Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen on Thursday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi who reaffirmed India’s commitment to work with the neighbouring country in building on the momentum in ties during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s fresh term in the office.
Abdul Momen’s India trip is the first high-level visit from Bangladesh since Prime Minister Hasina’s landslide victory in the parliamentary election last December. During the meeting, Abdul Momen briefed Modi on the recent developments in the bilateral relationship, a statement said.
Prime Minister Modi said that the India-Bangladesh relations have been on an upward trajectory in the last few years. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to work with Bangladesh to build on this momentum during the new term in office of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Modi congratulated Abdul Momen on his appointment as the foreign minister, and appreciated his gesture of selecting India as the destination for his first foreign visit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the state on February 9 to address a rally there and inaugurate several projects, including a railway line and a new block at Tripura Institute of Technology campus, sources in the Chief Minister’s office said on Thursday.
The new railway line, spanning 23km, will connect Garji to Belonia in South Tripura district.
The PM is also scheduled to unveil a statue of Tripura’s erstwhile ruler Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya here, the sources said.
A high-level team, comprising Inspector General Rajeev Singh, West Tripura Superintendent of Police (SP) Ajit Pratap Singh and SP (security) Sankar Debanth, visited the airport and the rally venue here Wednesday to check the security arrangements, they said.
“A team of Special Protection Group has arrived in Agartala on Tuesday for the PM’s programme. Apart from that, Tripura State Rifles personnel and police officers will be deployed in large numbers across Agartala to ensure Modi’s security,” Debnath stated.
BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said that the Prime Minister is set to arrive in Tripura around 3 pm.
After unveiling the statue of the Maharaja, the last ruler of the state, Modi would proceed to Swami Vivekananda Maidan for addressing the public meeting, he added.
Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the Uttar Pradesh government Thursday earmarked Rs 3,194 crore for the construction of expressways and Rs 13,135 crore for laying of roads in the state.
Presenting the budget speech in the state assembly, Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal said the Uttar Pradesh government has also earmarked Rs 3,522 crore for the maintenance of roads and expressways by the Public Works Department (PWD).
“For construction of expressways, a total budgetary provision of Rs 3,194 crore has been made in the budget for 2019-20. Out of the total provisioned amount – Rs 1,194 crore is for Purvanchal Expressway and Rs 1,000 crore each for Bundelkhand Expressway and Gorakhpur Link Expressway,” Agarwal said.
Besides Rs 500 crore is proposed for land acquisition to develop defence corridor along with Bundelkhand expressway and Rs 100 crore allocated for strengthening of the proposed Agra-Lucknow entry-controlled 6-lane expressway (Green Field) project, he said.
A provision of Rs 600 crore for implementation of Infrastructure and Industrial Investment Policy-2012, Rs 482 crore for Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy-2017 and Rs 120 crore has been allocated for Industrial Investment Promotion Scheme-2003.
A provision of Rs 180 crore has been made for Industrial Investment Promotion Scheme-2012.
For public welfare, Rs 13,135 crore is proposed for construction of roads under PWD and Rs 3,522 crore for maintenance of roads.
There is also a provision of Rs 2,100 crore for construction and maintenance of bridges, Rs 850 crore to connect the villages and settlements through concrete link roads under various schemes and Rs 1,174 crore for widening and strengthening of important roads on the interstate and international border.
Moreover, the 2019-20 Uttar Pradesh Budget also stressed on development and beautification of religious places, including those in Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura and Allahabad.
The Yogi Adityanath government in the budget has proposed Rs 207 crore for expansion and beautification of the road from the Ganga bank to the Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, and Rs 101 crore for the integrated development of major tourist places in Ayodhya.
While Rs. 8.38 crore has been proposed to get an auditorium constructed between Mathura and Vridavan, a provision of Rs 5 crore has been made for construction of boundary walls around public Ramleela grounds.
Provision of Rs 1 crore has been made to strengthen the Vrindavan Shodh Sansthan and Rs 125 crore for infrastructure facilities in Uttar Pradesh’s Brij Tirtha.
In the budget, a provision of Rs 70 crore for implementation of Tourism Policy- 2018 and Rs 50 crore for Pro-Poor Tourism has been made.
Besides, a budgetary provision of Rs 16 crore has been made to setup the Vaidik Vigyan Kendra at the Kashi Hindu Vishwavidyalaya in Varanasi, according to budget documents.
It is also proposed to develop Rishi Bhardwaj Ashram and Shringverpur Dham in Allahabad and Rs 27 crore has been proposed for the integrated development of major tourist places in Garh Mukteshwar.
Moreover, the government has proposed in the budget to ensure development of Vindhyachal and Naimisharanya; and Sarnath, Shravasti, Kushinagar, Kapilvastu, Kaushambi and Sankisa under the Buddhist Circuit.
For minority welfare, a provision of Rs 942 crore under the Scholarship Scheme for students belonging to minority communities has been made and Rs 459 crore proposed for modernisation of Arabi-Farsi Madarsas.
There was also an allocation of Rs 300 crore for special schemes of Purvanchal and Rs 200 crore for special schemes of Bundelkhand, under Special Area Programme in the budget.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may draw crowds but will not win votes for the Congress as today’s electorate back parties which deliver and are not swayed by “charisma,” said the Telangana Rashtra Samiti on Thursday.
“Those days have gone when people with super-charisma come and sway the voters because voters today are educated, especially the youth who are making an impact,” spokesperson for the ruling party in Telangana. They (voters) are towards parties which promise and deliver,” Abid Rasool Khan, said.
He further claimed that the “classic case” in this context is the TRS which swept the recent Assembly and Panchayat polls in the state because of good governance and delivery on promises, and there was no charisma. However, her (Priyanka’s) entry or entry in comparison with any film star or celebrity is only to draw the crowd, but they will not transform into votes because voters have decided that they wanted parties which will deliver and keep up promises. On assessment of some analysts that Priayanka’s “charisma” is similar to that of her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. There is a difference.
Priyanka took charge as AICC general secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh East on Wednesday, a fortnight after her formal induction into the Congress party. Khan said, “during Indira Gandhi’s days, charisma was important because most of the voters were illiterate, and it’s not the case now. Thanks to social and other media exposure, people are demanding their rights now, not just charisma. So, I don’t think personally she will make any impact until and unless the Congress party looks at itself that where it went wrong, set right all the problems under her leadership and builds up the party base. Over a period of five years if she works hard, definitely there will be an impact, but not coming just before the elections.”
As for the perception in some quarters that Priyanka may overshadow her brother and Congress President Rahul Gandhi, he said “Anybody who does not perform will be overshadowed. Rahul Gandhi has definitely not performed as a national leader, and he has not been assertive, he is not seen to take decisions”, adding, the Congress would not have won Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh last year if there was a third alternative.
BJP member Nishikant Dubey in Lok Sabha on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into the functioning of chit fund companies and jail for people involved in ponzi schemes. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he added that the people in states like West Bengal have been hit by chit fund companies as they take deposits illegally. After 2011 in West Bengal, the number of companies increased rapidly. These firms are being run by a nexus of journalists, bureaucrats and politicians.
Taking a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he alleged that in such cases, when a bureaucrat was called by the CBI for questioning, people sat on dharna. However, raising the issue of NRC, Gaurav Gogoi (INC) said that the government should speed up the implementation of National Register of Citizens. The passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill would violate the Assam Accord. The bill is unconstitutional.
Arvind Sawant (SS) raised the issue of loss making firms MTNL and BSNL and said that both these companies should be made profitable. However, CPI(M) member M B Rajesh demanded immediate withdrawal of fee hike in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. The fee was hiked from Rs 200 to Rs 600. This is unjustifiable and unacceptable.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced that it has suspended the BAFTA nomination of “Bohemian Rhapsody” director Bryan Singer in the wake of sexual abuse allegations against him.
The 53-year-old filmmaker had received a nomination in the outstanding British film category for the Queen biopic, but the British academy in a statement on Wednesday said that the suspension is “effective immediately”.
“In light of recent very serious allegations, BAFTA has informed Bryan Singer that his nomination for Bohemian Rhapsody has been suspended, effective immediately,” it said.
“BAFTA considers the alleged behaviour completely unacceptable and incompatible with its values. This has led to Mr Singer’s suspended nomination. BAFTA notes Mr Singer’s denial of the allegations. The suspension of his nomination will therefore remain in place until the outcome of the allegations has been resolved,” it added.
The BAFTA, however, clarified that the film is still nominated for outstanding British film and other people associated with it remain nominees. Actor Rami Malek, who played Freddie Mercury in the film, has been nominated in the Best Actor category.
“BAFTA believes everyone has the right to a fulfilling career in a safe, professional working environment, and it will continue to collaborate with the film, games and television industries to achieve this,” it added.
Fresh allegations hit Singer last month after a report by The Atlantic surfaced, wherein four men alleged that the director had sexual encounters with them when they were teenagers in the late 1990s. The director has denied the charges.
Fox had terminated Singer’s services as the helmer under the “pay or play” provision of his contract, sources had indicated at the time, due to his repeated failures to show up on the set, which brought the production to a halt in December 2017 but he retained the credit.
After playing the religion card in politics for over a decade, radical Hinduist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be feeling the necessity of getting itself from the dirt of being branded as an extremist pro-Hindutva force. Although it is well perceived by everyone – BJP is a brainchild of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is the platform of ultra-nationalist and radical Hindus. In the past, the RSS had hands behind numerous religious riots in India, while the RSS-BJP nexus has been greatly responsible for tarnishing the secularist image of the largest democracy in the world.
Eyeing on the 2019-Lok Sabha (General Assembly) elections, ruling BJP has started cleaning its decade-old image of a radical Hinduist party. As part of this program, the regional government in India’s north-eastern state of Tripura has recently decided to remove contents from the school and college textbooks, where the ruling party is narrated as ‘radical Hindu’ party. However, some of the analysts say, such terminology was on purpose inserted into the textbooks by the previous Communist government, with the ulterior agenda of defaming BJP’s image.
A closer look into BJP:
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is one of the two major political parties in India, along with the Indian National Congress. English meaning of BJP is Indian People’s Party.
As of 2018, it is the country’s largest political party in terms of representation in the national parliament and state assemblies, and it is the world’s largest party in terms of primary membership. BJP is a right-wing party, and its policy has historically reflected Hindu-nationalist positions. It has close ideological and organisational links to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Some of the analysts also see the RSS as the spiritual guiding force of BJP and in many ways, actions of Bharatiya Janata Party is greatly decided and dictated by the RSS.
BJP’s origin lies in the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (Indian People’s Force), formed in 1951 by Syama Prasad Mukherjee. After the State of Emergency in 1977, Jana Sangh merged with several other parties to form the Janata Party; it defeated the incumbent Indian National Congress party in the 1977 general election. After three years in power, the Janata Party dissolved in 1980 with the members of the erstwhile Jana Sangh reconvening to form the BJP.
Although initially unsuccessful, after winning only two seats in the 1984 general election, it grew in strength on the back of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Following victories in several state elections and better performances in national elections, the BJP became the largest party in the parliament in 1996; however, it lacked a majority in the lower house of Parliament, and its government lasted only for 13 days.
After the 1998 general election, the BJP-led coalition known as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee formed a government that lasted for a year. Following fresh elections, the NDA government, again headed by Vajpayee, lasted for a full term in office; this was the first non-Congress government to do so. In the 2004 general election, the NDA suffered an unexpected defeat, and for the next 10 years, the BJP was the principal opposition party. After a long time, the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi led it to a landslide victory in the 2014 general election. Since that election, Modi has led the NDA government as Prime Minister.
The official ideology of the BJP is “integral humanism”, first formulated by Deendayal Upadhyaya in 1965. The party expresses a commitment to Hindutva (radical Hinduism), and its policy has historically reflected Hindu nationalist positions. It advocates social conservatism and foreign policy centered on nationalist principles. Its key issues have included the abrogation of the special status to Jammu and Kashmir, building of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya and implementation of uniform civil code. However, the 1998–2004 NDA government did not pursue any of these controversial issues. It instead focused on a largely liberal economic policy prioritizing globalisation and economic growth over social welfare.
From this brief background, what we can understand is that Bharatiya Janata Party from being a minor political force in 1984 succeeded in emerging into a major force just within the span of 12 years by playing the religion card or more precisely – radical Hinduism. Let us not forget, BJP today has become the largest political party in the world in terms of representation in the national parliament and state assemblies in India, simply by getting sympathy and support from the Hindus. India is a country with almost 90 per cent of Hindus in its population of over 1.34 billion. Quite naturally, in India, Hindu vote is the major factor and knowing this, BJP and even its arch rival Indian National Congress (INC) already have adopted the policy of ignoring minority vote bank.
(The author of the article is the Editor of Blitz.)
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday raised the limit of collateral-free agricultural loans to Rs 1.6 lakh from the current Rs 1 lakh with a view to help small and marginal farmers. The central bank also decided to set up an internal working group (IWG) to review agricultural credit and arrive at a workable policy solution.
The Union Budget had also announced measures to farming sector in addition annual payment of Rs 6,000 to small and marginal farmers. Currently, the banks are mandated to extend collateral-free agricultural loans up to Rs 1 lakh. This limit was fixed in the year 2010.
“Keeping in view the overall inflation and rise in agriculture input costs since then, it has been decided to raise the limit for collateralfree agriculture loans from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.6 lakh. This will enhance coverage of small and marginal farmers in the formal credit system,” said the central bank’s ‘Statement on Developmental and Regulatory Policies’.
It further said that a circular in this regard will be issued shortly. Agricultural credit growth has been significant over the years. In spite of this, there remain issues related to agricultural credit such as regional disparity and the extent of coverage, among others.
“There is also the issue of deepening long-term agricultural credit for capital formation,” the RBI said while announcing setting up of the IWG. The IWG will examine issues related to agricultural credit and arrive at workable solutions and policy initiatives.
Italian super sports carmaker Lamborghini on Thursday launched Huracan Evo in India priced at Rs 3.73 crore (ex-showroom). The company, which introduced luxury SUV Urus last year, expects the new model to bring in new set of customers in India for Lamborghini.
“In 2018, we were leaders in the overall super luxury segment in India. We aim to further strengthen our position in the country this year,” Lamborghini India Head Sharad Agarwal told reporters here.
Automobili Lamborghini CEO APAC region Matteo Ortenzi said that India is the first market globally where the company is launching the Evo after its unveiling in Bahrain. This shows our commitment to the Indian market, which we consider to be a very key and important market.
The company sold 45 units in India last year up from 26 units in 2017. Globally, Lamborghini sold 5,750 units last year, while in the Asia Pacific region it sold 1,301 units up from 1,000 units in 2017.
The opposition is crying foul on Robert Vadra being grilled by the Enforcement Directorate calling it a political vendetta. However, the biggest surprise irrespective of party-politics is that income and wealth of those entering the legislature and their close relations usually rise manifolds with usual argument that everyone has a right to earn from the business.
There should be a permanent Commission with its members selected by a non-political panel consisting of Chief Justice of India, Central Vigilance Commissioner and Comptroller and Auditor General of India which should keep vigil on income and wealth of MPs, MLAs, and their close relations. The Commission should be empowered to add to list of relations like brothers and sisters in case of unmarried politicians.
The whole mechanism should be set in a manner to develop a fear-psychology amongst the political community and their relations against a sudden rise in their income and wealth. It is ridiculous that ordinary primary-level school-teachers play in billions after their becoming political heavyweights.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal
Gandhi should not be defamed any more
Eventually, the national general secretary of the Hindu Mahasabha Puja Shakun Pandey and her husband Ashok Pandey were arrested and remanded in judicial custody for allegedly shooting at an effigy of Mahatma Gandhi and glorifying his assassination on his death anniversary. It is with no doubt that Mahatma Gandhi had always been considered a great leader in the Indian history and he extended his great contribution to the freedom movement of our country. So, the court must institute some strict measures for those who are trying to spoil his personality and glorifying his assassination so that nobody could dare to defame true leaders of the country.
Mohd Usmani
Budget talks
The budget presented by Piyush Goyal on February 1 was not to my expectations. I expected fuel prices to be controlled and excise duties on all commodities to come down, as well as a little something that helps young entrepreneurs. However, it did not happen!
Jubel D’Cruz
Kudos to PM Modi
It was heartening to learn that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for various development projects worth Rs 44,000 crore in Jammu and Kashmir. He laid the foundation stones of two All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Vijaypur in Jammu region and Awantipora in the Kashmir Valley. The AIIMS in the Valley is coming up on over 207 acres of land at a cost of Rs 1, 828 crore. It will have 750-bed state of the art super-specialty hospital with a medical college and a nursing college. He also launched many other projects as well. I extend my deepest gratitude to PM Modi for such consideration towards Jammu and Kashmir, because worldly heaven had been affected by unreasonable violence for long ago. Now, it is time to step up for making this beautiful state peaceful land to live in.
FU Patel
Baba Ramdev’s right demand!
In last 71 years, none of the Sadhus-Saints was honoured with ‘Bharat-Ratna’ award; therefore, at least next year, such award may be given to a hermit, was the demand made by Baba Ramdev and the Government should seriously consider the same. Bharat is a spiritual nation and her ancient Hindu culture is the biggest specialty of Bharat. Visitors from other countries are also attracted to this culture and thousands of visitors from abroad come to Bharat every year to see and experience this culture from close quarters. Yogi Mahants practicing spirituality and Yoga keeping away from worldly things; leading life of hermit will not be found in any other country except Bharat. As part of their collective spiritual practice, many Sadhus-Saints go to masses and serve patients, poor and distressed people. They teach the importance of spiritual practice to people and how to face every kind of incident in life with equal composure. People easily feel depressed these days and go to the extreme by ending their life. Sadhus-Saints try to give new hope to such depressed society and uplift them. They perform ‘yaags’ for the welfare of the country as well as of the world. There are few such real Mahants who devote their life for the serving nation and Dharma but keep away from publicity; therefore, they are unknown to people. Baba Ramdev made reference to Swami Vivekananda, Maharshi Dayananda Swami to support his statement. Indian Government conferred ‘Bharat-Ratna’ on Mother Teresa for her social work and it should also take note of good work by Sadhus-Saints in Bharat.
Jagan Ghanekar
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the state on February 9 to address a rally there and inaugurate several projects, including a railway line and a new block at Tripura Institute of Technology campus, sources in the Chief Minister’s office said on Thursday.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced that it has suspended the BAFTA nomination of “Bohemian Rhapsody” director Bryan Singer in the wake of sexual abuse allegations against him.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday raised the limit of collateral-free agricultural loans to Rs 1.6 lakh from the current Rs 1 lakh with a view to help small and marginal farmers. The central bank also decided to set up an internal working group (IWG) to review agricultural credit and arrive at a workable policy solution.
