PM attacks at Congress, says BJP has stopped loot and leakage

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January 22, 2019

Taking on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the party that ruled for so long made no effort to plug corruption despite a former prime minister identifying the malady, while the BJP ended “85 per cent of the loot” in four-and-a-half years. Without naming Rajiv Gandhi, he alluded to the former prime minister’s remark that only 15 paise of Re 1 reaches the masses and the Congress governments over the years did nothing to stop the leakage.

Modi said his government gave about Rs 5,80,000 crore to the people directly through various schemes. Addressing NRIs and Indian-origin people at the inauguration of the 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas convention in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, Modi described NRIs as India’s brand ambassadors and said that they were the symbols of the country’s capabilities.

The government has changed the mindset that India cannot change, he said in the presence of chief guest Mauritian Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat, UP Governor Ram Naik, and Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh, among others.

Modi said that India’s contribution was being recognized at the international level, especially its role with regard to environment. Taking a swipe at the Congress, Modi said it got to know about the disease, acknowledged the disease, but neither thought about it, nor did anything in the direction of curing the ailment. The party that ruled the country for so many years had given the system to the country, a truth that was accepted by the then prime minister. But what is regrettable is that later in its rule of 10-15 years, there was no effort made to end this loot and leakage. The country’s middle class kept giving tax honestly and this loot of 85 per cent also continued. I also want to tell you today’s truth as well. We used technology to end this loot of 85 per cent completely.

Modi also said that in the last four-and-a-half years about Rs 5,80,000 crore, about USD 80 billion, our government, through various schemes, has directly given to the people, transferring it in their bank accounts. The money has been given out for various purposes such as for a home to someone, for education, for scholarship, for gas cylinder and to other such ends this amount has been given. Now just consider that if the country was being run through the old system, then even today from this 5,80,000 crore, about 4,50000 crore would have disappeared or leaked. If we would not have brought a change in the system then this amount would have been looted like the former prime minister had accepted that it was looted. This corrective measure could have been taken earlier also, but there was no intention or will. He further added that his government also identified about 7 crore fake people who existed only on paper, taking advantage of government schemes. Just think about it, more than the population of many countries such as Britain, France, Italy, we had people who just existed on paper to take advantage of government schemes.

Mauritian Premier Jugnauth, who is the chief guest for the three-day event, also spoke on the occasion. He hailed the prime minister for India’s transformation through initiatives such as the Skill India and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao schemes also praised Modi’s global stewardship in promoting clean energy and for setting up the International Solar Alliance. Jugnauth announced that his country will hold a Bhagwad Gita Mahotsav next month and a Bhojpuri Festival next year.

For the first time, the three-day convention is being organised from January 21 to 23 instead of January 9 to allow participants to visit the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad and attend the Republic Day parade in the national capital. The theme of this year’s convention is ‘Role of Indian diaspora in building new India’.

Be on facebook or not, your privacy may be at risk

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Web Team

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January 22, 2019

Your privacy on Facebook and Twitter may be at risk even if you have never been on social media or have deleted your account, a study suggests.

Individual choice has long been considered a bedrock principle of online privacy, said scientists from the University of Vermont in the US and the University of Adelaide in Australia. However, the study shows that if a person leaves a social media platform or never joined the online posts and words of their friends still provide about 95 per cent of the “potential predictive accuracy,” even without any of that person’s data.

Published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, the study gathered more than thirty million public posts on Twitter from 13,905 users. With this data, the researchers showed that the information within the Twitter messages from eight or nine of a person’s contacts make it possible to predict that person’s later tweets as accurately as if they were looking directly at that person’s own Twitter feed.

The study shows that, at least in theory, a company, government or other actor can accurately profile a person, think political party, favourite products, religious commitments from their friends, even if they have never been on social media or have deleted their account. There’s no place to hide in a social network, said Lewis Mitchell, formerly a researcher at the University of Vermont and now senior lecturer at the University of Adelaide in Australia.

How information moves on social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, has become a powerful factor in protest movements, national elections, and the rise and fall of commercial brands. People on these platforms reveal massive amounts of information about themselves and their friends, researchers said. However, scientists have not known if there is a fundamental limit to how much predictability is contained within this tidal wave of data. The scientists used their analysis of Twitter writings to show that there is a mathematical upper limit on how much predictive information a social network can hold.

However, they further added that it makes little difference that if the person being profiled, or whose behaviour is being predicted, is on or off that network when their friends are on the network.

Looked at from the other direction, when you sign up for Facebook or another social media platform, you think you’re giving up your information, but you’re giving up your friends’ information too, said James Bagrow from the University of Vermont.

The research raises profound questions about the fundamental nature of privacy and how, in a highly networked society, a person’s choices and identity are embedded in that network.

Maha Cabinet gives 100 crore for Thackeray Memorial

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Web Team

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January 22, 2019

The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved Rs 100 crore for the construction of a memorial for late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.

After the Cabinet meeting, state Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar told reporters here that the relations between the BJP and its ally Shiv Sena “were and will remain sweet”. There are “high chances” of a tie-up between both the parties (for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections) because the BJP has always been in favour of an alliance.

Late Balasaheb Thackeray was not just leader of the Sena but a leader of this alliance. Balasaheb will remain a person of high importance for all political parties. Therefore, in today’s Cabinet, Rs 100 crore has been approved for his memorial, which will inspire the youth, the senior BJP leader said. He further added that the funds for the memorial will be provided by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the BJP-led state government will ensure its availability.

Mungantiwar also expressed confidence that both the parties will be able to forge an alliance ahead of the polls. The BJP has observed that there is an exceptionally good response from Sena ministers in the Cabinet meetings adding that they congratulate the chief minister on various issues and firmly back the BJP on issues of farmers. However, the Sena, an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, has been often critical of the two governments. Last year, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party had announced to go solo in future elections.

The memorial is set to come up at a location in Shivaji Park area where earlier Mumbai mayor’s bungalow was located. The prime sea-facing property, measuring around 11,500 sqm, was handed over to the ‘Balasaheb Thackeray Rashtriya Smarak Nyas’ (trust) last year, clearing the decks for the memorial.

Gold extends gains on jewellers’ buying in wedding season

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Web Team

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January 22, 2019

Gold firmed up by Rs 125 to Rs 33,325 per 10 grams on Tuesday, largely on the back of sustained wedding season buying by jewellers even as it weakened to near three-week lows overseas. However, silver turned weak due to reduced off take by coin makers and consuming industries and lost Rs 250 to Rs 39,850 per kg.

Persistent buying by local jewellers, triggered by the ongoing wedding season, kept gold prices higher. Globally, gold fell 0.13 per cent to USD 1,278.90 an ounce in New York as a firmer dollar made bullion more expensive for buyers using other currencies. Silver also eased by 0.46 per cent to USD 15.26 an ounce, bullion traders said.

In the national capital, gold of 99.9 per cent and 99.5 per cent purity advanced by Rs 125 each to Rs 33,325 and Rs 32,175 per 10 grams, respectively. The yellow metal had gained Rs 40 on Monday.

Sovereign, however, remained unaltered at Rs 25,500 per piece of eight grams on scattered enquiries. In contrast, silver ready prices dropped by Rs 250 to Rs 39,850 per kg and weekly-based delivery slipped by Rs 264 to Rs 38,876 per kg. However, silver coins were unchanged at Rs 77,000 for buying and Rs 78,000 for selling of 100 pieces.

2014 general election was rigged; EVM can be hacked: Union Minister Prasad

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Web Team

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January 22, 2019

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday alleged that the Congress had organised the EVM hackathon in London in which a cyber expert claimed that the 2014 general elections were rigged.

An Indian cyber expert, seeking political asylum in the US, Monday claimed the 2014 general election was “rigged” through the electronic voting machines, which, he said can be hacked. “We will expose this claim,” Prasad said, adding that the Congress was insulting the 2014 mandate.

Addressing a press conference in London via Skype, the man, identified as Syed Shuja, said that he fled India in 2014 because he felt threatened in the country after the killing of some of his team members. The event was sponsored by the Congress, the minister of Electronics and IT.

Horror anthology show ‘Folklore’ to premier on HBO

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Web Team

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January 22, 2019

HBO’s new horror anthology show called “Folklore” will premiere on February 1. The show will air on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners’ streaming platforms, reported Entertainment Weekly.

“Folklore”, a six-episode, hour-long series, takes place across six Asian countries Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Each episode is based on the respective country’s myths and folklore which feature supernatural beings and occult beliefs. Helmed by different directors, each story was also filmed in the local language of the country.

Episodes include the Indonesia-set “A Mother’s Love” about a single mother and her young son who discover a group of dirty and underfed children living in a mansion’s attic and a tale from Malaysia called “Toyol” in which a Member of Parliament turns to a mysterious woman who possesses shamanistic powers in order to salvage his town’s dire economic situation.

Kumbh Mela: Swachhta Doot work late night to keep the premises clean

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Web Team

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January 22, 2019

Going beyond the call of duty seems to be the mantra for ‘Swachhta Doot’ (messengers of cleanliness) who works late into the night to ensure ‘Bhavya Kumbh, Divya Kumbh’ (Grand Kumbh, Divine Kumbh) is reflected both in letter and spirit.

For the last one month or so, I along with 11 others are engaged in keeping the premises of Kumbh Mela clean. We ensure cleanliness in and around few eateries set up in Arail area of the city. Our main job is to ensure that there is no littering in the Mela area. On an average, a Swachhta Doot works for nearly 10-12 hours every day, going beyond their 8-hour shift. The job pressure is more on the major bathing days when there is a heavy influx of devotees who throngs the place from far and wide. A few days back, I was sleeping when my phone rang and I was asked to immediately report to work, Ravi Kumar, a Swachhta Doot, who hails from Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh, said. He further added that the Swachhta Doot like him feel happy when visitors praise the cleanliness of Kumbh.

According to the official website of the 2019 Kumb, More than 15,000 sanitation workers, 40 compactors and 120 tippers have been pressed into service for disposal of waste. Apart from this, more than 2,000 ‘Ganga Praharis’ or ‘Swacchagrahis’ have been engaged as foot soldiers for keeping the Kumbh Mela area clean.

Shyam Lal, who has also been deployed as a Swachhta Doot, said that they have been given individual identity cards. Generally we are on 8 hour shift, but the work goes beyond 10 hours, and sometimes it touches 12 hours. Lal was of the opinion that the installation of LED lights at the Kumbh has proved to be quite handy as they can spot the garbage from a distance.

At times we hear from visitors that the Kumbh Mela this year is cleaner than those in previous years. It makes us happy and satisfied that people are liking our work, Raj Karan, another Swachhta Doot, said. While he further added that the people have become more aware about cleanliness and that makes our work relatively easy.

More than one lakh toilets have been installed this time for maintaining cleanliness and ensuring open defecation-free Kumbh. Solid waste is to be collected in 20,000 dustbins and transported out of the Mela area.

Dying Farmers, Dying Agriculture – Agrarian crisis hit poll front

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C K Subramaniam

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January 22, 2019

The agrarian crisis came to view ahead of 2019 polls and it is a good news for farmers. The Central government has four broad proposals to ease out the agrarian crisis. It is a right step in the right direction and better late than never. The upliftment of the status of farmers needs to be taken up in the best way possible. At last the government see light at the end of the tunnel and the farmer’s woes will be eased out.

Having faced a tight situation and facing the wrath of the government and the banks, there seems to be no end to the problems faced by the farmers in this country. No one is able to make or break the ticklish situation and now the government look for an ultimate solution to the pressing issue.

The Maharashtra government has reported 257 suicides by farmers in the State between January and March this year resulting from the agrarian crisis. As many as 114 cases of suicides were reported from the Aurangabad region, followed by Amravati (102), Nagpur (30) and Nashik (nine) the data showed. Recent cases of suicides were reported due to the recent untimely rains and hailstorm. Maharashtra State is taking necessary measures for development of the farm sector with the Central government supplementing the efforts through appropriate policy measures and budgetary support and still farmers face the heat. The Centre has taken several steps to revitalise the agriculture sector and improve the condition of the farming community on a sustainable basis by increasing investment, improving farm practices, rural infrastructure and delivery of credit, technology and other inputs, extension and marketing among others.

Famine is the major reason quoted for the farmer’s woes in debt-ridden areas of Maharashtra. Thus, the number of suicides by the debt-ridden farmers in Maharashtra has touched a new high. There are no concrete steps taken to arrest the suicides by the State Government as per the opposition parties. The situation is going from bad to worse. Most of the deaths are taking place in the drylands. There is no stopping of such cruel deaths. The farmers’ distress is bound to continue so long as the general approach to agriculture management remains flawed.

A Team of Bankers can camp areas like Vidarbha, Yavatmal, Amravati, Akola, Wardha and Washim to give confidence to the farmers living in suicidal death-prone areas. New Scheme to give an on the spot overdraft and boost the confidence of farmers and special measure are to be formulated to arrest such deaths. Farmers are the backbone of our country and so many deaths in a single state ring the alarm bell to act swiftly. Just like doctors camping in an earthquake hit area or a flood affected area, Bankers should be compelled to pump money to proceed in the matter in a positive way. It is time to call an emergency meeting to solve this sensitive issue. Nationalisation of rivers could be a solution to prevent famine and solve irrigation problem in these barren lands. It is now or never situation.

The drought situation is getting increasingly worse and we find a dry river bed all over the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions and the position is pathetic. Agrarian crisis ahead in 225 districts as monsoon is on way out and drought situation is threatening farmers. The Rabi crops in the villages were ruined in drought and the sad state of widowed women of this region due to the spurt of suicides sends a signal for the State Agricultural Minister to act swiftly with the help of the central government to make things move in a proper direction. The present status is really bad with 938 more villages were declared drought-hit and needs. This for the first time that such large villages have been affected by drought and the hope of getting further rains to appear a remote possibility. By providing a major exemption to the farmers in the affected areas, the farmers can be given a glimmer of hope. Loan waiver in the drought-hit areas is a must to avoid the death menace in the state. The drought effect has taken the country by storm in general and Marathwada and Vidharba in particular. It is time to adopt a scientific way to grow crops with the reduction in irrigating them as the position in the last 10 years showing signs of a depleted look. The future looks bleak as the rains recede in the state of Maharashtra.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

SC to take ‘in-chamber’ decision regarding Article 35-A

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Web Team

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January 22, 2019

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it would take an “in-chamber” decision on listing of a petition challenging the constitutional validity of Article 35-A, which provides special rights and privileges to permanent residents of Jammu and Kasahmir.

Advocate Bimal Roy Jad mentioned that the matter before the bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi which also comprise Justices L Nageswara Rao and Sanjiv Khanna. He sought urgent hearing of the petition, filed by ‘We The Citizens’, saying that the court had earlier ordered listing of the matter in the second week of January.

Article 35-A, which was incorporated in the Constitution by a 1954 Presidential Order, accords special rights and privileges to the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir and bars people from outside the state from acquiring any immovable property in the state.

In August, the apex court adjourned hearing on a batch of petitions challenging Article 35 A till January this year but after taking note of submissions of the Centre and the state government that there was a law and order problem in the state.

Letters to the Editor: January 22, 2019

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Web Team

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January 22, 2019

SC must extend 2-child norm policy to contest any elections

A three-member bench of Supreme Court on October 24, 2018, ruled that giving away a child as adopted one after the birth of the third child could not allow a person under two-child norm either to contest rural elections or continue holding a post. But much will be improved if two-child norm to contest any election including for Parliament, state-legislatures, civic-bodies, President and Vice President too. Such a system will tend to impose a check on corrupt practices in the legislature because of fewer needs for small families.

Time has come that two-child norm may also be there for government jobs and availing government facilities like benefits of reservation and subsidies. Such steps will check the population explosion and the government spent on subsidies for people with large families.

Madhu Agrawal

Why not replace political rallies with live TV debates!

It is indeed regretting that even Prime Minister and state Chief Ministers apart from ministers getting salaries through public exchequers have to waste their precious time in election rallies because of an unholy political culture of mega-budgeted and unproductive political rallies. India should adopt a healthy democratic culture of USA where live TV debates between prominent leaders and Prime Ministerial or Chief Ministerial candidates are usually featured. There are candidates who contest elections only for exhibiting their richness through competitive most expensive election rallies even though very well knowing that they are going to lose even security deposits. There is unnecessary diversification of public resources in security required for political rallies. There is burnt of precocious fuel coupled with usual allegations of collecting crowd misusing government resources by political rulers to exhibit successful rallies. There should be a complete ban on election rallies.

However, private TV channels and radio network apart from national electronic media can be directed to accept advertisements from recognised political parties at subsidised rates abolishing free radio and TV timings at Akashwani and Doordarshan to the recognised political parties.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

Why PM Modi not arrested for 2002 riots?

I wonder why India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi was not arrested when he killed thousands of Christians and Muslims during the Gujarat riots in the year 2002? Was it because of his political background? Or did he bribe the police, the Home Minister and the judge of the High Court? Only the police and the court will have an answer to this?

Nowadays money plays an important role in letting you go scot-free even if you’ve committed a thousand murders or have raped a hundred women.

Jubel D’Cruz

Prevention is better than cure in leprosy cases

Maharashtra state is facing a high risk of leprosy cases as over 5000 cases were detected in recent times. It shows 11 per cent increase as per the survey and the more chances of people getting the contagious disease. It is an alarming proportion considering the best medical treatment available in the city and suburbs. The greatest risk factor for developing leprosy in contact with another case of leprosy. Contacts of people with leprosy are five to eight times more likely to develop leprosy than members of the general population. Leprosy also occurs more commonly among those living in poverty. Other risk factors are poorly understood. However, conditions that reduce immune function, such as malnutrition, other illnesses, or host genetic differences, may increase the risk of developing leprosy. Hence, prevention is better than cure.

Ramaswamy Jayanthy

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)