Chennai, Jan 30,2021: Floral tributes were paid to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of his death anniversary in Tamil Nadu today.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Ministers and other dignitaries garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the Marina Beach front and paid floral tributes to a decorated portrait of the late leader.
An all religious prayer was also held to mark the occasion.
Later, the Governor paid floral tributes to a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Bhavan and also administered the untouchability pledge to the officers and staff members of Raj Bhavan.
Elsewhere in the State leaders of various parties paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi to mark the occasion.
New Delhi, Jan.30: Asserting that this decade is very important for the bright future of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday indicated that the coming Union Budget will be seen as part of last year’s mini budgets which were announced in the form of packages.
Speaking to media at Parliament House, Mr Modi said that in 2020, for the first time in the country’s history, the Finance Minister had to present 4-5 mini budgets as packages. “This year’s budget will also be seen as part of the series of mini budgets,’ he indicated. The Finance Minister Ms Nirmala Sitharaman will present Union Budget in the Lok Sabha on February 1.
`This decade should be fully utilised. Keeping this in mind, there should be discussions in this session focussing on the decade and this is expected by the nation. I believe that we will not lage behind in making our contribution for the fulfulment of people’s aspirations,’ Mr Modi said.
The Prime Minister said the budget session is the first session of the new decade. “A golden opportunity has come before the nation to fulfil the dreams of freedom fighters,’ he said.
New Delhi, Jan 30: The Indian economy will rebound by 11 per cent in fiscal 2021-22 following a V-shaped recovery after a 7.7 per cent contraction in the current fiscal, said the Economic Survey 2020-21 tabled in Parliament on Friday.
The bounce back has been aided by continued normalisation of economic activities, COVID-19 vaccination and a host of policy measures taken by the government, the Survey presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.
The survey said the rebound will be led by the low base and continued normalisation in economic activities as the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines gathers traction.
It said the fundamentals of the economy remain strong as gradual scaling back of lockdowns along with the astute support of Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission have placed the economy firmly on the path of revival.
This path would entail a growth in real GDP by 2.4 per cent over the absolute level of 2019-20 implying that the economy would take two years to reach and go past the pre-pandemic level.
These projections are in line with IMF estimate of real GDP growth of 11.5 per cent in 2021-22 for India and 6.8 per cent in 2022-23.
India is expected to emerge as the fastest growing economy in the next two years as per the IMF.
India’s real GDP to record a growth of 11 per cent in 2021-22 and nominal GDP by 15.4 per cent-the highest since independence.
The V-shaped economic recovery is supported by the initiation of a mega vaccination drive with hopes of a robust recovery in the services sector and prospects for robust growth in consumption and investment.
The Survey says, India’s GDP is estimated to contract by 7.7 per cent in FY2020-21, composed of a sharp 15.7 per cent decline in first half and a modest 0.1 per cent fall in the second half.
Sector-wise, agriculture has remained the silver lining while contact-based services, manufacturing, construction were hit hardest, and have been recovering steadily.
Government consumption and net exports have cushioned the growth from diving further down.
Last month. the RBI had said it expected the country’s GDP to contract 7.5 per cent in the year ending 31 March, 2021.
The Survey predicted a “V-shaped” recovery for the economy, spurred by the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
“Given the level of development India is in, India must continue to focus on growth so that it expands the pie which enables redistributive policies to lift people out of poverty,” Chief Economic Advisee Krishnamurthy Subramanian said later at a news conference.
The survey also cautioned that it would take at least two years to revert to pre-pandemic gross domestic levels.
Indian economy contracted by a massive 23.9 per cent year-on-year in the April-June quarter. This was the first GDP contraction in more than 40 years. For the July-September quarter, India’s GDP contracted 7.5 per cent year-on-year, as per estimates released by the National Statistical Office.
With the economy returning to normalcy, hopes of a robust recovery in services sector, consumption, and investment have been rekindled, said the survey.
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) , January 29,2021: The Kerala State Planning Board (KSPB) is organizing an extensive international conference on the virtual mode with the theme ‘Kerala Looks Ahead’ from February 1 to 3 to propose programs to be implemented in nine key areas.
“World-renowned experts will speak at the event. Due to the COVID pandemic, the conference is to be organized entirely online,” KSPB said in a release.
In addition to key economic sectors such as higher education, modern industrial potential, skills development, agriculture, fisheries, animal husbandry, tourism, information technology, and e-governance, which will ensure international participation, specific issues such as local government, federalism, and development financing will be discussed, it added.
The state government said that it hopes that this conference will help in understanding the latest developments and interventions at the international level and within India and thereby formulate development strategies tailored to the specifics of Kerala.
“If jobs lost due to COVID are to be regained, jobs in the field of modern science and technology, the promotion of innovative employment opportunities and the development of infrastructure must go hand in hand,” KSPB said.
Renowned economist and Nobel laureate, Professor Amartya Sen; Nobel laureate in Economics, Joseph Stiglitz; industry leaders Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra, MA Yusuf Ali, Kiran Mazumdar Shah, Dr Ravi Pillai, Chris Gopalakrishnan, Dr Azad Mooppen, Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization (WHO) Soumya Swaminathan and others will address the conference.
No special registration is required to participate. All sessions can be viewed live on the conference website www.keralalooksahead.com.
Jaipur (Rajasthan) , January 29,2021: The Rajasthan government has reduced the value-added tax (VAT) by 2 per cent both on petrol and diesel, announced Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday.
Gehlot also urged the Central government for a reduction in VAT.
“The State govt has reduced VAT by 2% both on petrol & diesel to provide relief to people in #Rajasthan. We expect the central govt would announce a reduction too so that financial burden on common people is reduced,” Gehlot tweeted.
For the last three days, petrol is being sold at Rs 93.94 Per Litre and diesel at Rs 86.02 Per Litre in Jaipur.
A value-added tax (VAT) is a type of indirect tax levied on a product whenever value is added at each stage of the supply chain, from production to the point of sale
Rates differ from state to state depending on the incidence of value-added tax (VAT).
New Delhi, Jan 28,2021: Indicating stern actions against the rioters and accused farmer’s leaders, the Delhi police on Thursday issued a ‘Look Out Notice’ against them, an official in the security set up said.
On Wednesday, the Delhi Police issued notices to 20 farmer leaders asking them to respond in 48 hours as to why a legal proceeding not be initiated against them.
According to the official, these accused have been stopped from going abroad and their passports will also be impounded too.
Delhi Police has so far lodged 25 FIRs in connection with the Republic Day violence case against 37 of the farmers’ leaders including Yogendra Yadav, Darshan Pal, Gurnam Chudhni, Medha Patkar, Kavita Kumguti, VM Singh,Rakesh Tikait and others with the grievous charges of attempt to murder, use of lethal weapons, incitement of violence, rioting and vandalism.
The City Police Chief SN Shrivastava on Wednesday said that no one will be spared for the crime they have committed. All those, who have already been named in the FIRs will called as accused to join the investigation in the due course,” he added.
Meanwhile, a sources in the Police said so far over 300 people have been detained in connection with various cases of rioting and attacking police personnel after verification from the CCTV footage and other means.
An official in the police said the case against the violence at Red Fort will be going to be investigated by the Crime Branch and the FIRs have been registered under dacoity (section 395), 397 (robbery, or dacoity, with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 120 b (punishment of criminal conspiracy), and other sections of the IPC.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also taken a strong view on the Republic Day violence and has asked the Police officials to identify all those who were behind the violence.
Jan 28,2021:Farmers on Wednesday called off a march to parliament on February 1, the day of the government’s budget announcement, following violent clashes with police a day earlier that left one person dead and hundreds injured.
Tens of thousands of farmers have been camped on the outskirts of New Delhi for two months to demand the withdrawal of three farm laws passed last year, which they say benefit big private buyers at the expense of growers.
On Tuesday, a protest parade of tractors around the fringes of the capital to coincide with Republic Day celebrations turned into chaos when some farmers diverged from agreed routes and broke through barricades.
Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the group of farm unions organising the protests, condemned the violence which saw protesters – some carrying ceremonial swords – storm into the historic Red Fort complex as police used tear gas and batons to constrain them.
It said on Wednesday the unions would hold rallies and a hunger strike on Saturday but there would be no planned events on Monday, when Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is due to present the annual budget.
New Delhi , January 28,2021: Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Wednesday blamed the Central government, actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhu and the Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Committee (KMSC) for the violence during the farmers’ ‘tractor march’ in Delhi on January 26 against the agriculture laws.
“Along with some individuals and organizations, like Deep Sidhu and Kisan Majdoor Sangarsh Committee led by Satnam Singh Pannu, the government made this movement violent. We clarify that we dissociate ourselves from violent actions which took place at Red Fort and other parts of Delhi,” the SKM, the union of over 40 farmer unions. said in a statement.
The names of Sidhu and gangster Lakka Sadana have been included in an FIR registered by Delhi Police in connection with the violence at Red Fort in Delhi on Tuesday.
During the farmers’ tractor rally on Tuesday, videos went viral on social media showing Sidhu handing over a flag to a man to hoist on the ramparts of the Red Fort.
After the Red Fort incident of rampage and flag hoisting, Sidhu posted a video on his Facebook page claiming that, “We have only hoisted the Nishan Sahib at the Red Fort while exercising our democratic right to protest.”
SKM had earlier called the violence a conspiracy by the anti-farmer forces which tried to ‘delegitimise the movement’.
“When the farmer organisations declared a programme of Kisan Parade on 26 January, anti-social elements like Deep Sidhu and others, along with the said farmer organisation attempted to torpedo the agitation,” the union said on Wednesday.
Farmer unions including SKM and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) distanced themselves from the violent incidents that shook Delhi on the occasion of Republic Day.
New Delhi , January 27,2021: Around 300 artistes including children who were part of the Republic Day parade were rescued after they got stranded at the Red Fort on Tuesday after a section of anti-farm law protestors turned violent and some protestors broke barriers and entered the Mughal era monument.
DCP (North) Anto Alphonse said: “There were around 300 artistes including children at the Red Fort. As the situation developed, we provided them with food and shifted them to a safe place, Daryaganj Mess,” said DCP (North) Anto Alphonse.
The tractor rally by farmers saw violence at several places in Delhi as protestors clashed with Police and broke barricades. Protesters breached the Red Fort premises and waved flags they were carrying from its ramparts.
Violence erupted near the ITO area of the national capital as tractors driven by protestors tried to scare and even run over police personnel deployed in the area.
Delhi Police said that a total of 83 police personnel were injured in the clashes.
Metro services were halted at multiple stations and traffic on roads were also diverted
Union Home Minister Amit Shah met senior officials from the Home Ministry to take stock of the law and order situation in the national capital, following the violence.
Internet services were suspended in the capital at Delhi’s border points – Singhu, Ghazipur, Tikri, Mukarba Chowk, Nangloi and areas adjoining these protest hubs due to intensifying clashes.
Farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws – Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
New Delhi , January 27,2021: Farmers reneged on their commitment made during talks between Sanyukt Kisan Morcha and Delhi Police that they would carry out a peaceful protest on the agreed routes, adding that 86 police personnel were injured in violence across the city.
“The struggle between the police and farmers continued throughout the day until late evening. Most of the incidents were reported from Mukarba Chowk, Ghazipur, A-Point ITO, Seemapuri, Nangloi T-Point, Tikri border and Red Fort. 86 policemen so far have reported injured and several public and private properties have been damaged in this act of vandalism by the rioting mob,” Delhi Police said in a release.
Delhi Police further said, “Sanyukt Kisan Morcha comprising various Kisan organisations proposed a Kisan tractor rally on the occasion of Republic Day on January 26, 2021. The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha had conducted several rounds of meetings with the Delhi Police in connection with their proposed tractor rally. They had given an undertaking to the Delhi Police to take out a peaceful rally as per the proposed plans on the agreed upon routes.”
“On January 26, 2021 at about 8.30 am, about 6,000-7,000 tractors had assembled at Singhu borders and they were to reach up to Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar and take a right turn. Instead of the agreed upon route, they insisted upon going to Central Delhi and despite persuasion by Delhi Police, the farmers led by Nihangs on their horses fully equipped with deadly weapons like swords, kripans and farsas charged the police and broke several layers of barricades, which were erected between Mukarba Chowk and Transport Nagar,” it added.
Delhi Police further said that similar incidents were reported from Ghazipur and Tikri borders. The farmers at Ghazipur border broke the barricades at several points and headed towards ITO, where they were joined by the farmers who had come from Singhu border. At Tikri border also, the farmers did not agree to the scheduled plan and fought pitched battle with Delhi Police. They not only broke barricades but also attacked police vehicles and police personnel with deadly weapons. Instead of turning towards Najafgarh, they headed towards Peeragarhi and further towards the central part of Delhi.
At ITO, a large group of farmers, who had come from Ghazipur and Singhu borders attempted to move towards New Delhi district. When they were stopped by the policemen, a group of these farmers became violent and broke the barricades, damaged the iron grills and the dividers and even tried to run over the policemen, who were deployed at these barricades. However, with the arrival of reinforcement on the conclusion of the Republic Day parade, the police succeeded in stopping them from entering the New Delhi district, police stated.
Meanwhile, some farmers also indulged in vandalism and attacked policemen. Finally, they changed their plans and moved towards Lal Qila. At Lal Qila, they broke the gates and entered the wells of Red Fort. A section of the crowd also managed to climb atop the rampart of the Red Fort where they hoisted their organisation’s flag. With great efforts, Delhi Police managed to remove the crowd from the rampart and the vicinity, police said.
Delhi Police is keeping a close watch on the situation. It is also registering cases of violation of lawful directions, rioting, damage to public property and assault on public servant with deadly weapons regarding several incidents reported from various locations.
Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) , January 26,2021: Advisor to Andhra Pradesh government on public policy, and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy on Monday said that the government respects the verdict of Supreme Court and the state government will proceed to conduct the gram panchayat elections as per the new schedule announced by the State Election Commission (SEC).
Reddy said that the government has no pretentions regarding the conduct of gram panchayat elections. He reiterated that the government approached the Apex Court keeping public health in mind.
While speaking to media on the matter of Supreme Court’s verdict on the conduct of gram panchayat elections, Reddy said that the State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar did not consider the fears of employees’ unions.
“SEC Kumar did not consider that the employees have to risk their lives for the conduct of elections. We doubt there is a conspiracy behind SEC conducting gram panchayat elections instead of holding the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) and Zilla Praja Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) elections which were postponed,” Reddy told reporters.
“Even now the SEC has no intention to hold consultations with the state government. He wrote a letter to the central government seeking the services of central government employees for the conduct of elections. That is not correct and meaningless,” he added.
Reddy further said that the state government employees expressed their objections to take part in the polling process, adding that the central government employees will also have the same problem.
Reddy further reasoned that the state government’s special leave petition in the apex court was only made keeping public health as a priority.
“If anything happens to the employees, the responsibility will be that of SEC only. We asked to postpone the elections not to gain upper hand over anybody, but for the sake of public health only. It is difficult to conduct elections and COVID vaccination at the same time,” he said.
“We will discuss with the centre on how to proceed with vaccination. There is a conspiracy behind SEC’s persistence for the conduct of polls. We do not have any ego issues with anybody. As a party, YSRCP is not afraid of facing elections. We are confident of winning any elections. We fought for the sake of public health only,” he added.
Reddy further said that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has held discussions with senior leaders of the party and senior officials.
“They discussed the Supreme Court verdict on gram panchayat elections. They reviewed the possibilities of conducting the panchayat polls. They decided to cooperate with the State Election Commissioner for the conduct of gram panchayat elections,” he said.
The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission on Monday rescheduled the dates for the first phase of the gram panchayat elections. The first phase will now take place on February 21.
As per the State Election Commission, this will reshuffle the phases that had been initially planned. The previously scheduled second, third and fourth phases will now be the first, second and third respectively.
The dates for the new fourth phase elections will be as follows – date of issue of notice is February 10, last day for nominations is February 12, scrutiny of nominations will take place on February 13, and the last date for withdrawal of candidatures is February 16.
Counting of votes and declaration of results will also be on February 21.
The (now) first, second and third phases will take place on February 19, February 13 and February 17.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by the Andhra Pradesh government challenging the State Election Commission’s (SEC) order to hold Panchayat polls in the state.
Andhra Pradesh government had challenged the order of the state SEC on the ground of vaccination drive to stop the polls in the state.
A bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul dismissed the petition filed by the Andhra Pradesh government on the issue.
New Delhi , January 26,2021: Security has been tightened in the national capital with police barricades mounted at various important places in the city including ITO, Yamuna Bridge and other locations.
This has been done in view of the proposed tractor rally called by the farmer unions on Republic Day against the recently enacted central farm laws.
Earlier on January 24, Special Commissioner of Police (CP), Intelligence in Delhi Police, Dependra Pathak had said that three routes have been determined for the farmer leaders’ tractor rally from three border points of Delhi.
“The tractor rally will enter Delhi from Tikri, Singhu, and Ghazipur borders and return to its originating points. From Singhu, it will pass through Kanjhawala, Bawana, Auchandi border, KMP Expressway and then return to Singhu,” Pathak told reporters at a press conference.
He further said, “From Tikri border, it will go to Nangloi and pass through Najafgarh and Western Peripheral Expressway. From Ghazipur border, the rally will go to 56-foot road and return to its originating point passing through Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal Expressway.”
Delhi Police has also beefed-up security at all the power sub-stations and grids across the national capital in view of threat received by a power distribution company about the disruption of power supply in the national capital.
The police have also issued an alert to power distribution companies in view of the threat posed by banned outfit Sikhs for Justice.
Farmer leaders have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws – Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; the Farmers Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and farm Services Act 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.
New Delhi, Jan 25,2021: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and musical maestro SP Balasubramaniam are among the eminent personalities awarded with Padma Vibhushan this year, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced on the eve of 72nd Republic Day.
The Padma, the fourth highest civilian award in India, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
These awards–given for excellence in disciplines such as art, social work, public affairs, sports, etc–are usually given by the President at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan every year.
While Dr Belle Monappa Hegde of Tamil Nadu has been given for his work in the field of Medicine, late Narinder Singh Kapany of USA for Science and Engineering, Mr Sudarshan Sahoo of Odisha for Art,Maulana Wahiuddin Khan and Mr BB Lal for spiritualism and Archaeology respectively.
A total of 10 people have been given the third highest award Padma Bhushan which includes the names of Ms Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra of Kerala for Art, late Tarun Gogoi of Assam for Public Affairs , Mr Chandrashekhar Kambara of Karnataka for Literature and Education, Ms Sumitra Mahajan of Madhya Pradesh for Public Affairs, Mr Nripendra Misra of Uttar Pradesh for Civil Services, late Ram Vilas Paswan of Bihar and late Keshubhai Patel of Gujarat for Public Affairs, late Kalbe Sadiq of Uttar Pradesh for spiritualism Mr Rajnikant Devidas Shroff of Maharashtra for Trade and Industry and Mr Tarlochan Singh of Haryana for Public Services.
Ms Krishnan Nair and Shantakumari Chithra often credited as singer K. S. Chithra of Kerala for Art, have been considered as a duo case in which the Award is counted as one.
The Centre has also conferred 102 Padma Shri awards to the persons of eminence in the various fields including art, literature, public services.
The Padma Awards – one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
The Awards are given in various disciplines, fields of activities such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, while ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field.
The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year and these have been conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions, held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March or April every year.
Among the 102 Padma Shri Awards, 29 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons from the category of foreigners, Non Resident Indian, Person of Indian Origin, Overseas Citizen of India , 16 Posthumous awardees and 1 transgender awardee.