The plan faced some opposition from right-wing senators and the government chose the expression “guaranteed freedom” as an apparent compromise between both houses…reports Asian Lite News
France’s Senate on Wednesday backed a government move to enshrine the “freedom” to have an abortion in the constitution which will now be voted on at a special congress.
President Emmanuel Macron last year pledged to put the right to terminate a pregnancy — which has been legal in France since 1974 — into the constitution after the US Supreme Court in 2022 overturned the half-century-old right to the procedure, allowing states to ban or curtail abortion.
Despite opposition from some conservative members, the upper chamber voted by 267 votes to 50 to back the constitutional change.
The lower-house National Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favour of making abortion a “guaranteed freedom” in January, with almost all members of Macron’s centrist minority coalition as well as left-wing opposition parties approving it.
Macron said he would call a special Congress session of the two chambers at Versailles palace on Monday for a final vote. Macron welcomed what he called a “decisive step” by the Senate in his announcement on X, the former Twitter.
Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti said France was on the verge of a “historic day” when it becomes “the first country in the world to protect in its constitution the freedom of women” to decide what happens to their bodies.
The plan faced some opposition from right-wing senators and the government chose the expression “guaranteed freedom” as an apparent compromise between both houses.
The lower house in 2022 had approved enshrining the “right” to an abortion, while the Senate last year was in favour of adding the “freedom” to resort to the procedure.
However, before the full vote, a Senate committee on Wednesday rejected motions from the right to amend the text of the proposed revision.
In private several right-wing senators said they felt under pressure to approve the change.
“If I vote against it, my daughters will no longer come for Christmas,” said one woman senator who asked to remain anonymous.
A survey by French polling company IFOP in November 2022 found 86 percent of French people supported making abortion a constitutional right.
The Ukrainian military said last week that Russia had lost six warplanes in three days…reports Asian Lite News
Ukraine’s military said on Thursday it had shot down three more Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers, the latest successes it has reported against Moscow’s air force.
“After successful combat operations against an enemy aircraft in the night on Feb. 29, two more Russian aircraft were destroyed: Su-34 fighter-bombers in the Avdiivka and Mariupol sectors,” Army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on the Telegram messaging app.
Russia, which began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago, did not immediately comment on Syrskyi’s remarks. Reuters could not immediately verify his comments.
Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine fell to Russian forces this month after a long battle. Russia took full control of the southeastern port city of Mariupol in May 2022.
The Ukrainian military said last week that Russia had lost six warplanes in three days.
Since receiving advanced Western air defence systems, Ukraine’s military has posed a greater threat to Russian aviation in areas near the front lines although it has suffered recent setbacks on the eastern battlefields.
Kyiv accuses Moscow of hitting civilian targets using Su-34s, in particular in the southern Kherson region, as well as in attacking Ukraine’s front lines.
Russia has denied deliberately targeting civilians although many have been killed in its strikes.
The Russian leader said the claims that the country was preparing to attack Europe were “nonsense.”…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday warned of “tragic consequences” for any Western country that dared to send its troops to fight in Ukraine.
“They have announced the possibility of sending Western military contingents to Ukraine … The consequences for possible interventionists will be much more tragic,” Putin said while delivering his annual address to both houses of the Russian Parliament and other members of the country’s elite in Gostiny Dvor in Moscow, Al Jazeera reported.
The daily reported that Putin’s comments appeared to be a response to French President Emmanuel Macron’s refusal earlier this week to rule out sending troops to Ukraine.
The United States, Germany, Britain and others had rejected Macron’s suggestion.
“They should eventually realise that we also have weapons that can hit targets on their territory. Everything that the West comes up with creates the real threat of a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons, and thus the destruction of civilisation,” Putin said, addressing the Federal Assembly, two weeks ahead of presidential elections in the country.
Russian state media TASS reported that Putin, in his 19th State of the Nation speech, emphasised that the actions of the US and its satellites have led to the dismantling of the European security system. According to Putin, “this creates risks for everyone”, TASS reported.
Putin added that allegations that Russia plans to deploy nuclear weapons in space were unfounded.
“There has recently been an increasing number of unfounded accusations against Russia, alleging that we plan to deploy nuclear weapons in space. Such bogus stories – and they are nothing but bogus stories – are a ploy to drag us into talks on their terms, which only benefit the US,” the president noted as per TASS.
Putin, in his address, said all previous plans to boost Russia’s defence industry had been implemented. “The plans we made in the field of armaments, which I mentioned in the 2018 address, either have been implemented or are nearing completion,” Putin said, according to the state news agency report.
Putin said Russian forces were making effective use of the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system in the special military operation zone to hit critically important targets while trials of the Burevestnik cruise missile and the Poseidon system were in their final stages.
“Hypersonic warheads of intercontinental range Avangard and laser systems Peresvet are on combat duty,” he stated. Avangard is a strategic missile defense complex with an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) equipped with a gliding winged warhead. The system was first mentioned by Putin in March 2018.
The Russian leader said the claims that the country was preparing to attack Europe were “nonsense.”
“The West provoked the conflict in Ukraine, in the Middle East, in other regions of the world, and continues to lie. Now, they shamelessly say that Russia allegedly intends to attack Europe. You and I understand that they are talking nonsense,” Putin said, according to Russian state media.
“At the same time, they themselves are choosing targets for strikes on our territory, choosing the most effective, as they think, means of defeat. They are talking about the possibility of sending NATO military contingents to Ukraine,” the Russian leader said, according to TASS.
Politicians in the West sought to weaken Russia from within, just like they did in Ukraine, but they failed, said Putin.
The Russian president noted that his country did not start the war in Ukraine’s Donbas region in 2014 but will do everything to end it and ‘eradicate Nazism’.
“Our units firmly hold the initiative. They are confidently advancing in a number of operational directions, liberating more and more new territories,” Al Jazeera quoted Putin as saying in his annual address.
The majority of Russians support Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, Putin claimed according to the English language news channel headquartered in the Middle East. (ANI)
Describing India as a “superpower”, the Labour leader stressed that its strategic importance meant that the relationship transcends party political divides…reports Asian Lite News
Labour Party has launched a new diaspora outreach organisation to connect with British Indians and also to strengthen its interactions with India in a year when both countries are preparing for general elections.
The party’s shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, marked the launch of “Labour Indians” in the Houses of Parliament complex in London on Tuesday evening by giving an update on his recent visit to India and sharing his ambitions for the India-UK partnership if Labour were to win the next election.
Describing India as a “superpower”, the Labour leader stressed that its strategic importance meant that the relationship transcends party political divides.
“India is a superpower with a superpower entrepreneurial, innovative, scientific, industrial base and a superpower sized population,” said Lammy.
“Of course, India still has challenges. But I have no doubt that in this geopolitical moment it’s hugely important that the UK understands that India is this superpower force in the world. And, it should be the case that it actually does not matter who is the Prime Minister of India, who is the Prime Minister at Number 10 (Downing Street) because it’s so important strategically that notwithstanding political position, we have a very strong relationship,” he said.
Asked about some anti-India rhetoric associated with Labour under former party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Lammy said the Opposition party had been on a journey and transformed itself under the leadership of Keir Starmer.
“It’s a journey where clearly, we look back on the Corbyn years as really very unsuccessful for our fortunes politically. I think some of the perception in the Indian community was formed by that period. My trip to India was about looking forward,” he said.
Lammy also committed the party to “finish the job” of a free trade agreement (FTA) with India, which is in its fourteenth round of negotiations kicked off by the Conservative government in January 2022 and now facing a general election deadline on both sides.
“Obviously there’s a lot of discussion about the trade agreement. It’s not my normal job to undermine the government in reaching that agreement, we want that agreement. But if the government are not successful in getting a trade deal, we do intend to finish the job and secure it. And, we also wanted to take the message across that we see the trade agreement as the floor, not the ceiling in the relationship with India because there’s a lot more we can do across all areas,” he said.
Lammy welcomed the role the new diaspora group can play in the India-UK space to bring the Labour Party closer not only to the British Indian community but also India.
“We hope to be different in the way we go about doing things. We want to be really, really inclusive,” said Krish Raval, Chair of Labour Indians.
He is supported by fellow British Indian vice-chairs, Councillor Shama Tatler and Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate from Wales Kanishka Narayan.
“Indian households had moved away from the Labour Party for various different reasons and it was hard knocking on those doors to understand why families previously strong Labour voters felt that way. We are moving in the right direction [under Starmer] but we need to be talking more to the communities who have been let down by the Conservatives,” said Tatler.
The Bank of England in London, Britain. (Photo by Ray Tang/Xinhua)
The figures were released as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said around 82,000 home sales took place in January, which was 12% lower than January 2023 and 2% higher than December 2023…reports Asian Lite News
The number of mortgage approvals made to home buyers jumped to the highest level since October 2022 in January this year, according to Bank of England figures.
In an indication of future borrowing, 55,227 mortgages for house purchase got the green light, up from 51,506 the previous month and the highest level since 58,272 approvals were recorded in October 2022.
Approvals for remortgaging, which only capture remortgaging with a different lender, remained stable at 30,900 in January, the Bank said.
The figures were released as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said around 82,000 home sales took place in January, which was 12% lower than January 2023 and 2% higher than December 2023.
It was the first month-on-month increase in house sales since August 2023 – however it was still the lowest level of house sales recorded in January since 2013, HMRC said.
Matt Thompson, head of sales at estate agent Chestertons, said: “The gradual introduction of more attractive mortgage products boosted buyer confidence in January, resulting in more buyers entering the market.
“This increase in activity was further driven by pent-up demand from house hunters who were unable to find a property last year. Sellers also feel more confident about attracting the right buyer for their home which has led to a slight increase in the number of properties being put up for sale.”
Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Momentum was moving in the right direction for the mortgage market, with another pick-up in approvals in January – pushing them over 55,000. It’s brilliant news for sellers, who are finally seeing more buyers come back to the market.
“Falling mortgage rates played a major part in reinvigorating the market. At the end of January, the average two-year fixed rate mortgage was just a fraction over 5.5%, according to Moneyfacts, down from just over 6% at the start of December and almost 7% in August.
“However, sellers might not want to start planning their celebrations too soon, because the picture has changed a little since. Sticky inflation persuaded the mortgage market it was getting a bit carried away, so banks started to factor in for Bank of England rate cuts to come slightly later and more slowly. As a result, mortgage rates have risen very slightly since. It’s not a dramatic move, and the average two-year fixed rate today is only 5.75%, but it may be enough to give some buyers pause.”
Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills, said: “Completed housing transactions, which remained subdued, continue to lag on more up to date activity indicators.
“Real time data from TwentyCi indicates that there was an improvement in underlying housing market conditions in February, with activity levels 10% above the pre-pandemic average, even accounting for slightly higher than normal fall thorough rates.
“The biggest uptick in activity has been in the £300,000 to £500,000 price band, where activity levels in the month were 30% higher than the same time last year.
Issue personally sensitive for the prime minister, whose wife Akshata Murty previously benefited from non-dom status…reports Asian Lite News
Jeremy Hunt is considering ending or reducing “non-dom” tax breaks that allow wealthy individuals to live in the UK while their wealth is considered as residing overseas.
The measure is on a list of potential revenue raising measures being assessed ahead of next week’s budget, and could be enacted to give the chancellor room to cut universal taxes.
The move, first reported by the Financial Times, could raise more than £3bn for the exchequer and would be politically eye-catching given Hunt and successive Conservative governments have resisted calls to abandon it – arguing it makes the UK more attractive to foreign wealth creators.
It is also personally sensitive for the prime minister, whose wife Akshata Murty, daughter of the billionaire founder of the Indian software giant Infosys, previously benefited from non-dom status.
“Non-dom” is short for “non-domiciled individual” and refers specifically to the tax status of a person who is a UK resident but whose permanent home is abroad.
Non-doms only have to pay tax on money earned in the UK, while their overseas income and wealth are not subject to UK tax – and they can benefit from the status for up to 15 years.
This allows wealthy individuals to make significant and entirely legal tax savings if they choose to be domiciled for tax purposes in a lower-tax jurisdiction.
Labour has long supported ditching non-dom status and has proposed cutting the duration of benefits to just four years in a concession to what they call genuinely temporary UK residents.
That similar measures are now being considered by Hunt demonstrates both the tightness of the public finances, and the political imperatives of an election year budget.
Hunt is attempting to find money to fund personal tax cuts he and the prime minister believe are potential vote winners, but is constrained by his own fiscal rules, an arbitrary set of restraints intended to demonstrate responsible economic management.
These require that debt falls as a proportion of GDP in the fifth year of economic forecast prepared by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
These forecasts include a figure for headroom, the amount of “spare” cash notionally available to stay within the rules, and this effectively sets the chancellor’s room for manoeuvre.
The OBR prepares multiple forecasts in the run up to a budget, the most recent of which was delivered on Wednesday with the final version due to be handed over on Friday.
Other measures reportedly under consideration are a tax on vapes and cuts to departmental spending, though many economists believe these are already inevitable on the government’s current economic plans.
Adopting a popular Labour proposal that affects only the very richest would create a little more headroom and little controversy other than the charge of hypocrisy, but it might be a headache for the Opposition, who have said they will stick to the same fiscal rules.
With one of their few distinct revenue sources already used up, Conservative strategists believe Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves would be forced to explain how they will raise money already committed to spending plans without raising the taxes Hunt hopes to cut. The Treasury declined to comment.
‘Spend money on schools, NHS’
Meanwhile, Labour has said it would spend the money generated from scrapping non-dom status on schools and the NHS. But if the government used it to fund tax cuts this would pose a dilemma for the party if it wins power in this year’s general election.
If Labour backs any tax cuts the chancellor announced, which they are expected to do, this would leave questions over how some of their spending pledges would be funded.
Labour’s shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has claimed whichever party wins the next election will inherit “the worst set of economic circumstances since the Second World War”.
She said that after former Chancellor George Osborne’s promise to “fix the roof” while the sun was shining, “the Conservatives have broken the windows, kicked the door in and now they’re burning the house down”.
This is a reference to the expectation that in next week’s Budget the chancellor will use up almost all the room for manoeuvre within his self-imposed borrowing rules.
Labour has said it will stick to the key rule that the national debt should in five year’s time fall as a share of the national economy.
The government might choose to use up most of what is known as “fiscal headroom”, and then suggest Labour would have to raise taxes.
SWAT, PAKISTAN - SEPTEMBER 3: A view of flood disaster area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Swat, Pakistan on September 3, 2022. With 26 more deaths over the past 24 hours, the death toll from the raging floods in Pakistan has reached 1.290, the country's national disaster agency said on Saturday. (Photo by Hussain Ali/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The multifaceted menace of climate change poses a profound threat to Pakistan’s stability, economic prosperity, and the overall well-being of its populace. This exploration delves into the intricate interplay between climate change and Pakistan’s existential challenges, underscoring the urgency for strategic interventions … writes Dr Sakariya Kareem
Climate change as a worldwide discourse encompasses the three significant emergencies that are climate change, environmental degradation, and pollution. This article delves into the crisis caused by climate change and its existential impact on Pakistan. Pakistan, as a country, is under the severe effects of global climate change.
Pakistan stands at a pivotal moment, facing an existential crisis that transcends conventional security worries. The multifaceted menace of climate change poses a profound threat to the nation’s stability, economic prosperity, and the overall well-being of its populace. This exploration delves into the intricate interplay between climate change and Pakistan’s existential challenges, underscoring the urgency for strategic interventions.
Nowadays, Pakistan is facing the dire consequences of climate change and an imminent water crisis. The report published by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in August 2021 focuses on the irreversible nature of global warming and devastating summers marked by wildfires, extensive cropland damage, and heat waves.
One critical aspect is the nexus between climate change and water scarcity, intricately linked to Pakistan’s agrarian economy heavily reliant on the Indus River. Escalating impacts, such as erratic rainfall patterns and glacial melt, have led to water scarcity, significantly affecting agricultural productivity.
The melting glaciers of Pakistan are evidence of the climate crisis, as the country is highly dependent on glacier-fed rivers, particularly the Indus River. The Indus River water flows between two countries, India and Pakistan, and a significant volume of water is supplied to Pakistan. The threat looming over Pakistan due to the melting of glaciers in the Pakistan River Valley system is evident, and it is time for the government to take proactive measures and introduce regulations to address this challenge. The IPCC report predicts that if the current situation continues, then the Water shortage will happen in Pakistan by 2050. Further, the government is not making sincere efforts to generate electric energy from renewable sources and still relies mainly on nonrenewable sources of energy.
Moreover, the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, from floods to droughts, have become pronounced in Pakistan. These events not only displace communities but also exacerbate existing socio-economic disparities, necessitating a nuanced approach to bolster resilience and safeguard human security, particularly for vulnerable populations.
People of Pakistan are displaced due to environmental challenges such as untimely rains, floods, landslides and heat waves, which are causing severe impacts on the country’s human lives, agriculture and infrastructure. Large-scale deforestation along the Karakoram Highway led to the landslide. Massive infrastructure loss has happened, including the destruction of bridges and networks of roads, leading to the shutting down of the economic corridor that is responsible for trade with China.
The timber mafias exacerbate the deforestation challenge. The Pakistani government, under Imran Khan’s leadership in 2018, launched a Million Tree Plantation Drive. This initiative of planting new trees cannot replace the old forest that took several years to grow and maintain the ecosystem.
Another important factor or rather a challenge of Climate Change is the pollution near the Gwadar Port. The significant role of the port cannot be denied in Pakistan’s economic development. However, it is also shadowed by emerging environmental challenges, particularly impacting critical infrastructure like the Gwadar International Airport. The rapid industrial expansion in Gwadar has brought economic opportunities but simultaneously escalated pollution levels. The discharge of pollutants from industrial activities and shipping operations has contributed to the deterioration of air quality in the region, directly threatening the safety of flights operating at Gwadar International Airport.
The close proximity of Gwadar Port to the airport raises legitimate concerns regarding the adverse impact of air pollution on essential aviation infrastructure. Particulate matter and chemical residues from pollutants have the potential to compromise crucial elements such as navigational aids, communication systems, and runway surfaces. Stringent measures are imperative to ensure the sustained operational integrity of the airport. Additionally, poor air quality, a byproduct of pollution, significantly diminishes visibility, a critical factor for safe takeoffs and landings. This reduction in visibility increases the risk of accidents and poses challenges for pilots during essential phases of flight, underscoring the urgency to mitigate pollution in the airport vicinity.
Furthermore, the adverse effects of air pollution extend beyond infrastructure concerns to directly impact the health of aviation personnel, encompassing pilots, air traffic controllers, and ground staff. Prolonged exposure to pollutants poses a risk to respiratory health, compromising the well-being of those entrusted with ensuring the safe operation of flights. Another crucial challenge includes an emerging issue related to the overcrowding of birds attracted to sea pollution. The contaminated waters serve as a magnet for diverse bird species seeking food resources. While this addresses immediate ecological concerns, the concentration of birds introduces consequential risks to air safety.
The geographical location of Pakistan and its dependence on agriculture is making the country vulnerable to climate change. It is estimated that a reduction of 18 to 20% in Pakistan’s GDP by 2050 would occur due to environmental degradation, pollution, and climate-related issues. The problems get exacerbated by potential potable water scarcity, the surge in the prevalence of diseases, and floods. Pakistan’s existing national policies, such as the National Climate Change Policy and Pakistan Vision 2025, have failed to tackle and mitigate the effects of climate change.
In conclusion, Pakistan finds itself entangled in an existential crisis with climate change permeating every facet of its environmental, economic, and social fabric. A comprehensive and proactive approach is imperative to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change and secure the nation’s future. Regrettably, the prevailing trajectory, marked by inadequate governmental action, paints a bleak picture for Pakistan’s environmental sustainability. A comprehensive approach is necessary to address the various challenges posed by climate change.
The Congress-led government’s move is likely to trigger a controversy in the state ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections…reports Asian Lite News
In a major development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday accepted the controversial Socio-Economic and Educational Survey Report, also known as the caste census report. The Congress-led government’s move is likely to trigger a controversy in the state ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Chairman of Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes, K. Jayaprakash Hegde, submitted the report to CM Siddaramaiah at his office in Vidhana Soudha on Thursday in the presence of Minister for Kannada and Culture, Shivaraj Tangadagi. Siddaramaiah said the caste census report will now be placed before the Cabinet for discussions.
He, however, refused to divulge any further information on the report. Speaking to the media after the submission of the report, Jayaprakash Hegde said that the report has been accepted, and it will be placed before the next cabinet meeting. “We can’t divulge the details, our responsibility was to prepare the report and submit it,” he said. “The report was prepared by the 1.60 lakh government officers led by the Deputy Commissioners in 2014-15. The report is prepared based on the data collected during the tenure of former Chairman of the Commission H. Kantharaju. For technical reasons, he could not submit the report. This is a socio-economic survey. I won’t talk about politics,” he said while reacting to the opposition to the report. Hegde maintained that there is no relevance to the allegation about the missing original copy of the caste census report.
“We have got it prepared and there is no confusion in it,” he added. When asked about the caste census report being dubbed as unscientific, Hegde stated that without reading the report, how can anyone arrive at the judgment that the report is unscientific? He also clarified that the report is not leaked, and it has the signatures of all officers. Minister for Law, H.K Patil, said that if needed, legal opinions will be sought on the report. “First, we will have to see how much time is required to study the report,” he said. Meanwhile, former chairman of the State Commission for Backward Classes, H. Kantharaj, said he was happy that the report is finally being submitted. “Once you study the report, the pros and cons will be known. The report is prepared to ensure the welfare of all sections of people. It gives voice to the voiceless. It is for the welfare of all,” he said. The move to accept the report came amid strong opposition by the influential Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities. The associations of both these communities have declared that they would reject the report, dubbing it as “unscientific”. Former Chief Minister and JD-S state President H.D. Kumaraswamy had even challenged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that if he had the capacity, he should accept the caste report prepared by Kantharaj.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was one of the signatories in the memorandum submitted to the state government urging not to accept that report. Seers of the backward communities, on the other hand, had urged CM Siddaramaiah to accept the caste census report. Amid the opposition, the CM had declared that he would accept the controversial report. Union minister Pralhad Joshi had stated that the state government does not have the authority to conduct a caste census. Joshi maintained that the task of conducting a caste census rests only with the Central government.
Temple Bill Passed in Karnataka Assembly Again
The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024, faced opposition from the BJP-JD(S) alliance in the legislative council last week but was reconsidered and passed by the legislative assembly on Thursday.
The bill, which targets temples with over Rs 10 lakh annual income, will now proceed directly to the Governor for approval. Initially passed by the assembly on February 21, it encountered defeat in the upper house via a voice vote on February 23.
Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy urged the assembly to pass the bill again after its setback in the council. ‘Muzrai’ refers to grants made by the government for religious and charitable purposes as well as the upkeep of religious and charitable institutions, according to the Karnataka Government Gazetteer.
The bill’s reintroduction sparked controversy, with the BJP and JD(S) absent during the assembly session, staging a walkout in protest against the Congress government’s perceived inaction regarding slogans allegedly shouted after a member’s election to the Rajya Sabha.
The proposed amendment to the Muzrai department stirred opposition, with the BJP accusing the Congress of financial motives, countered by the Congress citing a 2011 amendment targeting affluent Hindu shrines.
The bill aims to collect percentages from temple incomes, directing funds to a Common Pool Fund administered by the ‘Rajya Dharmika Parishath’ for priest welfare and state-controlled temple upkeep.
Modi also expressed condolences with the families of the people who died in the road accident in Dindori district…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Madhya Pradesh’ programme via video conferencing and laid the foundation stone of several development projects worth around Rs 17,000 crore across the state.
Addressing the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Madhya Pradesh’ programme, Modi said, “Few days ago, the redevelopment work on more than 30 railway stations of Madhya Pradesh started. BJP’s double engine government is ensuring development with double speed. The schemes unveiled today will will bring ease in lives of people in Madhya Pradesh. More investment and employment opportunities will come in the state.”
The projects unveiled by Prime Minister cater to a number of important sectors including irrigation, power, road, rail, water supply, coal, industry, among others. Prime Minister also launched the Cyber Tehsil project in Madhya Pradesh.
Modi also expressed condolences with the families of the people who died in the road accident in Dindori district.
“I want to express my condolence in the Dindori road accident. My compassion is with those who lost their loved ones in the accident. The government is taking care of the medical treatment of those who are injured. I am with Madhya Pradesh in these difficult times,” he said.
Stating that under the BJP-led Centre, the “land brought under the irrigation doubled in comparision to the Congress-led UPA from 2004 to 2014, Modi said, “The Sinchayee Yojana is the biggest differentiator between BJP and Congress in 10 years. Before 2014, a total of 40 lakh hectare of land was brought under the Sukshma Sinchai (irrigation) whereas a total of 90 hectare of land was brought in the last 10 years. This shows the priorities of the BJP government.”
He further stated that BJP is fighting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections with a “resolve to make India the third largest economy of the world”.
“For us, these elections are not just to form our government for the third time. In our third tenure, we will make this country the third largest economy of the world, with this resolve we are contesting the upcoming elections. Formation of the government is not our final goal,” he said.
Prime Minister also mentioned that several states in the country has taken a resolve to become a developed state.
“In every Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh a lot of people have joined the Sankalp of Viksit Madhya Pradesh. Several other states have also taken this Sankalp of becoming Viksit. Nine days Vikramotsav is going to start in MP from tomorrow itself. It is a celebration of our glorious heritage and present development,” he said. (ANI)
Modi to hold three public meetings in Bengal
Modi will kickstart the BJP’s campaign for Lok Sabha Elections in West Bengal from March 1. Notably, Modi’s visit to the state in the wake of the ongoing unrest in the Sandeshkhali enclave where women recently hit the streets and vented their fury by setting ablaze the properties belonging to TMC leaders who are accused of tormenting villagers.
He will address two big public meetings. This visit of the Prime Minister is being considered very important before the Lok Sabha elections.
He will also give mantra to the BJP workers to ensure victory in the upcoming elections. On March 1, Modi will address a public meeting in Arambag and on that day he will have a night stay in the state. Apart from this, on March 2, he will address a public meeting in Krishna Nagar.
“Lakhs of people will be present in the rally,” BJP’s Bengal chief Sukant Majumdar said. Sukant Majumdar also mentioned that the Prime Minister is coming to Bengal, it is a matter of happiness for all of us and he will address the people of West Bengal. There is a lot of enthusiasm among the workers too.
Modi will also be addressing the women of the entire country from Barashat, West Bengal on March 6. BJP Mahila Morcha chief Vanathi Srinivasan held a meeting in West Bengal on February 24 to take stock of the preparations in this regard.
BJP Bengal sources said that in 2024 polls, BJP will be winning more seats in West Bengal than before. This time the figure is likely to go up to 26, however at present it is estimated that 20 to 26 seats will be won by BJP.
Overall, the BJP is very confident and is continuously engaged in its work. All the leaders and workers of the BJP are working on the ground to make people aware on the Modi-led dispensation’s welfare and development schemes in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Pradhan Mantri Employment scheme, the Ayushman Bharat upto an insurance of Rs 5 lakh, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Oushadhi scheme, the Kisan Samman Nidhi and the Pradhana Mantri Jeevan Jyoti are some of these schemes. (ANI)
Bora said, “The State BJP President Bhabesh Kalita is holding a meeting today for which we have come today. We will talk about the upcoming polls. We will ensure more and more NDA seats from Assam.”…reports Asian Lite News
As the Lok Sabha polls are around the corner, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Chief and Assam Agriculture minister Atul Bora on Thursday visited the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in Assam’s Guwahati on Thursday.
The AGP is an ally of the ruling BJP in Assam. “Following the invitation of the State BJP president, I have arrived at the state’s party headquarters. Seat sharing discussions will take place here,” Bora said.
Before the Assam assembly polls in 2016, the AGP and the BJP joined hands together and forged an alliance. In 2019, the Asom Gana Parishad distanced itself from the BJP owing to the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). However, the regional party again forged an alliance with the BJP.
The Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to be held in April-May this year. Meanwhile, the BJP leadership on Wednesday held a core group meeting of different states as part of the candidate selection process for the Lok Sabha polls, with party chief JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah discussing with leaders the panel of names recommended by the respective state units.
Sources said core committee meeting was held for several states including Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Assam besides the union territory of Delhi, ahead of the meeting of party’s Central Election Committee today. They said that the party is likely to announce over 100 names in its first candidate list.
‘We will ensure more seats for NDA’
Meanwhile, president of Asom Gana Parishad Atul Bora said that the AGP would ensure more and more NDA seats from Assam.
Bora said, “The State BJP President Bhabesh Kalita is holding a meeting today for which we have come today. We will talk about the upcoming polls. We will ensure more and more NDA seats from Assam.”
“Yesterday, we met our party’s central leadership and submitted the candidate list for the parliamentary constituencies of Assam. Today we will again go to Delhi. In the coming 1-2 days, the central leadership will announce the first list of candidates,” Kalita said. (ANI)
Former Assam Cong president joins BJP
Former Working President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee Rana Goswami joined the BJP on Thursday. Goswami, who resigned from the Congress on Wednesday, joined the BJP in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, state BJP president Bhabesh Kalita and other leaders at the state BJP headquarters in Guwahati.
Apart from him, another leader, Jayanta Bora, also joined the party. Assam State BJP president Bhabesh Kalita told ANI that, apart from Rana Goswami, a few other prominent personalities will also join the BJP today.
Rana Goswami tendered his resignation from the grand old party on February 28.
In a letter to the Congress General Secretary, KC Venugopal, APCC working President Rana Goswami wrote, “I beg to state that I am tendering my resignation as the working President of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee and as an active member of Indian National Congress.”
Earlier on February 14, CM Himanta Sarma said that four Congress MLAs have extended their support to the state government.
“Two Congress MLAs Basanta Das and Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha have extended their support to the Assam government. Earlier, two Congress MLAs Sashi Kanta Das and Siddique Ahmed had extended their support to the state. So far, four Congress MLAs have extended their support to the government. In coming days, all opposition MLAs will extend their support to the government,” Sarma said. (ANI)
