will present their papers at the meet

    The Union Home Minister will visit Bihar to pay tributes to freedom fighter Veer Kunwar Singh on April 23. Shah will also attend a program in Jagdishpur in Bihar’s Arrah district on the same day in which Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers will be present with 75 thousand flags.

    “The programme will be a non-political event. The coming generation will be informed about the sacrifice of Veer Kunwar Singh. The programme will be organised under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate the 75th year of India’s independence,” said sources.

    On April 23, the Home Minister will reach Puducherry to attend an event. 

  • Ex-Puducherry CM Narayanasamy flays Centre for excluding tableau on Narayana Guru in Republic Day celebrations

    By PTI

    PUDUCHERRY: Senior Congress leader V Narayanasamy has flayed the Centre for denying permission for display of tableau on social reformer Narayana Guru in the forthcoming Republic Day celebrations in the capital.

    Addressing reporters on Monday through virtual mode, Narayanasamy, who is in home isolation now following coronavirus infection, noted that Narayana Guru was a great social reformer and the Kerala government had appropriately sought display of the float on social thinker and champion of casteless society in the Republic Day celebration.

    “It is however a matter of concern that the Centre had denied permission for the display of the float on Narayana Guru in the Republic Day parade. The central government should reconsider its decision and let the float be displayed,” he said.

    The former Chief Minister hit out at the Centre for refusing permission to the Tamil Nadu government to have the tableau on the veteran freedom fighters V O Chidambaram (Kappalottia Tamizhan), the national poet Subramania Bharathi and Queen Velu Natchiar displayed in the ceremonial function in the capital.

    The previous Congress-DMK coalition government headed by him in Puducherry had also sought permission for display of the Puducherry’s tableau on Aurobindo, poet Bharathiar and also to highlight a few other landmarks of Puducherry, he recalled.

    “We attempted thrice and sent the designs and models of the tableau to the Centre for approval for its inclusion in Republic Day. But the representation was rejected,” he added.

    Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leaders of ‘indulging in double speak’, the Congress veteran said, “Whenever the Prime Minister visits Puducherry or Tamil Nadu he would not fail to quote the verses of Tamil poet Bharathiar. But the tableau on the poet along with Aurobindo and a few other landmarks of Puducherry has been rejected.”

    Narayanasamy also alleged that the territorial administration had let large gatherings and crowds at such events like celebration of New Year eve on night of December 31, leading to ‘rapid spread of the coronavirus’ in Puducherry.

  • Ram temple foundation in Ayodhya to be completed this month, consecration by December 2023: VHP

    By Express News Service

    PUDUCHERRY: The foundation of the Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya will be completed by the end of October this year and it is expected that ‘Bhagwan Sri Ram Lalla’ will be consecrated in the ‘garbhagriha’ (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple by December 2023 when devotees can take darshan, said Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) National General Secretary Milind Parande.

    A huge foundation of 400 feet by 300 feet by 50 feet has been created underground and the actual construction of the temple has started, he said at a press conference on Wednesday. Thousands of people are already coming to visit the temple premises, despite the COVID-19 situation, he added.

    The VHP leader demanded that the government relinquish its control over temples and hand them over to  Hindu society. Stating that churches or mosques are not controlled by the government, he charged the government of adopting discriminatory attitudes towards temples. “Only when certain issues like disputes arise, the government should interfere, otherwise Hindu society should control temples,” he said.

    Alleging that temple donations are being misused in many states including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Puducherry, he said that the funds are diverted by the government for non-religious work. Often the funds are used by the government for ‘secular purposes’ or government work. The donation has not been given for such purposes by devotees and hence the funds should be used for ‘seva of deities or dharma prachar’, he said. Till a Hindu societal body is formed, temple funds should not be touched by the government, he said, adding that the government should use their own funds for developmental activities.

    The VHP leader urged the Puducherry government to bring in an anti-conversion law to prevent forced conversion of Hindus to other religions. The law should also include provisions to outlaw conversions through marriages in the name of love jihad, he said. Minor girls were abducted and forced to convert in the name of marriage. At present there is the Special Marriage Act to deal with mixed marriages, but stringent provisions are required to establish that the marriage and conversion is not a forced one, he said.

    The Supreme Court has given clear directions, based on which the anti-conversion law should be framed, said Parande. Already, some states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand have passed such anti-conversion laws in their respective states and Puducherry should also come up with such a law. He said that he will approach the administration in this regard. The VHP has been demanding a central anti-conversion law for the entire country, he said.

  • ‘Matter of immense pride’: PM Narendra Modi on BJP getting first Rajya Sabha seat from Puducherry

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: With the BJP getting its first Rajya Sabha member from Puducherry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that it was a matter of immense pride for every member of the party. He also congratulated Union ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and L Murugan on being elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam and Madhya Pradesh respectively.

    It is a matter of immense pride for every BJP Karyakarta that our Party has got it’s first ever Rajya Sabha MP from Puducherry in Shri S. Selvaganabathy Ji. The trust placed in us by the people of Puducherry is humbling. We will keep working for Puducherry’s progress.
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 28, 2021
    In a tweet, Modi said, “It is a matter of immense pride for every BJP Karyakarta that our Party has got its first ever Rajya Sabha MP from Puducherry in Shri S Selvaganabathy Ji. The trust placed in us by the people of Puducherry is humbling. We will keep working for Puducherry’s progress.”

    He added, “Congratulations to my Ministerial colleagues, Shri @sarbanandsonwal Ji and Shri @Murugan_MoS Ji on being elected to the Rajya Sabha from Assam and Madhya Pradesh respectively. I am confident that they will enrich Parliamentary proceedings and further our agenda of public good.”

    The AINRC-BJP alliance is in power in the union territory of Puducherry.

  • BJP nominates S Selvaganapathy for Puducherry Rajya Sabha elections

    By Express News Service

    PUDUCHERRY: After days of negotiations over contesting the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Puducherry, the matter has finally been settled with BJP nominating S Selvaganapathy, the former MLA to contest the polls.

    National general secretary of BJP and headquarters in-charge Arun Singh announced this on Tuesday after finalising Selvaganapathy’s candidature.

    Selvaganapathy, who is from the RSS background, was earlier nominated as an MLA to Puducherry Legislative Assembly.  He is an educationist and correspondent of Vivekananda Higher Secondary School in Puducherry. 

    The AINRC, which was expecting to contest the seat, after BJP nominated three of its men to the Legislative Assembly, finally had to accept the saffron party’s desire to enter the fray. 

    This was settled after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister N Rangasamy on Monday. Rangasamy, who is heading the UT government, which is directly under the Ministry of Home Affairs, could not refuse the Prime minister’s proposal. The CM only insisted that the candidate should be from Puducherry which was accepted by the Prime minister, sources said.

    Following this, the BJP took the decision among the shortlisted GNS Vasudevan from Karaikal, the brother of GNS Rajasekaran, the BJP candidate who contested the last Assembly election from Thirunallar unsuccessfully, and S Selvaganapathy. Though the CM wanted his partyman Dr K Narayanasamy to be fielded as BJP nominee, the saffron party decided on Selvaganapathy, sources said . The choice was based on seniority in the party and the background of the candidate as he is an educationist, said the source.

  • Rajya Sabha elections to lone seat in Puducherry on October 4

    By Express News Service

    PUDUCHERRY: The elections to the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Puducherry will be held on October 4. 

    According to an announcement by the Election Commission of India, the election notification will be issued on September 15, and the last date for nomination is September 22. The scrutiny of nominations will be taken up on September 23 and the last date for withdrawal of nomination is September 27. 

    The counting of votes will be conducted on October 4 after the polling from 9 am to 4 pm.

    The election process has to be completed before October 6, when the tenure of the present member N Gokulakrishnan (AIADMK) ends (on October 6).

    The poll panel has directed Chief Secretary Ashwani Kumar to depute a senior officer for ensuring the Covid containment measures are followed while making arrangements for conducting the polling.

    The voters’ strength is 30 for the polling. Though Puducherry Legislative Assembly has a strength of 33 members comprising of 30 elected members and three nominated members, only the elected members can vote and those nominated do not have voting rights for the Rajya Sabha polls.

    Among the elected members, 10 are from ruling AINRC and six from its ally BJP, six are Independents, six are from DMK, and two from Indian National Congress. The Secretary of the Legislative Assembly is the returning officer for the poll.

    The sitting member is from AIADMK, an ally of the ruling NDA. The point of interest would be the NDA candidate in the poll in the face of a weak opposition and Independents supporting the ruling alliance. All three NDA allies — AINRC, BJP, and AIADMK — are eyeing the seat and it remains to be seen who is the NDA nominee for the poll.

  • Puducherry’s first NDA ministry swears in 

    By Express News Service
    PUDUCHERRY: For the first time in the history of Puducherry  BJP entered the citadels of power  with the swearing-in of ministers in the NDA  government led by N Rangasamy

    After a long wait of more than one and half month, finally, five ministers, two from BJP and three from AINRC were sworn in on Sunday.

    A Namassivayam(BJP), K Lakshminarayanan (AINRC), C Djeacoumar (AINRC) , Chandira Priyanga (AINRC) and A K Saravanan Kumar (BJP) were administered the oath of office and official secrecy by Lt Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan at a simple function held outside the gates of Raj Nivas on Sunday.

    Chief Minister N Rangasamy, Speaker Embalam R Selvam, Chief Secretary Ashwani Kumar, DGP Ranveer Singh among others were present on the occasion.

    MLAs of AINRC, BJP, independent MLAs as well as opposition Congress MLA Ramesh Parambath from Mahe were present on the occasion.

    Tamilnadu BJP President L Murugan, Puducherry state BJP president V Saminathan were also present.

    The ministry is a combination of experienced and debutants as well as turncoats and loyalists.

    For Namassivayam it his fourth stint, while Lakshminararayanan becomes minister for second time and Djeacoumar becomes the minister for the third time.

    Chandira Priyanga, elected from Nedungadu (SC) constituency in Karaikal region of the Union territory and Saravanan Kumar elected from Ossudu(SC)  becomes minister for the first time .

    Namassivayam, the former PWD minister in the Congress government led by V Narayanasamy, shifted to  BJP, just before the elections. He also moved from the Villianur constituency and won the election from the Mannadipet constituency. He is likely to be the home minister in the NDA government of AINRC and BJP. Namassivayam is the number two minister.

    Lakshminarayanan, the five-time MLA and former Education, Revenue and Tourism minister (2001 -2005) also switched over to AINRC from Congress .just before the elections. An advocate, he had been the Parliamentary Secretary to CM in the previous Congress-DMK government. 

    Theni C Jayakumar, who was earlier Local Administration minister in the DMK-TMC government from 1996-1999 and again briefly for six months in the congress govt led by P Shanmugham. He had been part of AINRC since Rangasamy floated the party in 2011. 

    Chandira Priyanga becomes the second woman minister in the UT, after 41 years after  Renuka Appadurai of INC(I) who was the first woman minister in 1980 in the DMK-Congress government led by D Ramachandran.

    Chanadira  Priyanga is the daughter of M Chandirakasu, who was a minister in the earlier AINRC government of Rangasamy in 2011. Chandira Priyanga represents the outlying region of Karaikal, a Scheduled caste community and also women. She is the first scheduled caste woman to become a minister in Puducherry.

  • PM Modi leaves for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry to inaugurate multiple developmental projects

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Puducherry and Tamil Nadu on Thursday morning where he is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development initiatives.

    “Leaving for Puducherry and Tamil Nadu to inaugurate development works that will further ‘Ease of Living’ and economic growth,” tweeted the Prime Minister.

    According to an official release, at around 11.30 am, Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development initiatives in Puducherry. At around 4 pm, Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple infrastructure projects worth over Rs 12,400 crores in Coimbatore.

    The Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are likely to take place in April-May. However, the Election Commission is yet to announce the final dates.

    The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the development of Minor Port at Puducherry under Sagarmala Scheme. He will inaugurate the Blood Centre at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, which will function as a research laboratory and a training centre for the short- term and continuous blood bank personnel training in all aspects of transfusion.

    The school education department has announced a holiday for government and private schools as traffic in the city has been diverted due to the Prime Minister’s visit tomorrow.In Tamil Nadu at around 4 pm, he will dedicate to the nation the Neyveli New Thermal Power Project.

    “It is a lignite-based power plant designed for power generation capacity of 1000 MW and has two units of 500 MW capacity each. Built at a cost of about Rs 8000 crore, the pit head power plant will utilise lignite as fuel from the existing mines of Neyveli, which have sufficient lignite reserves for meeting the lifetime requirement of the project.

    The Plant has been designed for 100 per cent Ash utilization. The power generated would benefit Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry, with Tamil Nadu having a major share of about 65 per cent,” read the release.