Ram Temple will be built only when Congress comes to power: Harish Rawat

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January 18, 2019

Describing the BJP as a party with no regard for ethics, senior Congress leader Harish Rawat said that a Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya only when his party comes to power at the Centre. “The BJP is a party of unethical people. Those who have no regard for ethics and dignity cannot be devotees of Maryada Purushottam Ram,” the AICC general secretary said on Thursday.

“We believe in ethics and in the Constitution. A Ram temple will come up in Ayodhya only when the Congress comes to power. That is for sure,” Rawat told reporters in Rishikesh. Accusing the BJP of trying to topple the government in Karnataka, he said, “The BJP is out to dislodge rival parties from power by hook or by crook, by misusing money, muscle power and institutions like the Enforcement Directorate, the CBI and the Income Tax Department as political tools.”

Rawat exuded confidence that the Congress-JD(S) ruling combine will win all 27 seats in Karnataka in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. “The game that the BJP is playing in Karnataka will cost it dearly in the Lok Sabha elections when people will give it a befitting reply, with the Congress-JD(S) alliance bagging all 27 seats there,” he said.

Political turmoil began in Karnataka on Monday amid reports that the BJP was allegedly making a renewed bid to dislodge the state’s seven-month-old coalition government. Both the ruling coalition and BJP have been levelling charges of horse-trading against each other.

Dhoni makes it a historic ODI series win in Australia

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January 18, 2019

Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck an unbeaten 87 to guide India to a historic ODI bilateral series win against Australia as the visitors beat the hosts by seven wickets in the decisive third match.

Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav (61) shared an unbeaten 121-run stand for the fourth wicket as India overhauled the tricky 231-run target on a slow wicket with four balls to spare. Before this, India had become first team from the sub-continent to win a Test series Down Under.

Brief Scores:
Australia: 230 all out in 48.4 overs (Peter Handscomb 58, Shaun Marsh 39, Yuzvendra Chahal 6/42).

India: 234 for 3 in 49.2 overs. (MS Dhoni 87 not out, K Jadhav 61 not out, V Kohli 46; J Richardson 1/27).

Hero Cycles to set up industrial park on 100 acres land in Ludhiana

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January 18, 2019

The Punjab government on Friday signed an agreement with a leading bicycle maker Hero Cycles for allotting 100 acres of land to set up an industrial park in the upcoming Hi-tech cycle valley project at Ludhiana.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed by Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation MD Rahul Bhandari on behalf of the state government and Hero Cycles chairman Pankaj Munjal in the presence of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, and Industry Minister Sunder Sham Arora, as per an official release.

Notably, Hi-tech cycle valley project is coming up at village Dhanansu over 380 acres of land where hi-tech bicycles, e-bikes would be manufactured.

The Chief Minister said that the project shall attract around Rs 400 crore investment by Hero Cycles and its suppliers or ancillaries, and generate close to 1,000 direct employment opportunities.

He said the industrial park will have a production capacity of four million bicycles per annum and the project shall be implemented within 36 months.

Additional Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan said Hero Cycles Ltd has been selected through an objective, competitive and technical bidding process as the ‘project company’ to set up an anchor unit for manufacturing of bi-cycles e-bikes, etc and also to develop the industrial park along with vendor units.

Hero Cycles shall be responsible for the development of the entire industrial park in the allotted land.

Within the proposed project, Hero Cycles will develop its own anchor unit over 50 acres. In the remaining 50 acres, it shall invite major national and international manufacturers as ancillary units, she said.

Chairman Hero Cycles Pankaj Munjal said he hoped that the hi-tech cycle valley at Ludhiana would act as a catalyst for the overall development of the area, giving further impetus to the industrial development of Punjab.

Hero Group was alone producing ten million cycles annually, which accounts for 7.5 per cent of the world production, he added.

The upcoming cycle valley project would cater to 50 per cent demand of cycle production in India and Europe, said Munjal.

Hero Cycles has invited globally reputed manufacturers with high end technology to set up ancillary vendor units in the industrial park, said Munjal.

The company has been allowed to utilise land not only for industrial purpose but also for other allied operations covering warehousing, logistics, research and development centres and skill development centres.

The Hi-tech cycle valley being set up by PSIEC would help in decongestion and relocating industry from Ludhiana, and encourage setting up of an anchor unit in the sector specific fields of cycle industry.

Apart from investment of Rs 300 crore on infrastructure, the project would attract an estimated additional investment of Rs 1,000-1,500 crore.

The cycle valley would provide developed industrial plots to the prospective investors at an affordable price and shall be equipped with modern amenities along with integrated support services covering banking, health, institutional, recreational, education etc.

Working on programme to push agri exports from NE states: Commerce Min

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January 18, 2019

The Department of Commerce is working on a programme to push exports of agricultural goods from northeastern states of the country, a senior government official said on Friday.

“The department is prepared to give a viability gap funding (VGF) for which a programme is being worked out so that the fresh agriculture produce from the northeast (NE) region can be taken to the international market because virtually, the entire region is organic and fertile,” Sudhanshu Pandey, additional secretary in the department, said.

Speaking at the North East Business Summit, Pandey said that the region produces one of the best fruits and vegetables, which holds huge export potential.

VGF is a one-time grant provided by the public sector for financial support to public-private partnerships in infrastructure, with the objective of making a project commercially viable.

This will also lead to increased private sector participation in developing infrastructure in the country through the public-private participation mode.

He also said that improving connectivity remains a top priority for the government in this region.

Further, Pandey said these states are gateway to explore the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) region.

Employees in India may see double-digit salary growth this year: Report

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January 18, 2019

Employees in India are likely to see a double-digit salary growth in 2019, but inflation may play a dampener capping the hike at 5 per cent, a report said on Friday. According to global consulting firm Korn Ferry, as a result of rapid economic growth, India continues to enjoy the highest overall salary increases and real-wage growth in Asia.

Salaries in India are expected to increase 10 per cent in 2019 as compared to 9 per cent last year and inflation-adjusted real-wage hikes are likely to rise to 5 per cent from 4.7 per cent in 2018. “Consequent to rapid economic growth, India continues to enjoy the highest overall salary increases and real-wage growth in Asia,” said Navnit Singh, Chairman & Regional Managing Director, Korn Ferry India.

Singh further said companies should take a broader perspective to define their business strategy and cost drivers in view of increasing automation, use of new technology and the rising demand for skilled workers.

OPEC publishes output cut quota for six months to June

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January 18, 2019

OPEC on Friday published a list of new levels of reduction in oil output by its members and other major producers for the six months to June as part of the group’s latest production-cutting deal.

It also urged participating countries to redouble efforts for supply adjustments to ensure oil markets remain in balance in 2019.

In the first half of 2019, OPEC and other major producers will cut oil output by 1.195 million barrels per day (bpd) to 43.874 million bpd.

The production adjustment will be monitored by the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) on a monthly basis, it said.

The next JMMC meeting will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on March 18, it added.

Govt may miss divestment target by Rs 20,000 cr: Report

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January 18, 2019

The government is unlikely to meet the Rs 80,000-crore disinvestment target by Rs 20,000 crore, leading to fiscal slippage, according to a report.

Fiscal deficit will come at 3.5 per cent as against the targeted 3.3 percent on the shortfall in disinvestment mop-up and also the dip in the GST collections, domestic rating agency Care Ratings said on Friday.

“In this fiscal year, meeting the disinvestment target of Rs 80,000 crore will be challenging given the volatile conditions in the financial markets. We expect that disinvestment proceeds could be around Rs 60,000 crore for FY19,” it said, adding in the past four years, it has not been able to achieve the divestment target except in 2017-18.

On an average, the government has achieved nearly 65 per cent of the budgeted divestment target between FY14 and FY17, it said, pointing out that FY14 was the lowest with divestment proceeds being only 53 per cent of the targeted.

In FY18, total disinvestment proceeds came in at Rs 1 trillion, exceeding the budgeted target of Rs 72,500 crore, the report added.

With a little over two months to go for the fiscal year to end, the government had raised Rs 32,142 crore, or 43 per cent of the target as of December, it said.

A bulk of Rs 25,325 crore has been raised through the Central public sector enterprises exchange traded fund (ETF) route, which allows simultaneous sale of government stake in various CPSEs across diverse sectors through single offering, it said.

Offer-for-sale comes in second with Rs 5,218 crore, followed by over Rs 1,500 crore raised through buybacks.

As the government is far from the target, it has decided to come up with another tranche of ETF in the form of further fund offer of Bharat 22 ETF, and can raise about Rs 14,000 crore by selling 52.63 percent stake in Rural Electrification Corporation, the report said.

It can raise another Rs 12,000 crore through buybacks of shares of public sector units, the agency said, doubting how much of the alternatives that can be used given the volatile markets.

BJP leader resigns from the party: ready to join grand..

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January 18, 2019

(BIHAR)

Former BJP MP Uday Singh, who has represented the Purnea Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar twice, announced his resignation from the party here on Friday alleging that it has surrendered before the discredited JD(U) headed by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Singh did not reveal his cards saying until resigning from the BJP, I had no right to negotiate with any other party but gave ample hints saying I may join a Grand Alliance constituent. He stated that he saw Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s popularity growing even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi of whom he had been an ardent supporter, seemed to have withdrawn himself from reality even if he has good intentions. He also said that even while in the BJP, I never approved of the slogan of Congress-mukt Bharat. A democracy cannot survive if the opposition is wiped out. It will degenerate into a totalitarian regime.

Singh, whose elder brother N K Singh is the Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, had lost his seat in 2014 to JD(U)s Santosh Kushwaha by a margin of more than one lakh votes notwithstanding the strong Modi wave. With the BJP and the JD(U) having agreed to fight 17 seats each, leaving six for Ram Vilas Paswans LJP, and Purnea being a sitting seat of Nitish Kumars party, there is little likelihood for Singh being considered for the seat, which he had won in 2004 and 2009 and his mother Madhuri Singh had represented as a Congress nominee in the 1980s.

Singh, however, maintained that his decision had nothing to do with the possibility of getting a ticket from my seat as NDA constituents are yet to finalize which constituency will be fought by which party. Replying to a query, he said so far that I have had no talks with Rahul Gandhi or (RJD supremo) Lalu Prasad. But I am looking forward to speaking to them after taking my supporters into confidence. He also claimed that there was widespread resentment among the party’s cadre over the undemocratic style of current leadership and remarked it is so difficult to meet BJP president Amit Shah. RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha kept requesting for an appointment, which was never given, and he ultimately had to resign from the Union council of ministers and quit the NDA in sheer disappointment.

Committed BJP workers are appalled over the manner the party agreed to share power with Nitish Kumar, forgetting our bitter experiences with him in the past, and also over the fact that his government is rapidly losing goodwill. Now the BJP will end up sharing the blame for his misdeeds. And as if that was not enough he was given such a massive share of seats, he remarked.

‘Don’t rely on rumours’, Thane Commissioner convinces parents about vaccinating kids

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January 18, 2019

Thane Commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal appealed religious gurus, representatives of various political parties, social activists, teachers at Kausa in Thane to take initiative about awareness for vaccination campaign .He also appealed the public to not to believe the rumours spread around & should vaccinate their kids with rubella and measles vaccination as they are very essential for their wellness. Jaiswal further said that this vaccine meets international standards in quality and had been injected to 20 crores of students so far. Parents should not believe any spread around rumours and should vaccinate their kids to maintain their good health.

A meeting has been hold by local corporaters and MNC to create awareness and also to clear clouds of rumours among the locals spread about rubella and measles vaccines. Maulvis, political party representatives, social organisation representatives attended this meeting at Diamond hall in Kausa. Additional commissioner Arun Ahivar , corporator Rupali Gote, social worker Rutuja Avhad were also present at the meeting which saw huge response from local parents and teachers.

CBFC should lift ban from ‘No Fathers In Kashmir’: Alia Bhatt

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January 18, 2019

(BOLLYWOOD)

Actor Alia Bhatt has come out in support of her mother Soni Razdan’s film “No Fathers in Kashmir”, which is has been stuck over certification issues, saying that the movie is about compassion and the CBFC should lift the ban on it. However, The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has denied having imposed a ban on the movie, saying that it is unfortunate that the unwarranted pressure is being put by spreading misinformation of a ban.

The board said that any news of CBFC banning the film is completely false and all responsible people should take account. However, the film has been stuck with the CBFC for over six months and has been offered an ‘A’ certificate and Its makers have challenged the board’s decision and demanded a ‘U/A’ certification, according to media reports.

“Really hope the CBFC would #lifttheban. It’s a film about empathy & compassion let’s give love a chance, Alia said on Twitter”. However, the media reports claimed that the CBFC has given an ‘A’ certificate to “No Fathers in Kashmir” and the makers think it is a completely inappropriate decision. The makers have challenged censor board’s decision and appealed to a higher authority, the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT), to look into the matter, according to the reports.

Regional Officer CBFC Mumbai Tushar Karmarkar said that we are disappointed with the misinformation being spread about the film ‘No fathers in Kashmir’. Any news of CBFC banning this film is completely false and all responsible people should take account of that. We want to again clarify that filmmakers of ‘No fathers in Kashmir’ have already been offered an adult certificate and the reasons there of have clearly been communicated to them. He further added that it’s unfortunate that the unwarranted pressure is being put by spreading misinformation of a ban’. CBFC will continue to do its work in a fair and transparent manner without succumbing to misguided pressure tactics.

Reportedly, fresh cuts were again demanded in the film and Kumar has been running between the CBFC and the FCAT to get a ‘U/A’ certificate for his film as he thinks that his film deserves a wider audience.