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Farmers Reject Centre’s Proposal on MSP

The announcement was made by farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal at the Punjab-Haryana’s Shambhu border in Patiala district after holding a meeting…reports Asian Lite News

In a setback, farm union leaders on Monday rejected the Centre’s proposal of buying pulses, maize and cotton at minimum support price (MSP) by government agencies for five years, saying it was not in farmers’ interest.

The announcement was made by farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal at the Punjab-Haryana’s Shambhu border in Patiala district after holding a meeting.

A panel of three Union ministers — Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda and Nityanand Rai — on Sunday gave a proposal to the farmers during the fourth round of talks in Chandigarh.

Soon after the fourth round of talks concluded on Monday night, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “We will discuss proposals given by the Centre with fellow farmers, take the opinions of experts.”

The crops which the Centre has proposed to buy on assured MSP include three pulses — arhar, tur and urad, besides cotton and maize.

It is proposed that the central agencies such as the NCCF, NAFED and the Cotton Corporation of India will sign a contract for five years to buy the crops from the farmers.

The farmer leaders have been asked by the three-member Union ministers comprising Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai to discuss their proposal and give their consent before arriving at the final plan from the Central government.

Interacting with the media after the meeting, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said if the MSP is given for this crop then Punjab can lead the country in production of pulses.

He added it will be a second green revolution in the country though Punjab had suffered due to the Green Revolution by loss of its only natural resources in terms of over exploitation of fertile soil and water.

The Chief Minister also said that farmers of the state can adopt cotton and maize only if they get the MSP of these crops.

He said the assured marketing of these crops can encourage the farmers for crop diversification — a major push to the crop diversification in the country.

He added the country today imports pulses from other countries whereas if farmers get remunerative prices then they can produce these pulses here.

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‘Will march towards Delhi on Feb 21’

Ahead of the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ march scheduled on Feb 21, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher targeted the Centre, saying that the government is stopping the farmers from entering Delhi and farmers should be allowed to hold their march on Wednesday.

“The intention of the govt was very clear that they would not let us enter Delhi at any cost…If you don’t want to find a solution through discussion with farmers then we should be allowed to march towards Delhi…When we moved towards Delhi, shelling happened…Bullets were also used on the tyres of the tractors…DGP Haryana has said that they are not using tear gas on farmers…We demand punishment for those using it then…Wrong statements are also being given…The situation in Haryana is like that of Kashmir. We will march towards Delhi on Feb 21. The govt has given us a proposal so that we backtrack from our original demands. The govt will be responsible for whatever happens now,” said farmer leader Sarwan Singh.

After the Centre brought a proposal to purchase crops at Minimum Support Price (MSP), farmers rejected the proposal on Monday evening, saying that it had nothing for them.

Addressing a press conference, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said that after the discussion, the forums rejected the proposal.

“After the discussion of both forums, it has been decided that if you analyse, there is nothing in the government’s proposal. Our government imports palm oil worth Rs 1.75 crore from outside that also causes illness to general public. If this money is given to the farmers of the country to grow oil seed crops and MSP is announced, then that money can be used here. This is not on the favour of farmers. We reject it,” he said.

“If the government is not giving legal guarantee of MSP, it means that the farmers of the country will continue to be looted. This is not acceptable,” he added.

After the fourth round of talks, General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee Sarvan Singh Pandher asserted that the farmers will continue to move forward with the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on February 21 adding that the discussion will also be held on the proposal proposed by the government on MSP.

Now, the farmers will continue their ‘Dilli Chalo’ march on February 21.

Earlier, Jagjit Singh Dallewal said that we had a detailed discussion on our (farmers’) demands during the fourth round of talks with the government.

“The government has given us a proposal, which guarantees MSP on pulses, maize and cotton, which will be supervised and managed by two government agencies,” says SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal after the conclusion of the meeting between protesting farmer unions and Union Ministers in Chandigarh,” he added.

Gov Helping Farmers, Says Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirmed on Monday that his administration is dedicated to steering agriculture onto a novel trajectory, with a particular emphasis on endorsing natural farming methods and promoting millets. Speaking at an event in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, he underscored the imperative of striving towards the shared objective of positioning Indian food products on dining tables worldwide. Against the backdrop of ongoing farmer protests, including demands for a statutory guarantee of minimum support prices for crops, Modi reiterated the government’s commitment to aiding and incentivizing farmers in revitalizing the agricultural sector.

Modi stressed the significance of transitioning towards natural farming practices and integrating millets into agricultural frameworks, asserting that the current moment presents an opportune time for investments in nutrient-rich superfoods like millets. He cited the burgeoning adoption of large-scale natural farming along the Ganges riverbanks in Uttar Pradesh, noting its dual benefits of supporting farmers while safeguarding the purity of sacred rivers.

In a bid to encourage the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices, the Prime Minister urged food processing entrepreneurs to adhere to the mantra of “zero effect, zero defect” in their endeavors. He spotlighted the success stories of products such as Siddharth Nagar’s kalanamak rice and Chandauli’s black rice, which have witnessed significant exports, and called for collective efforts to popularize Indian food items globally.

Modi encouraged entrepreneurs to forge partnerships with farmers, underscoring the government’s initiatives aimed at empowering small-scale farmers through farmer producer organizations and cooperative societies, which offer avenues for mutually beneficial collaborations. Addressing investors, he emphasized that advancements in agriculture and benefits to farmers also translate into positive outcomes for businesses.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister commemorated the recent conferral of the Bharat Ratna award upon former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, recognizing his legacy as a champion of farmers’ rights and rural development.

ALSO READ: Kamal Hassan Set to Announce Alliance

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Kamal Hassan Set to Announce Alliance

The MNM chief, referring to preparations for the parliamentary polls, anticipated a “good opportunity” adding that the election works are going well….reports Asian Lite News

In a run-up to the Lok Sabha Elections, Makkal Needhi Maiam president and actor Kamal Hassan said on Monday that an alliance announcement will be made within two days.

While speaking to reporters at Chennai airport, the MNM chief, referring to preparations for the parliamentary polls, anticipated a “good opportunity” adding that the election works are going well.

“In two days I will meet you with good news. Works for the Parliament election are going well and hoping for a good opportunity. Regarding the alliance will announce the decision in two days,” Kamal Hassan said.

Kamal Hassan reached Chennai Aiport on Monday morning from the US after his upcoming movie ‘Thug Life’ preparation works there.

Earlier in September last year, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin hinted at his party allying with Hassan’s MNM ahead of the parliamentary polls.

“The party leaders will decide on the alliance (with Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam party) at the time of the elections,” Udhayanidhi Stalin had said.

Also, Kamal Hassan had come in defence of Udhayanidhi Stalin during the ‘Sanatana Dharma’ controversy against the latter saying that a young child (Udhayanidhi) was being targeted just because he spoke about Sanatana.

Hassan formed MNM in 2018 but faced defeats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and 2021 Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu.

Later, MNM extended support to the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance candidate during the by-polls in Erode.

Also, Hassan was seen alongside Congress MP Rahul Gandhi embarking on his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra when it reached Tamil Nadu earlier in December 2022.

MNM has recently being sanctioned with the symbol of a battery torch. The veteran superstar who involved himself for the cause of the downtrodden has already entered an electoral alliance with the ruling DMK and will be part of the I.N.D.I.A bloc for the 2024 general elections.

Coimbatore seat is currently represented by CPI-M, while Chennai North, South and Central seats were represented by Dr Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, Dr Thamizhachi Thangapandian and Dayanidhi Maran respectively. All three are from the DMK.

For the veteran actor contesting from Coimbatore, a seat of the alliance partner CPI-M, the DMK will require several rounds of discussions with the CPI-M leadership as also with other coalition partners but if the seat is either Chennai (North, Central or South), it can easily allocate the seat from its own kitty. While the three Chennai seats are represented by the DMK, all three are heavy weight candidates from known political families of DMK. While Dayanidhi Maran (Chennai Central MP) is the cousin of party supremo and Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin,Dr Kalanidhi Veeraswamy (Chennai North MP) is the son of former minister and powerful leader Arcot N.Veeraswami. The DMK MP from Chennai South is Dr Thamizachi Thangapandian whose father was a former MLA and brother is Tamil Nadu‘s minister Thangam Thenarasu.

However, Kamal Haasan has an advantage in Coimbatore as he had contested the 2021 assembly elections from Coimbatore South, losing it by a slender margin of 1,540 votes to the BJP Women’s wing leader, Vanathi Sreenivasan. It may be recalled that in the 2019 general elections, Kamal Haasan’s MNM candidate, Dr R. Mahendran stood third in Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat, polling 1,45,104 votes with a vote share of 11.6 per cent of the total votes polled.

BJP candidate, C.P. Radhakrishnan who is presently the Governor of Jharkhand had come second in this seat garnering, 3,92,007 votes with 31.34 per cent vote share.

CPI-M leader P.R. Natarajan who won the elections, had polled, 5,77,150 votes at a vote share of 45.66 per cent. If Kamal Haasan contests from Coimbatore as a candidate of the DMK front, he can easily win, given the volume of votes polled by the

DMK front and the votes received by the MNM candidate, Dr.R.Mahendran. It remains, however, to be seen whether the CPI-M will agree to shift from Coimbatore which is one of the two seats the party won from Tamil Nadu-the other being Madurai.

While Kamal Haasan‘s first choice is Coimbatore, he, according to sources close to him, does not mind contesting Lok Sabha elections from either of Chennai North, South or Central constituencies.

With the DMK led I.N.D.I.A front at an advantage in Tamil Nadu, it has to be seen from where Kamal Haasan, one of the top most actors of Tamil Nadu, will ultimately contest polls.

Modi to Join Final Day of BJP’s Tirupur Padayatra

The BJP president of Tamil Nadu, K Annamalai on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the party’s ‘En Mann En Makkal’ padayatra on its concluding day.

The BJP chief said that PM Modi who is set to embark on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu, will join the padayatra on February 27 and will also attend various events on February 28.

Annamalai arrived in Chennai earlier today after attending the BJP’s two-day national convention in Delhi.

While speaking to reporters at Chennai airport on Monday, Annamalai said, “PM Modi is scheduled to come to Tamil Nadu to attend the final day of ‘En Mann En Makkal’ padayatra on February 27 at Palladam. On Feb 27 and 28, PM Modi will be in Tamil Nadu to attend various events”.

The padayatra led by Annamalai will enter its 234th constituency Palladam in Tirupur district on February 27, which will be its last.

According to sources, PM Modi is scheduled to hold a massive rally in Palladam to conclude the Yatra.

BJP national president JP Nadda joined the yatra in Chennai when it completed 200 constituencies earlier this month.

Union Minister Amit Shah flagged off the six-month-long padayatra in Rameshwaram in July last year.

A significant presence of BJP State District Union executives, party members, and the general public was observed during the pada yatra.

During the launch, Amit Shah said that ‘En Mann, En Makkal’ is to make Tamil Nadu free from family dynastic politics and corruption and to improve the law and order situation in the state.

“This Yatra is not only a political Yatra; the “En Mann En Makkal” (My Land, My People) Yatra is a Yatra to spread the Tamil language worldwide. It is to make Tamil Nadu free from family dynastic politics and corruption and to improve the law and order situation in the state. It is a yatra to end corruption and start development work,” Amit Shah said. (ANI)

ALSO READ: SP releases another list of 11 candidates for LS polls

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SP releases another list of 11 candidates for LS polls

From Muzaffarnagar, Harendra Singh Malik will contest the Lok Sabha polls….reports Asian Lite News

Samajwadi Party (SP) on Monday released another list of 11 candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. According to the list that has been released by the party, Afzal Ansari who is the brother of Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari has been fielded from Ghazipur constituency.

Earlier on May 1, 2023, Afzal Ansari was disqualified as a member of Lok Sabha representing the Ghazipur Parliamentary Constituency upon his conviction by the Court of Additional Sessions Judge, MP/MLA Court, Ghazipur. He was also sentenced to four years imprisonment in a Gangster Act case by a trial court.

From Muzaffarnagar, Harendra Singh Malik will contest the Lok Sabha polls. Ramesh Gautam and Virendra Singh have been fielded from Bahraich and Chandauli respectively.

Samajwadi party has also fielded Neeraj Maurya from Aonla, Usha Verma from Hardoi, Rampal Rajvanshi from Misrikh, RK Chaudhary from Mohanlalganj, SP Singh Patel from Pratapgarh and Shreya Verma from Gonda.

Last month on January 30, the Samajwadi Party (SP) announced the names of 16 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, to take place this year.

The SP has fielded Dimple Yadav, wife of former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav from Mainpuri, Shafiqur Rahman Barq from Sambhal and Ravidas Mehrotra from Lucknow.

Dimple Yadav of the Samajwadi Party won the Mainpuri parliamentary byelection in December 2022, defeating Raghuraj Singh Shakya of the BJP by a margin of 2,88,461 votes. Considered SP’s bastion, the seat was held by party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and it was vacated after his death on October 10.

Akshay Yadav has been fielded from Firozabad, while from Banda, the SP has fielded Shivshakar Singh Patel. Barq who at 93 is one of the oldest Parliamentarians has been elected 5 times to the Lok Sabha from Sambhal.

“Hoga PDA ke naam, abki ekjut matdan,” the SP said.

In the current Lok Sabha, the SP, which had fought in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 2019, has three MPs while the BSP has 10 MPs. (ANI)

Akhilesh sets condition for Congress

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has made his participation in the Congress’ Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra conditional to a decision on seat sharing, saying that he will be joining it the moment the seats for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections are distributed between the two parties.

“Right now talks are going on, lists have come from their side and from ours as well, the moment the seats are distributed and decided, the Samajwadi Party will join Congress’s Nyaya Yatra,” Yadav said speaking to reporters on Monday.

The Samajwadi Party and the Congress are partners in the INDIA bloc. The success of the seat sharing talks between the two are crucial, especially after the failure of such talks with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has decided to contest in her state alone.

The Samajwadi Party president had come to pay his obeisance to Acharya Narendra Deva on his death anniversary.

“Acharya Narender had strengthened and given a new direction to the socialist movement. Socialists have a lot to learn from his life. So we come back here every time,” Yadav said speaking on the contributions of the freedom fighter.

Speaking about the significance of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Yadav said, “The 2024 elections are significant. It is an election to save the Constitution and save the future of the country, save Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, to save fraternity.”

Yadav stressed the importance of ousting the Bharatiya Janata Party government out of power in the Centre, saying, “If this government comes back to power, then Babasaheb Ahmedkar’s and the socialist’s struggle for reservations will come to an end.”

On claims of paper leak in the Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment and Promotion Board examination, the Samjwadi Party chief said, “Around 60 lakh students have taken the examination. There are reports that paper has leaked. Even if 1 lakh student get cent per cent marks or 10 lakhs score very well, will the government give jobs to all of them?”

Meanwhile, when asked about Akhilesh Yadav joining Bharat Jodo Naya Yatra, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “I expect that he will join the Yatra on Tuesday. Earlier, Apna Dal (K) leader Pallavi Patel also joined the yatra.”

Earlier, the Samajwadi Party Chief had accepted the invitation from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to join the Yatra saying that he would participate in the Yatra in Amethi or Rae Bareli.

However, with no headway being made in the seat sharing talks between the two parties, there have been reports that the SP Chief could stay away from the Yatra as it makes its way through Uttar Pradesh. (ANI)

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Protests Erupt in Gilgit-Baltistan Over Power Cuts

The participants of the rally said that they face power outages of around 22 hours daily, and the authorities are not doing their part to resolve their issues….reports Asian Lite News

People in Gilgit-Baltistan have been facing severe load-shedding for a long time. The agitation of the people recently turned into a massive protest, resulting in scores of women and children organising a rally to express their anger.

The participants of the rally said that they face power outages of around 22 hours daily, and the authorities are not doing their part to resolve their issues.

The enraged protesters chanted slogans against the government and lamented that bureaucrats and VIPs are, however, provided uninterrupted electricity through special power lines.

The women participants in the rally mentioned that they cannot complete household chores in the absence of electricity, and the children are also unable to study.

Noor Bano, a local resident from GB, stated, “We had to come out on the roads to protest after being helpless. The system of electricity is really bad here. We are not getting electricity, it has only been there for about an hour and a half. In that short period, we can neither iron clothes, cook food, nor fill water (with a motor). Already, everything is frozen (due to the cold weather). We are forced to protest on the roads.”

There have been several protests over these issues in recent months, but the administration has continued to ignore people’s plight and has taken no steps to ease their problems.

Another local resident, Sharleen Fatimah, said, “The electricity is there around 7 am and is there until around 8 am. During this short time, in Gilgit city, everything is frozen–snow is present on machines, we cannot switch on those water machines (motors). The biggest issue is that we do not have water. The second one is that our children go to school and their uniform is not ironed, and the teachers complain.”

The locals now blame Pakistan for false claims of granting autonomy to the occupied territory. The elected representatives of GB have no say in policymaking, and people are denied even basic fundamental rights and crucial necessities.

Bibi Gul, another resident of the local area, when asked about the severity of the situation and the government’s response to it, responded by saying, “I think that the government is not working in the right manner. We have seen numerous governments come to power but none of them have been able to solve our problems. Every government has a statement, that there is less water, which is why electricity cannot be generated but that is not the case.”

“We have water and rivers in GB, but no government can properly cater to the issue. Even the current government of GB is not taking care of us. The VIPs and the government workers are getting special privileges via special lines, but ultimately the common man suffers,” she added. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Revolt Erupts as Pakistan Citizens Bear Brunt of Inflation

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Trump Slams New York Court Ruling, Calls It ‘Total Sham’

Trump said the justice system in New York State and US as a whole is under assault by “partisan, deluded, biased Judges and Prosecutors…reports Asian Lite News

Former US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) blasted a ruling by a judge in New York, ordering him and his companies to pay nearly USD 355 in the civil fraud case. He called the decision a “complete and total sham.”

In a series of posts on his Truth Social platform after the court’s decision, Trump said the justice system in New York State and US as a whole is under assault by “partisan, deluded, biased Judges and Prosecutors.”

“The Justice System in New York State, and America as a whole, is under assault by partisan, deluded, biased Judges and Prosecutors. Racist, Corrupt A.G. Tish James has been obsessed with “Getting Trump” for years, and used Crooked New York State Judge Engoron to get an illegal, unAmerican judgment against me, my family, and my tremendous business. I helped New York City during its worst of times, and now, while it is overrun with Violent Biden Migrant Crime, the Radicals are doing all they can to kick me out,” Trump posted on Truth Social platform.

Calling the decision a “complete and total sham,” Trump said there were no victims and there were no damages caused. His remarks came after a New York judge on Friday ordered former US President Donald Trump and the Trump Organization to pay a fine of nearly USD 355 million in a civil fraud case.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Page 2: This “decision” is a Complete and Total SHAM. There were No Victims, No Damages, No Complaints. Only satisfied Banks and Insurance Companies (which made a ton of money), GREAT Financial Statements, that didn’t even include the most valuable Asset – The TRUMP Brand, IRONCLAD Disclaimers (Buyer Beware, and Do your Own Due Diligence), and amazing Properties all over the World. All the other side had was a ridiculous USD 18 million valuation of magnificent Mar-a-Lago, an unconstitutional Gag Order, a Consumer Fraud Statute never before used for this purpose, No Jury allowed, and a refusal to send this disgusting charade to the Commercial Division, where it would have been put to a deserving end.”

He also accused Judge Arthur Engoron of targeting him in the case. He called the decision in the New York case a “witch hunt” and said that he was fined USD 355 million based on nothing other than having built a “great company.”

“Page 3: This “case” is OVER ever since the Appellate Division ended it on Statute of Limitations, also letting my daughter Ivanka out of this Witch Hunt. The Democrat Club-controlled Judge Engoron has already been reversed four times on this case, a shameful record, and he will be reversed again. We cannot let injustice stand, and will fight Crooked Joe Biden’s weaponized persecution at every step. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

In another post, Trump stated, “A Crooked New York State Judge, working with a totally Corrupt Attorney General who ran on the basis of “I will get Trump,” before knowing anything about me or my company, has just fined me USD 355 Million based on nothing other than having built a GREAT COMPANY. ELECTION INTERFERENCE. WITCH HUNT (more to follow!).”

Trump also delivered remarks from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Friday. He stressed that the case was part of a broader effort aimed to damage him politically as he seeks another term in the White House, The Hill reported.

“If I weren’t running none of this stuff would have ever happened. None of these lawsuits would have ever happened. I would have had a nice life,” Trump said.

The former US President’s attacks extended beyond Engoron and James at times, which led to Engoron issuing a gag order that prevented Trump and his attorneys from making remarks about court staff, according to The Hill report.

According to the 90-page judgement, Trump has been barred from acting as a company director in New York state for three years. His sons, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump, have also asked to pay a fine of USD 4 million each.

They have been barred from serving as directors for two years. Donald Trump and his two adult sons had already been found liable for massively increasing the value of their properties by hundreds of millions of dollars in a trial that ended in January. However, Trump and his sons have denied any wrongdoing.

Former Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg was ordered to pay USD 1 million. Weisselberg was also blocked from New York business for three years, according to the order. Furthermore, Weisselberg and former controller Jeffrey McConney were banned for life from serving “in the financial control function” of any New York corporation or business entity.

In a statement to The Hill, Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba termed the ruling a “manifest injustice” and the culmination of a “multi-year, politically fueled witch hunt that was designed to ‘take down Donald Trump.'”

The trial of the case lasted for more than two months, with testimony — sometimes tempestuous from 40 witnesses, including the former US President himself, top Trump Organization executives and Trump’s adult children. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Trump Launches Sneaker Line Amid Legal Woes

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Champai Soren Greenlights Caste-Based Survey in Jharkhand

The survey is slated to commence post-Lok Sabha elections…reports Asia Lite News

Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren has approved a caste-based survey akin to Bihar’s recent endeavor, as confirmed by a senior official on Sunday. Soren has instructed the personnel department to draft a proposal for cabinet consideration.

The survey is slated to commence post-Lok Sabha elections, with Soren expressing readiness, stating, “Jiski Jitni Sankhya Bhari, Uski Utni Hissedari (bigger the population, bigger the share).” Vinay Kumar Choubey, principal secretary to the CM, disclosed plans for the personnel department to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) mirroring Bihar’s approach.

Choubey highlighted the selection of the personnel department for the survey’s execution, emphasizing its alignment with Bihar’s methodology, which commenced data collection on January 7, 2023, and culminated in the release on October 2 last year.

The move responds to persistent demands from ruling JMM-Congress-RJD legislators for a caste-based survey. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi echoed support for the initiative during his recent visit to Jharkhand.

In response, Jharkhand Governor C P Radhakrishnan urged a focus on the state’s development, emphasizing the need to prioritize the welfare of the underprivileged over demographic discussions.

Meanwhile, amid the rift between Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress over the new cabinet, Chief Minister Champai Soren, along with state Congress President Rajesh Thakur, met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday.

Notably, around 10 Congress MLAs, who are said to be upset over not being part of the cabinet are in the national capital to discuss their concerns with Mallikarjun Kharge.

“After forming the government, I came to Delhi for the first time and it was a courtesy meeting,” said CM Champai Soren.

Ahead of the meeting with Kharge, when asked about upset Congress MLAs, he said, “This is an internal matter of the Congress party, they will solve it on their own. I have nothing to say about that. There is no conflict between JMM and Congress, everything is absolutely fine.”

As eight ministers took oath in the new Champai Soren cabinet in Jharkhand on Saturday, some Congress MLAs expressed discontent with the expansion that allegedly excluded new faces, which was their demand.

Congress MLA Dipika Pandey Singh claimed that they presented their thoughts before the cabinet took the oath. “We demanded that if the new government was being formed and the cabinet was being reshuffled, then new faces should have been given a chance,” Singh said while speaking to ANI.

Congress MLA Anup Singh said that the MLAs have intimated the Pradesh Congress Committee president about their concern and their demand remains the same.

“We are 12 people in total. We have shared our concern with our PCC president through a letter. Our demand is the same as before,” Anup Singh said.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren allotted portfolios to ministers, by keeping departments like home and personnel for himself.

Earlier on February 2, Champai Soren was sworn in as chief minister of the state and on February 5, the coalition government won the floor test with a 47:29 majority.

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PInarayi Seeks Research Standards Assessment

Chief Minister underscored the urgency of comprehensive reforms to adapt to evolving dynamics….reports Asian Lite News

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stressed the imperative of critically evaluating the state’s research standards, advocating for a shift towards global benchmarks. Addressing an event, he underscored his administration’s substantial investments in research, reframing them as strategic assets for the future rather than mere expenses.

Highlighting Kerala’s top ranking in student scholarship expenditure, Vijayan urged introspection into the state’s inability to achieve world-class research standards, emphasizing the necessity of fostering internal excellence and inviting constructive suggestions to address this shortfall.

In the realm of higher education, the Chief Minister underscored the urgency of comprehensive reforms to adapt to evolving dynamics. He discussed plans to introduce a four-year degree course aimed at enhancing efficiency and student-centricity in arts and science colleges.

Vijayan emphasized the global shift towards multidisciplinary approaches in higher education, affirming his government’s commitment to preparing youth for forthcoming challenges. He envisioned Kerala as a distinguished hub for higher education both nationally and internationally.

Listing various programmes implemented by the Left government in the higher education sector, the Chief Minister said their objective was not superficial changes but thorough reforms in tune with changing time, news agency PTI reported.

With the introduction of the four-year-long degree course in the state from next academic year, the present education system at the arts and science colleges would become more efficient and student-centric, he said.

Pointing out that a multi-disciplinary approach is the focus in the higher education sector worldwide, Vijayan said his government is making effective interventions in the area with an aim to prepare the young generation for future challenges.

The event, presided over by Higher Education Minister R Bindhu, served as a platform for the Chief Minister to reaffirm the government’s dedication to catalyzing transformative changes in the education sector.

ALSO READ: India-UK Trade Talks Reviewed at Top Level

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Reports claim Manish Tewari giving thought to BJP switch

New Delhi: Congress MP Manish Tewari speaks in Lok Sabha on the first day of Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Wednesday, December 07, 2022. (Photo: Lok Sabha/IANS)

Saluja, on Saturday, posted an image of Kamal Nath with son Nakul, and captioned it ‘Jai Shree Ram’…reports Asian Lite News

Amid speculations of some big Congress leaders giving thought to switching sides as the Opposition alliance stares at a collapse, media reports claimed that Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP from Punjab’s Anandpur Sahib, Manish Tewari, is in touch with the BJP and can jump ship.

However, there was no official word or communication in this regard.

A source close to Manish Tiwari said the speculations linking the Congress old-timer to the BJP were all ‘rubbish’ as he was busy working for the people of his constituency.

“He is working for the people of his constituency and the speculations of him joining the BJP are false and unfounded. They are all rubbish and shouldn’t even be diginified with a response or clarification,” the Congress source said.

However, if the rumours hold and Tewari severs all ties with the Congress to don saffron stripes, it would come as a body blow to the grand old party at a time when another old-timer and former Union minister Kamal Nath is also speculated to be entertaining thoughts of a switchover.

The arrival of Kamal Nath and his MP son Nakul Nath at Delhi airport on Saturday, leaving their ongoing tour of Chhindwara, the preferred Lok Sabha constituency of the Congress stalwart, midway, triggered speculations of him joining the BJP.

Earlier, a post by former Congress leader and current BJP state spokesperson, Narendra Saluja, on X ahead of Kamal Nath’s arrival in Delhi gave grist to rumour mills.

Saluja, on Saturday, posted an image of Kamal Nath with son Nakul, and captioned it ‘Jai Shree Ram’.

Further, multiple media reports claimed that the Chhindwara MP, Nakul Nath, removed the word ‘Congress’ from his bio on all social media handles. However, there was no official confirmation of him doing as he was rumoured to have done.

It was claimed, in fact, that he never mentioned Congress in his bio on social media handles.

The speculations of further switchovers could hurt the Congress at a time when a clutch of old-timers and seasoned leaders, including former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan, Milind Deora and Baba Siddique, have left the party over the last month, in a major setback ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. (ANI)

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‘Kamal Won’t Leave Congress’

Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh underscored Kamal Nath’s longstanding commitment to the Congress, tracing his political trajectory from its ranks, and dismissed rumours of his departure…reports Asian Lite News

Amid speculation surrounding senior Congress figure Kamal Nath’s potential shift to the BJP, his party peer Digvijaya Singh emphasised on Sunday that Nath’s political roots are firmly entrenched in the grand old party, indicating he’s unlikely to defect.

Singh underscored Nath’s longstanding commitment to the Congress, tracing his political trajectory from its ranks, and dismissed rumours of his departure.

Referring to Nath as a stalwart within the party, Singh highlighted his extensive roles within the Congress hierarchy, including chief minister, union minister, AICC general secretary, and MP Congress chief. Singh also lauded Nath’s resilience, suggesting he wouldn’t succumb to pressure from investigative agencies like the ED, I-T, or CBI.

“I spoke to Kamal Nath on Friday, he was in Chhindwara. A person who started his political journey and stood with the Nehru-Gandhi family when Indira Gandhi was sent to jail, do you think he will ever leave Congress and the Gandhi family?”

He concluded by affirming that Nath’s continued allegiance to the Congress serves as the strongest rebuttal to any conjecture about his potential defection to the BJP.

‘I will inform media first’

Kamal Nath on Saturday told the media that if he were to take a decision in this regard, he will inform the media first.

“Why are you all getting excited? It is not about denying. I will inform you all if there is something like that,” Kamal Nath said.

Congres MP Nakul Nath removed ‘INC’ from his social media bio, giving further momentum to the rumours that he is going to join the BJP.

Furthermore, Nakul Nath, the lone Congress MP from Madhya Pradesh, who was supposed to continue his meeting with party workers in his family bastion Chhindwara from February 14 to 18, stopped the meeting and left for Delhi along with his father.

All these sequences gave rise to the speculation that Kamal Nath, considered close to the Nehru-Gandhi family, is likely to end his decades long association with the grand old party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

On February 10, IANS had reported that a rift between Kamal Nath and former AICC president Rahul Gandhi erupted following the party’s loss in the assembly election in November last year.

Sources had then also claimed that a deal between Kamal Nath and the BJP that was “derailed” due to some reasons, was “brought back” on track again with several top leaders from the BJP having supported the same.

However, seasoned politician with over 40 years of experience, Kamal Nath left the political watchers guessing.. Though all is not going well between Rahul and Kamal Nath, the latter was regularly visiting to meet Sonia Gandhi. Kamal Nath’s frequent visits to meet Sonia were also being viewed as the leader racing for the Rajya Sabha seat from Madhya Pradesh.

Recently when Kamal Nath invited Congress MLAs for a dinner at his residence in Bhopal, it was seen as his power show to obtain the Rajya Sabha seat. However, two days later, the party nominated MP Congress treasurer Ashok Singh for the Upper House of the Parliament. That probably had disappointed Kamal Nath, who wants to retain his bastion Chhindwara.

Sources in the Madhya Pradesh Congress still believe that Nakul Nath may join the BJP but not Kamal Nath, citing latter’s decades long association with the Congress and his personal bonding with the Nehru-Gandhi family.

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Modi’s Second Republic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is so confident of winning the election in his closing speech to the Lok Sabha he proudly announced the number of seats he would get, writes Mihir Bose

I have just arrived in Kolkata and am sitting in the breakfast room of the Grand. I open my copy of the Times of India and turn to the City pages to find out what is going in Kolkata, the city of my birth. I expect to find some interesting stories. Instead blazoned on the top of the page is an advertisement extolling the Narendra Modi government. The heading in bright red reads “Modi Sarkar ki Guarantee. Electrification of every household. 2 crore 86 lakh houses get electricity connections under Saubhagya Yojana.”  The advertisement is framed by two pictures. At one end is a picture of Modi, his hair and beard white, smiling happily, the other end shows a picture of a wife, husband, and child also smiling happily as they gaze at a light hanging from the ceiling.

The following day I open Times City and find an advertisement on the top of the page with an identical headline, “Modi Sarkar ki Guarantee”. But this time it is addressed to famers. It says “PM Fasal Bima Yojana becomes safety net for farmers. Claims worth Rs 1 lakh 50 thousand crores has been paid to 16 crore farmers.” This time the advertisement balances a picture of Modi with that of a turbaned farmer tending to his crops in his field and smiling broadly. In the days that followed every edition of the Times City had such Modi government advertisements.

The Times of India was not the only paper the government uses. The Statesman,which once used to be Kolkata’s leading English language paper, had on its front page an advertisement with an identical headline but this time the Modi Sarkar was guaranteeing an “Unprecedented boost to entrepreneurship. More than 45 crore collateral- free loans of Rs 26 lakh core given under MUDRA Yojana”. This time Modi was shown wearing a striped blue waist coat and the picture at the other end was of two women pausing from their work to smile at the camera .

Of course, government advertisements of this sort are not a new thing in India. Both central and state governments have for years used them to promote their achievements. Indeed, on the very same day that the Times carried its Modi government advertisement the Hindu had an advertisement from the West Bengal government which showed the happy faces of a young boy and a young girl under the headline, “Heartfelt best wishes to all the High Madrasah, Alim and Fazil Examinees.” At the bottom of this advertisement was a smiling picture of Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister. There could be no greater opponent of Modi than Mamata and the advertisement was clearly courting her Muslim constituency, bedrock of her support. However, the Modi government has been going further and there have been occasions where events publicising Modi Sarkar Ki Guarantee have essentially become BJP election campaigns to win votes.

Modi is so confident of winning that in his closing speech to the Lok Sabha he proudly announced the number of seats he would get. Such a victory would mean that Modi would have achieved something no Indian Prime Minister has managed since India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, win three successive elections. More significantly it will also mean that the Republic that Nehru proclaimed on 26th January 1950 would have taken a very decisive turn. Indeed, Modi’s supporters are already calling it the coming dawn of the second Indian republic.

Modi has already sketched out what the contours of this second republic will be. He did so when in the days leading up to the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya he went on an eleven day anushsthan, during which he fasted and also visited temples in the south including the Veerbhadra Temple in Lepakshi, Andra Pradesh, the Thriprayar Sree Ramaswami Temple in Kerala, the Srirangam’s Sri Ranganatha Temple and the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram. Modi’s intentions were clear. He was trying to demonstrate how Hinduism unites north and south all the more important to him as in the south his political will does not run and there are many parties there who would not accept the narrative the BJP want to impose.

And this is where Modi is so cleverly using history. In Nehru’s India that I grew up there was one very important date in the calendar. That came on 26 January to mark the day India became a republic. August 15 was celebrated as Independence Day but Republic Day is when the nation came alive with streets and buildings decorated by lights and flags and marked by a sense of national joy that August 15th did not quite convey. The horrors of partition overlay 15th August. Also, that day India was still a dominion and accepted the British monarch as head of state. 26 January was the day when India was finally, completely, free of British control. Now Modi has extended that day to a whole week, and this marks the first step to India becoming a Hindu state. It is interesting to see how this has developed.

It started with Modi christening January 23, the birthdate of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as Parakram Diwas. During the early years of Indian independence Bose, who left India during the second world war to seek foreign help to free India, raising an army with the help of the Japanese, was the other, the man who had rebelled against Gandhi and his ideas of non-violent struggle to liberate India. By making Bose’s birthday Parakram Day Modi the BJP wanted to emphasise that Bose was very much part of the story of how India won freedom, indeed more important than Nehru. He was no longer an outsider. But with the Ram temple consecrated on January 22 now the new Modi week to mark this second Republic begins even earlier and brings in religion to a government celebration for the first time.

Modi himself put it very well when, during the speech he made to mark Bose’s birthday, he said, “Over the last few years, since January 23 was declared as Parakram Divas, the significant festival of Republic Day now begins from January 23 and continues until January 30, the death anniversary of Bapu. Now, the grand spiritual festival of January 22(consecration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya) has also been added to this celebration of Republic Day. These last few days of January are becoming highly inspiring for our spiritual and cultural consciousness, as well as our democracy and patriotism”.

His words could not more clearly lay out how Modi’s India is different to Nehru’s India. India since it won independence has always been very proud that it was a secular country. Britain is secular, but the monarch is the head of the church, King Charles pledged at his coronation to defend the Anglican faith and every state function is associated with the Anglican church. In India religion has played no part in the state. Until now.

This is best illustrated when we look back at what happened to the Somnath Temple, destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni. For many Hindus the destruction of the temple is the Hindu equivalent of the destruction of the second temple of the Jews. Not surprisingly, soon after independence, there was a move to rebuild Somnath, led by K M Munshi, then a member of Nehru’s cabinet. In a letter to Nehru, Munshi wrote, “I can assure you that the “collective sub-conscious” of India today is happier with the scheme of reconstruction of Somnath sponsored by the Government of India than with many other things that we have done and are doing.” Munshi was not being absolutely truthful. In fact, the restoration was funded by private donations. However, Munshi did have the backing of many in the government.

India’s first President, Rajendra Prasad, agreed to inaugurate the rebuilt temple. But Prasad was going against the advice of Nehru, who thought this went against the idea of secularism. Nehru, as Sarvepalli Gopal, Nehru’s official biographer, put it, “while unwilling to veto Prasad’s acceptance, sought to make it clear his government had no part in the decision”. Gopal saw Prasad’s association with the inauguration as evidence that India’s first President “was still prominent in the ranks of medievalism”.

In Modi’s India this would have been something to celebrate not condemn. The government would have funded the rebuilding of Somnath Temple and Modi performed its inauguration. The Ram Janmabhoomi movement has transformed Indian politics since the 1980s and all the signs are there will be more attempts to reclaim places where Hindus claim temples were destroyed and mosques built. The next flashpoint has already been identified. This is the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi with Alok Kumar, international working president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, saying that mosque should be shifted to another appropriate place and the site, which the Hindus see as the original site of the Kashi Vishvanatha, handed over to the Hindu community. The Supreme Court is already involved in this issue and the case could drag on for years. This could eventually be another Modi Sarkar ki Guarantee.

Another election victory will spell out India’s Second Republic in even larger letters.

Mihir Bose’s memoir ‘Thank you Mr Crombie Lessons in Guilt and Gratitude to the British’ will be published in May by Hurst.

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