‘Rs 11,000 cr benefit to people from fixing drug prices’

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January 4, 2019

Fixing of medicine prices has resulted in Rs 11,000 crore benefit to people, Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilisers, Mansukh L Mandaviya told Rajya Sabha.

The Minister, who was replying during the Question Hour, said that to make medicines affordable, the government capped prices of 855 medicines and some medical devices.

He said that the government has notified the Drug (Prices Control) Order (DPCO) to control and regulate the prices of medicines in the country.

The prices of drugs are fixed by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority as per the provisions of DPCO and it does not distinguish between patented and non-patented drugs for fixing the ceiling prices of scheduled medicines, he said.

No genuine citizen will be left out of NRC, assures PM

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January 4, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday assured the people of Assam that no genuine citizen will be left out of the NRC and hoped that the citizenship bill will be soon get Parliament’s nod.

“I am aware of the problems and difficulties faced by many during the NRC (National Register of Citizens) process but I assure you that no injustice will be done to any genuine Indian citizens,” he told the Vijay Sankalp Samavesh Rally at Kalinagar near here.

“The government is also moving ahead with the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. It is linked with emotions and related to peoples’ lives. It is not for the benefit of anyone but a penance against the injustice and many wrongs done in the past. I hope the Bill will be passed soon in Parliament,” he said, flagging off the BJP’s Lok Sabha poll campaign in the Northeast.

Modi also spoke about his government’s decision to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord “hanging” for 35 years.

“Now the road is clear to safeguard social, cultural and linguistic identity of Assam.

“I am indebted to the people of Assam for voting for the BJP in the recent panchayat elections and I am committed to repay this debt by ensuring the development of the state,” he said.

Recalling his inauguration of the country’s longest rail-cum-road bridge at Bogibeel in upper Assam on December 25, Modi said “I am fortunate to be with the people of Assam for the second time in 10 days. The Barak and Brahmaputra valleys are a source of inspiration not only for the state but also for the country”, Modi said.

The Prime Minister arrived at Silchar in Cachar district from imphal as a part of his first phase of poll campaign, wherein he is scheduled to address rallies in 20 states in 100 days before the model code of conduct comes into force.

The BJP and its allies is setting the target to win 21 out of the 25 parliamentary seats in eight states in the region and in Assam the party hopes to win at least 11 of the 14 seats.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had made massive in roads in Assam winning seven of its 14 parliamentary seats and in the 2016 assembly polls the party emerged as the single largest party with 61 seats while its alliance partners AGP and BPF had won 14 and 12 seats respectively.

SC irked over lawyers seeking urgent listing of ordinary cases

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January 4, 2019

The Supreme Court on Friday expressed displeasure over lawyers not following proper procedure for mentioning the matters and often dubbing ordinary cases as urgent requiring early listing leading to the wastage of time.

The apex court said that it was the need of the hour to tell the Bar that system of mentioning the matter was not working well as requests were being made for urgent listing of every sort of matter.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul said that when files are perused what is sought during mentioning is different from the prayers made in the written records.

Justice Gogoi said lawyers make submissions that the matter in hand is serious and requires urgent listing, but “when we go through the files we find there is no urgency”.

The bench said: “We must tell the Bar that we go through the memo and files and after reading it for 15-30 minutes we find that nothing is there. The Chief Justice of India has to spend time to see all these memos to find what needs to be listed urgently and what not to.

“Your case has to be listed ahead at the cost of others. But there is no information why it has to be listed urgently.”

It gave an example of the matter in which a mention was made for urgent hearing and after listing it for today “we do not find anything urgent”.

The CJI said: “How the system will survive. We are requesting the Bar to give some very serious thought to this problem

“I had made it clear on day one (when Gogoi took over as the CJI) that mentioning for urgent listing could be done in matters in which personal liberty and life is at stake, some demolition is likely to take place or something on which we cannot wait.”

The bench expressed its anguish when a lawyer mentioned the matter relating to Kerala judicial service for urgent listing.

“We are not inclined to grant you urgent listing. You can go and mention before the Registrar,” the bench said.

Later, during the regular hearing, the bench took umbrage at a lawyer seeking passover of his matter which he had mentioned Thursday for urgent listing.

“You made yesterday a mentioning for urgent hearing and when the matter is called up you are seeking passover,” the bench said.

Calls received on child helpline increased 3-fold in last 4 yrs: WCD

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January 4, 2019

The number of calls received by the child helpline number during the last four years has increased more than three-fold, the Lok Sabha was told.

Minister of State for Women and Child Development Virendra Kumar said CHILDLINE (1098) had answered 38,22,081 calls in the year 2013-14 which increased to 1,15,59,750 calls in the year 2017-18.

“Out of all the calls, 7,09,202 calls required direct intervention in the form of medical help, shelter, restoration and protection,” Kumar said.

The total number of calls received by the child helpline during 2017-18 is 1,15,59,750.

As per the child’s need, assistance is provided with support of stakeholders, he said in a written reply.

“Out of these, direct intervention was provided in 2,18,266 cases, where appropriate immediate help was given to children and they were connected to service delivery set up under the relevant law,” the minister said.

BJD to hold mega rally in Delhi on Jan 8 to demand paddy MSP hike

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January 4, 2019

The Biju Janata Dal on Friday attacked the BJP government at the Centre over farmers’ distress due to low pricing of their produce in Odisha and announced that it would hold a mega rally here on January 8 to press its demand for increasing the minimum support price of paddy.

At a press conference addressed by leaders of the Biju Janata Dal’s peasant wing here, the Naveen Patnaik-led party said the demand for increase in paddy MSP is in line with Swaminathan Committee’s recommendation and should have been acted upon earlier as committed by the BJP in the run-up to the 2014 parliamentary election.

Highlighting the “plight” of farmers in Odisha, the BJD demanded that the Centre take immediate action on its unfulfilled promise made in 2014 on increasing the minimum support price (MSP).

The party also announced that it is going to organise a mega rally, to be addressed by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, at the Talkatora Stadium on January 8. All BJD MPs, MLAs and senior leaders will participate in the rally, along with a number of farmers who will reach Delhi on a special train.

The objective of the rally would be to highlight the misery the farmers of the state have been facing due to the apathy of the government, the BJD leaders said.

The BJD’s efforts are aimed at doubling farmers’ income on a priority basis, they said.

Gadkari marks unemployment as biggest problem country faces

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January 4, 2019

Unemployment is the biggest of the major problems facing the country, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said, adding that there was a “difference” between employment and jobs.

He was addressing a youth empowerment summit organised by Fortune Foundation.

Speaking on employment generation, Gadkari said, “To address the problem of unemployment, not everyone can get jobs. Because there is a difference between employment and jobs. There are limitations to jobs and therefore creation of employment is the main part of the financial policy of any government.”

“There is a need to think about how to create employment opportunities in rural and urban areas of the country,” Gadkari added.

He claimed that the Maharashtra government had managed to create jobs in Vidarbha, particularly Nagpur in the last four years, and cited Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport (MIHAN), the Butibori MIDC area and Nagpur metro rail as examples.

“Chief Minister (Devendra) Fadnavis and I are both from Nagpur and had decided to provide employment to at least 50,000 youths of Vidarbha,” he said.

“Accordingly, about 27,000 youths have already got employment opportunities in various ways and the figure will cross 50,000 by next year,” Gadkari claimed.

Stressing that electricity, water and roads were required for industries that would generate employment, Gadkari said the state government was working towards it.

He said that the state was working towards achieving electricity surplus and was also building Rs 1 lakh crore worth of roads in the Vidarbha region.

Gadkari informed that the Union government will be initiating irrigation works estimated at Rs 1 lakh crore in Maharashtra.

“About Rs 9.5 lakh crore loans have been distributed under Mudra Yojana initiated by the Prime Minister. Besides, Rs 11 lakh crore loan has been distributed in the agriculture sector,” he said.

He quoted Mahatma Gandhi and said “we want maximum production with involvement of maximum number of persons”.

Ayodhya land dispute: VHP asks Centre to bring legislation

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January 4, 2019

A legislation by Parliament is an expeditious way of resolving the dispute, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) reiterated on Friday, after the Supreme Court said an appropriate bench constituted by it will pass an order on January 10 for fixing the date of hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute title case.

VHP working president Alok Kumar asked the Centre to bring a legislation before the end of its term.

He said that it would have been better if the bench for hearing the Ram Janmabhoomi appeals had been constituted before the last hearing, which was held on October 29, 2018.

“It is to be seen as to how the new bench will respond to the matter, particularly about the request for a day-to-day hearing and an early disposal of the appeals,” Kumar said.

“The VHP continues to be of the firm opinion that a legislation by Parliament is an expeditious way of resolving the disputes and would urge the central government to bring in such legislation within its term,” he said.

Earlier on Friday, the matter was disposed of within 30 seconds by a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul.

Now, a three-member bench will be set up for taking forward the Ayodhya land dispute case in which as many as 14 appeals were filed against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgement, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77-acre land be partitioned equally among the three parties – the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

Twitter goes into meltdown as ‘Gully Boy’ teaser unveiled

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January 4, 2019

Ever since the teaser of ‘Gully Boy’, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt was launched, the Twitterati can’t stop raving about it.

While everyone knows that the film is based on the life of two Mumbai rappers, no one actually knew what the teaser had in store for them.

The one-and-a-half minute teaser has left the audience in awe of Ranveer’s acting and rapping skills as he enacts the role of a street rapper. Alia, who plays his love interest in the film, can be seen in a de-glam and rugged avatar. The viewers are also introduced to Kalki Koechlin.

Fans, impressed by the intriguing teaser, started raving about the teaser on Twitter.

A user tweeted, “My Ears are still grooving @RanveerOfficial rocks #GULLYBOY.”

Another user hailed the teaser and wrote, ” #GullyBoy is going to change the whole scene of Hip-Hop in India. And you @RanveerOfficial, I don’t know what to say about you Mann! There’s nothing you can’t do. @aliaa08 You the queen of Bollywood, you’re gonna rule 2019. Can’t wait to see you both together.”

Another fan tweeted saying, “@RanveerOfficial Are you even real??Like I’m speechless,how can you be so freaking talented like that,you’re always setting the bar higher with your performances #GullyBoyTeaser.”

“What an amazing trailer of #GullyBoy. Superb and impressive. Ranveer and Alia gonna shine together,” another fan praised the teaser.

Celebrities including Karan Johar, Arjun Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan and Masaba Gupta too applauded Ranveer and Alia and expressed their love and excitement for the teaser.

“I love love love this!!!!!!! Zoya you star!!!!! Can’t wait to see #GullyBoy,” KJo wrote.

Arjun showing his excitement for the film wrote, “Asli talent ki vulcano #ZoyaAkhtar with apna dil ka raja @RanveerOfficial & mini meryll @aliaa08 produced by the Maverick trendsetters @FarOutAkhtar & @ritesh_sid cannot wait for Valentine’s Day cause it’s a date with #GullyBoy !!!”

“This is insanely awesome! FIRE!! Well done Zo #ZoyaAkhtar. @RanveerOfficial, @aliaa08, @ritesh_sid and @FarOutAkhtar – Respect! #GullyBoy,” Abhishek wrote.

‘Gully Boy’ is inspired by the lives of Mumbai street rappers Divine (played by Ranveer) and Naezy (played by Alia). The film is directed by Zoya Akhtar. This is Ranveer’s second collaboration with Zoya.

The first movie they had worked on together was ‘Dil Dhadkne Do’. The film is all set to hit the big screens on Valentine’s Day, February 14.

Apart from this, Ranveer and Alia will also be seen in Karan Johar’s upcoming directorial ‘Takht’. The period drama also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal and Bhumi Pednekar.

Govt to replace all long distance trains with modern coaches

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January 4, 2019

The government will replace conventional coaches with modern LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) design coaches in all long distance trains, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said in Rajya Sabha on Friday.

He also assured the House that the government will implement “whatever announcements have been made with regard to introduction of more trains.”

“A week ago, a review meeting was held in Guwahati, where it was decided that all long distance trains shall be replaced with LHB modern coaches,” Goyal said replying to a supplementary query during the Question Hour.

To another query on complaints that modern coaches already operational are being replaced in trains running from the Northeast, the minister said: “I can assure you that can never be the case.”

On unmanned railway crossings, the Minister said that the government has almost eliminated all such crossings. As a result, the number of accidents has come down to three in the last nine months from 50 a year ago.

With regard to compensation, the Minister said that wherever there is responsibility of Railways, the compensation is provided to the families of the deceased. Trespassers are not given compensation.

IMD issues alert for heavy snowfall, rain in Himachal

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January 4, 2019

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has sounded an ‘orange warning’ of heavy snowfall and rain in Himachal Pradesh from January 4 to 6.

Keylong, the administrative centre of Lahaul and Spiti district, continues to be the coldest place in the state at minus 10.8 degrees Celsius recorded between 5.30 pm on Thursday and 8.30 am on Friday, the weather department said.

On Thursday, the minimum temperature in Kalpa was minus 6 degrees Celsius, minus 3.2 in Manali and minus 1 degrees Celsius in Kufri and Bhuntar during the period, MeT Centre Director, Shimla, Manmohan Singh said.

The IMD has also predicted isolated to scattered precipitation in the state from January 8 onwards.

The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said Thursday that it was prepared to deal with any eventuality.

The state and district control rooms are in a state of readiness to deal with any eventuality, a state official said, adding that tourists and the general public have been advised to avoid the higher reaches in the coming days.