Sharad Pawar Wonders if His Z-Plus Security an Attempt to Get 'Authentic Information' 2
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has said that the Z-Plus security cover accorded to him could be an arrangement to get “authentic information” about him as Maharashtra assembly polls are around the corner.
The Centre on Wednesday accorded Z Plus—the highest category of armed VIP security cover—to Pawar, official sources said.
Asked about the security upgrade for him, the 83-year-old politician told the media in Navi Mumbai on Thursday that he wasn’t aware of the reason behind the move.
“A home ministry official told me that the government has decided to give three persons Z plus security and I was one of them. I asked who the other two were. I was told RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Union home minister Amit Shah,” said Pawar.
“Maybe since elections are approaching, this can be an arrangement to get authentic information (about me),” he quipped.
A team of 55 armed personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been earmarked as part of Pawar’s Z-Plus security cover. A threat assessment review by central agencies had recommended a strong security cover for Pawar, official sources had said earlier.
The VIP security cover categorisations begin from the highest Z+, followed by Z, Y+, Y, and X.
Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) is a part of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), also comprising the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, that performed impressively in the Lok Sabha polls, winning 30 of the 48 seats in the state.
The ruling Mahayuti coalition of the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and NCP, headed by Ajit Pawar, had to contend with only 17 seats.
Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are likely to be held in October and November.
Court Issues Summons to Telangana CM Revanth Reddy in BJP Defamation Case 4
A special court issued summons to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday, asking him to appear personally before it on September 25 over a criminal defamation case filed by a BJP leader accusing him of making false and baseless allegations against the saffron party during the recent Lok Sabha election campaign.
The Special Judicial First Class Magistrate (JFCM) for Excise Cases here, after considering the documents filed by the complainant and after examining the witnesses and hearing the arguments of the counsel for the complainant, issued summons to Reddy for offences under Sections 499, 171C, 171G, 153 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 125 of the Representation of Peoples Act to appear in person before the court on September 25.
Telangana BJP General Secretary Kasam Venkateshwarlu had earlier filed a complaint in the Special JFCM for Excise cases, accusing the chief minister of making statements during an Lok Sabha election meeting in Bhadradri Kothagudem district on May 4 that the BJP, if voted to power, would change the Constitution and abolish reservations.
The petitioner claimed it was misleading and false and that the statement had defamed the party and party workers.
In the complaint, the BJP further claimed that the statements made by Reddy caused harm to the reputation of the party in the eyes of the voters, and making such “false statements with intent to unduly influence voters” amounts to election offences under the law.
After examination of the complainant and another person, and after going through the complaint and the statements and material placed before the Special JFCM for Excise cases, on August 21, it was felt that a prima facie case was made against the accused for the offence under Section 499 of the IPC and Section 125 of the Representation of Peoples Act.
Earlier, after the Special JFCM for Excise cases had adjourned the complaint, the BJP leader approached the Telangana High Court with a criminal petition seeking direction to the lower court to inquire into his complaint.
In June, the Telangana High Court had directed the Special Judicial First Class Magistrate (JFCM) for Excise Cases to conduct proceedings and decide the complaint expeditiously in accordance with the law.
The high court disposed of the criminal petition, directing the magistrate to hear the petition on a day-to-day basis and expedite the proceedings on the complaint.
SEBI Bans Anil Ambani, 24 Other Entities From Securities Market for 5 Years 6
Markets regulator SEBI has barred industrialist Anil Ambani, 24 other entities, including former key officials of Reliance Home Finance from the securities market for five years for diversion of funds from the company.
SEBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 25 crore on Anil Ambani and restrained him from being associated with the securities market, including as a director or Key Managerial Personnel (KMP) in any listed company, or any intermediary registered with the market regulator, for a period of 5 years.
Also, the regulator barred Reliance Home Finance from the securities market for six months and slapped a fine of Rs 6 lakh on it.
In its 222-page final order, SEBI found that Anil Ambani, with the help of RHFL’s key managerial personnel, had orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to siphon-off funds from RHFL by disguising them as loans to entities linked to him.
Although the Board of Directors of RHFL had issued strong directives to stop such lending practices and reviewed corporate loans regularly, the company’s management ignored these orders.
This suggests a significant failure of governance, driven by certain key managerial personnel under the influence of Anil Ambani.
Given these circumstances, the company RHFL itself should not be held equally responsible as the individuals involved in the fraud.
Further, the remaining entities have played the role of being either recipients of illegally obtained loans or conduits to enable illegal diversion of monies from RHFL, the regulator noted.
SEBI said its findings have established the “existence of a fraudulent scheme, orchestrated by Noticee No. 2 (Anil Ambani) and administered by the KMPs of RHFL, to siphon off funds from the public listed company (RHFL) by structuring them as ‘loans’ to credit unworthy conduit borrowers, and in turn, to onward borrowers, all of whom have been found to be ‘promoter linked entities’ i.e. entities associated/ linked with Noticee 2 (Anil Ambani)”.
Anil Ambani used his position as ‘chairperson of the ADA group’ and his significant indirect shareholding in the holding company of RHFL to orchestrate the fraud.
SEBI, in its order on Thursday, noted the cavalier approach of the company’s management and promoter in approving loans worth hundreds of crores to companies that had little to no assets, cash flow, net worth, or revenue.
This suggests a sinister objective behind the ‘loans’. The situation becomes even more suspicious when considering that many of these borrowers were closely linked to the promoters of RHFL.
Eventually, most of these borrowers failed to repay their loans, causing RHFL to default on its own debt obligations. This led to the company’s resolution under the RBI Framework, leaving its public shareholders in a difficult position.
For example, in March 2018, RHFL’s share price was around Rs 59.60. By March 2020, as the extent of the fraud became clear and the company was drained of its resources, the share price had plummeted to just Rs 0.75.
Even now, over 9 lakh shareholders remain invested in RHFL, facing significant losses.
The 24 restrained entities include former key officials of Reliance Home Finance Ltd (RHFL) — Amit Bapna, Ravindra Sudhalkar and Pinkesh R Shah — and SEBI has imposed fine on them for their role in the case.
Also, the regulator levied a fine of Rs 25 crore on Ambani, Rs 27 crore on Bapna, Rs 26 crore on Sudhalkar and Rs 21 crore on Shah.
Additionally, the remaining entities, including Reliance Unicorn Enterprises, Reliance Exchange next Lt, Reliance Commercial Finance Ltd, Reliance Cleangen Ltd, Reliance Business Broadcast News Holdings Ltd and Reliance Big Entertainment Private Ltd have been imposed a penalty of Rs 25 crore each.
These fines have been levied on them for either receiving the illegally obtained loans or acted as intermediaries to facilitate the illegal diversion of funds from RHFL.
In February 2022, markets watchdog SEBI had passed an interim order and restrained Reliance Home Finance Ltd, industrialist Anil Ambani and three other individuals (Amit Bapna, Ravindra Sudhakar and Pinkesh R Shah) from the securities market till further orders for allegedly siphoning off funds from the company.
In a Relief for Patients, Three Major Medical Associations Called Off Strike Following SC Directives 8
The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) called off the strike protesting the Kolkata rape and murder of a trainee doctor following the Supreme Court directive on Thursday.
In a self-made video message, FAIMA Chairman Dr Rohan Krishnan said that the protests will continue but in a different form. He said that a pan-India meeting was held earlier and requested all resident doctors to return to work.
“The CJI requested us to call off the strike for the greater interest and public welfare. We had a pan-India meeting, and we have decided to resume the OPD, emergency, and elective services. The protest will continue but in a different form. I request all resident doctors to return and work for the patients’ welfare. Our legal battle will continue,” Dr Krishnan said.
Earlier, the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of Indira Gandhi Hospital officially called off its 11-day strike after the Supreme Court appealed the medical fraternity to return to work. The United Doctors Front Association (UDFA) also suspended the nationwide strike, protesting the Kolkata rape-murder of a trainee doctor, following the SC directive.
The UDFA expressed gratitude to the top court for recognising the gravity of our concerns and taking swift action. The UDFA also emphasised the urgent need for the establishment of a Central Protection Act (CPA) to provide comprehensive legal safeguards for healthcare professionals.
On August 22, the Supreme Court directed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to engage with the Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police across all states and Union Territories. The directive includes an unequivocal mandate for state governments and Union Territories to establish and enforce minimum safety standards in all medical institutions.
The apex court has assured that no adverse action will be taken against doctors who have participated in protests prior to this ruling. It has also instructed the installation of CCTV cameras and call distress systems in medical establishments. The court also affirmed UDFA’s role as a key stakeholder in the ongoing National Task Force discussions.
The apex court has imposed stringent timelines for action. The Union Health Ministry, along with state authorities, is required to complete consultations within one week, followed by prompt implementation within the subsequent two weeks.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra passed these directions while hearing the suo motu petition that it initiated in the wake of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, on August 9.
An internal committee of the Income Tax Department will review the 1961 direct tax law to eliminate redundant clauses as well as adopt best global practices to simplify it for taxpayers for better compliance, CBDT chief Ravi Agrawal has said.
The panel, comprising income tax (IT) officials from across the country, has started working to identify areas of improvement in the Income Tax Act, 1961, he said and added that the exercise is being conducted under a central government-mandated comprehensive review of the law. Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chairman Agrawal said the committee is looking at the best global practices that can be adopted as well as cutting redundancies in the existing law and finding those clauses that have reached their sunset, and hence, can be eliminated.
“An internal committee of competent officers of the department from all across the country has been formed. They have started working to identify areas of improvement. This is a work in progress…,” he told PTI on Wednesday during an event here to mark 165 years of income tax in India.
He said the committee is looking at the “problem statement” given to it in the recent Budget. It is trying to find the “best way forward” in giving the country a new direct tax law, Agrawal said.
During the event, the CBDT chief assured Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman that the work of reviewing the Act will be done within the stipulated time-frame of six months as announced by her in the Budget presented last month.
The minister, during the Wednesday event, asked the I-T department to use simple language in its notices and communications with taxpayers so that they are able to understand these quickly without getting intimidated.
Agrawal said this factor is also a part of the I-T law review. The committee is trying to make tax communication simple and easy to understand to encourage compliance of rules by taxpayers, he said.
The Income Tax Act, 1961, started its journey in 1922. It contains 298 sections and 23 chapters and other provisions in its current form of 1961.
Sitharaman, while presenting the 2024-25 Union Budget, had announced a “comprehensive” review of the Income Tax Act.
The purpose is to make the Act concise, lucid, easy to read and understand.
This will reduce disputes and litigation, thereby providing tax certainty to the taxpayers. It will also bring down the demand embroiled in litigation. It is proposed to be completed in six months, she had said.
Agrawal also said the CBDT will “put more officers” within the next 10-15 days to “expeditiously” clear the “substantial” number of appeals pending at the Income Tax Department level.
Elgar Parishad Case: Accuse Jagtap's Bail and NIA's Request to Be Heard Together 12
The Supreme Court on Thursday said the bail plea of activist Jyoti Jagtap, who is an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, would be heard together with a separate pending petition filed by the NIA challenging the bail granted to one of the co-accused.
The Supreme Court had in September last year extended the stay granted by the Bombay High Court on the implementation of its verdict granting bail to activist Mahesh Raut, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case.
The National Investigation Ageny (NIA) has challenged in the top court the September 21, 2023 order of the high court granting bail to Raut, who was arrested in June 2018 in connection with the case.
Jagtap’s bail plea came up for hearing on Thursday before a bench of justices M M Sundresh and Aravind Kumar.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) K M Nataraj, appearing for the NIA, told the bench about the pendency of the probe agency’s plea against the bail granted to Raut.
“The entire issue will have to be gone into in detail. Kindly consider one aspect. In respect of another accused, one petition is already pending. He was enlarged on bail and that has been stayed by this court,” the law officer said.
“We will take both the matters together,” the bench observed.
It directed the top court registry to take appropriate order to post both the matters together.
“Either that (petition) will come with this or this will go with that,” the bench said.
The counsel appearing for Jagtap, who was arrested in September 2020, said she has been in custody for almost four years now.
He said a total of 16 persons were arrested in connection with the case, out of which seven were out on bail while one of them had passed away.
He referred to the allegations levelled against Jagtap, and said there are 295 witnesses in the case and charges are yet to be framed.
The counsel argued that nothing has been recovered from Jagtap during the investigation.
Jagtap has moved the apex court challenging the October 17, 2022 order of the high court that refused to grant her bail, saying the NIA case against her was “prima facie true” and that she was part of a “larger conspiracy” hatched by the banned CPI (Maoist) outfit.
The high court had said Jagtap was an active member of the Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) group, which during its stage play at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017 gave not only “aggressive, but highly provocative slogans”.
The 2017 Elgar Parishad conclave was held at Shaniwarwada, an 18th-century palace-fort located in the heart of Pune city.
Jagtap, accused of singing and raising provocative slogans at the conclave along with other KKM members, was arrested in September 2020 and has been lodged in jail under judicial custody.
According to the investigators, provocative speeches that were allegedly made at the conclave triggered violence at Koregaon-Bhima on the outskirts of Pune on January 1, 2018.
Jagtap is lodged in jail for alleged offences, including under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Health Ministry To Set Up National Task Force For Safety Of Doctors 14
The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday issued an Office Memorandum on the National Task Force, formed by the Supreme Court for the medical professionals’ safety.
The panel will be headed by Cabinet Secretary, Government of India as its Chairperson has been constituted following the Supreme Court’s direction on August 20.
“The 14-member task force comprises ex-officio members and experts. It includes, Cabinet Secretary, Government of India – Chairperson, Home Secretary, Government of India, Secretary, M/o Health and Family Welfare Member Secretary Government of India, Chairperson, National Medical Commission, President, National Board of Examinations, Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, AVSM, VSM, Director General Medical Services (Navy), Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology and AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, Dr M Srinivas, Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, (AIIMS), Delhi, Dr Pratima Murthy, Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Dr Goverdhan Dutt Puri, Executive Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur; Dr Saumitra Rawat, Chairperson, Institute of Surgical Gastroenterology, GI and HPB Onco-Surgery and Liver Transplantation and Member, Board of Management, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, Professor Anita Saxena, Vice-Chancellor, Pandit BD Sharma Medical University, Rohtak, Formerly Dean of Academics, Chief-Cardiothoracic Centre and Head Cardiology Department at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, Dr Pallavi Saple, Dean, Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Dr Padma Srivastava, formerly Professor at the Department of Neurology, AIIMS, Delhi. Currently Chairperson of Neurology at Paras Health Gurugram,” it stated.
The office memorandum stated that the NTF shall submit an interim report within three weeks and the final report within two months from the date of the order of the Supreme Court of India, dated August 20.
“The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will provide logistical support including making travel arrangements, stay and secretarial assistance and bear the travel expenses and other related expenses of the members of the NTF,” it said.
The NTF shall formulate effective recommendations to remedy the issues of concern about safety, working conditions and well-being of medical professionals and other related matters, the statement said.
The NTF shall prepare an action plan categorized under two heads- prevention of violence against medical professionals and providing safe working conditions, and providing an enforceable national protocol for dignified and safe working conditions for interns, residents, senior residents, doctors, nurses and all medical professionals.
“The phrase medical professionals encompasses every medical professional including doctors, medical students who are undergoing their compulsory rotating medical internship (CRMI) as a part of the MBBS course, resident doctors and senior resident doctors and nurses (including those who are nursing interns),” it said.
“The NTF shall be at liberty to make recommendations on all aspects of the action plan and any other aspects, which the members seek to cover. NTF would be at liberty to make additional suggestions, where appropriate. The NTF shall also suggest appropriate timelines for the implementation of the recommendations. The NTF may consult relevant stakeholders in this regard,” it added.
Due to the ongoing strike by the Resident Doctors, the OPDs are affected by 65 per cent, admission by 40 per cent, Operation theatres reduced by 90 pc, laboratory services reduced by 30 pc, Radiological investigations by 55 per cent, Nuclear Medicine by 20 per cent till Wednesday 4:30 pm at AIIMS, Delhi.
Earlier today, the IMA wrote to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, highlighting the urgent need for bringing a central law to deal with attacks on medics and healthcare establishments and pointing out that a special exigency exists to violence on doctors and hospitals.
The IMA also expressed gratitude to JP Nadda for receiving its delegation on August 13 regarding the issue of a central law on violence on doctors and hospitals, safety and security at the workplaces of healthcare personnel and the working and living conditions of resident doctors.
It mentioned that the IMA had called for withdrawing the services of the medical fraternity, except for casualties and emergencies, across India on August 17.
“The withdrawal of service was near total in almost all the districts of the country,” it added.
It mentioned that the Supreme Court has intervened in the rape-and-murder case of a trainee doctor in Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital and formed a National Task Force (NTF) in this regard.
“The issue of promulgating an ordinance for the Central Act for the protection of healthcare professionals remains to be addressed. The IMA is keen on a Central Act in this regard,” the letter said.
It also submitted a list of facts for JP Nadda’s consideration.
“Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010 was enacted by Parliament at the request of four states, even though hospitals and dispensaries come under the Constitution’s State List,” it added.
The IMA also highlighted that a draft legislation — the Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019 — was placed in the public domain after due consultations with all the stakeholders. The Union home and law ministries were involved, along with the health ministry, in drafting the Bill.
It also mentioned the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 was proclaimed on April 22, 2020, amending the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 during the COVID-19 setting.
The IMA said “Doctors stand as a separate class due to the nature of their professional services. The Supreme Court acknowledged that in the Jacob Mathew vs State of Punjab and Another judgment of 2004.”
“There are special laws enacted for specific exigencies like the POCSO Act as well. We, the Indian Medical Association appeal to you that a special exigency exists about the violence on doctors and hospitals. The doctors are vulnerable in their workplace. The State has a bounden duty to provide safety and security to the doctors and other healthcare personnel. ‘Right to Life’ is a fundamental right,” reads the letter by IMA.
“25 state legislations in this regard have not prevented violence across the country. Very few FIRs have been lodged and very few convictions have happened. There is an urgent need to bring in a Central Act on Violence on Doctors and Hospitals. This is felt acutely by the medical fraternity of India,” it added.
“We demand that the draft bill 2019 incorporating the amendment clauses of the Epidemic Diseases Amendment Act, 2020 and the Code Grey Protocol of Kerala Government “Prevention Management of Violence against Healthcare workers” be proclaimed as an ordinance to instill confidence into the minds of the Doctors of India,” the letter read.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Supreme Court constituted a 10-member National Task Force to make recommendations on the prevention of violence and safe working conditions for medical professionals. The task force includes Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, among others.
Days after the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata sparked nationwide protests, the top court suo motu took up the case and directed the task force to submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report within two months.
The top court also asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a status report on the status of the investigation in the rape case. The court asked the West Bengal government to file a status report on the mob attack incident in the RG Kar hospital on August 15.
On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, sparking nationwide strikes and protests by the medical community.
India and Poland Have Agreed on Social Security Agreement, Says PM Modi 16
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced that India and Poland have agreed on social security agreement. He stated that partnership between two nations has been strengthening in areas like new technology and clean energy.
He also pointed out that Kabbadi emerged as a source of connection between the two nations as Poland is going to host the Kabaddi championship for the first time this year.
While addressing Indian community in Poland’s Warsaw, PM Modi stated, “Innovation and youth are going to give energy to the development of both nations. Today I have come to you with a big good news. Both India and Poland have agreed on a social security agreement which is going to benefit all the friends like you.”
“India’s wisdom is global. India’s vision is global. India’s culture is global. Care and compassion is global. Our ancestors gave us the mantra of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. We have considered the whole world as one family and this is visible in the policies and decisions of today’s India. At the time of G20, India called for ‘One Earth, One Family and One Future’,” he added.
PM Modi stated that he will be meeting his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk and Poland’s President Andrzej Duda. He stated that the ties between two nations will be further strengthened through these meetings.
Emphasising the strengthening ties between India and Poland, he stated, “I am happy that the partnership between India and Poland is continuously increasing in areas like new technology and clean energy. Many Indian companies have invested here, created jobs, many Polish companies have created opportunities in India.”
“Tomorrow, I am going to meet President Duda ji and the Prime Minister. Through these meetings, the wonderful India-Poland partnership will be further strengthened. PM Tusk is a good friend of India. I have met Donald Tusk when he served as President of the European Council,” he added.
Speaking about the similarities between the two nations, PM Modi stated, “There are many similarities in the society of India and Poland. A big similarity is also in our democracy. India is not only the Mother of democracy, but also a participatory and Vibrant Democracy. The people of India have unwavering faith in democracy. We have seen this confidence in recent elections also.”
“This was the biggest election in history. 180 million voters voted in elections recently held in the European Union. Three times more people, 640 million voters voted in elections in India. During the elections in India, thousands of political parties participated in this elections, nearly 8000 candidates contested polls, more than five million voting machines, more than eight million polling stations, more than 15 million employees worked in the elections. This kind of management, efficiency, and the trust on the elections is India’s strength,” he added.
He stated that Poland and India have connected through Kabbadi and noted that this game is played in every village in India.
Highlighting the connection between two nations through the game of Kabbadi, PM Modi stated, “Poland and India have connected through Kabaddi as well. You also know that Kabaddi is played in every village in India. This game has reached Poland from India and the people of Poland have taken Kabaddi to new heights. Poland has been the European Kabaddi champion for two consecutive years. I have been told that the Kabaddi Championship is going to be held from August 24 and for the first time Poland is hosting it. Today, through you I also convey my best wishes to the Polish Kabaddi team.”
PM Modi stated that India has set the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 and is working at unprecedented scale and speed to achieve this target.
He stated, “A few days back, you all celebrated India’s Independence Day. During the Azaadi movement, our freedom fighters had dreamed of a prosperous India. Today, every Indian is working hard to make that dream come true. India has set the goal to become a developed India by 2047. That is why today’s India is working at unprecedented scale, speed and solutions. You will be proud about the scale and speed at which change is taking place in India today.”
Underscoring how the people have come out of poverty in the past 10 years, PM Modi stated, “250 million people have come out of poverty in India in the last 10 years in India. 250 million means this number is more than the total population of France, Germany and UK. We have built 40 million permanent houses for the poor in 10 years and we are going to build 30 million more houses and if there are 14 million households in Poland today, then we have created almost three new Polands in just a decade.”
He stated that 500 million Jan Dhan accounts have been opened in India in 10 years. He also talked on how people in India are making digital transactions through UPI.
“We have taken financial inclusion to the next level. In 10 years, 500 million Jan Dhan bank accounts have been opened in India. This number is more than the population of the entire European Union. The number of digital transactions made through UPI every day in India is equivalent to the population of European Union. The government provides free health insurance of Rs 5 lakh to more Indians than the total population of the European Union,” he said.
Stressing the rise in broadband users in India in the past 10 years, PM Modi said, “In the last decade, the number of broadband users in India has also increased from 60 million to more than 940 million. Many people use broadband in India today as do the populations of Europe and the US combined. In the last decade, about 7 lakh kilometers optical fibre have been laid. This is equivalent to moving around the Earth 70 times. India has extended the 5G network to every district of the country within two years. Now we are working on the Made in India 6G network.”
Highlighting the growth of India in the transport sector, he said, “The scale of transformation is also visible in public transport. In 2014, five cities in India had operational metros. Today there is an operational metro in 20 cities. Poland has a one-third population as many people travel by metro every day.”
He stated that India is not far away from becoming the third largest economy of the world. He also spoke about his commitment to make India the third largest economy in his third term.
PM Modi said, “Today, every agency and every organization in the world is predicting India’s brilliant future and they are not astrologers. They calculate on the basis of data. They calculate on the basis of ground realities. India is not far away from becoming the third-largest economy of the world. I have promised the people of the country that India will becomne the third-largest economy in my third term. In the coming years, the world is going to see the tremendous economic rise of India.”
“NASSCOM estimates that India, due to its digital infrastructure, will become a trillion-dollar economy by the end of this decade. NASSCOM and Boston Consulting Group estimate that India’s AI market will grow at 30-30 per cent in the coming three to four years,” he added.
He noted that India is working on semiconductor Mission, Deep Ocean Mission, National Green Hydrogen Mission, National Quantum Mission and AI Mission. He stated that India is also preparing to establish its own space station in the coming few years. And the day is not far when you will see Indian astronauts going into space in Made in India Gaganyaan. PM Modi said, “Today, India’s entire focus is on quality manufacturing and quality manpower. These are two things which are very essential for the global supply chain. In the recent budget, we have laid a lot of emphasis on the skilling of our youth and job creation. Our youth have come in large numbers to study in Poland. We are also engaged in making India a huge center of education, research and innovation. Be it technology, medical care or education, India has taken the lead in creating skilled manpower for the world in every sector.”
Stressing that balance between economy and ecology is a priority of India, he stated, “Balance between economy and ecology is the priority of India today. India is moving forward with a pledge to become a developed nation and a net zero nation. India is working on a 360-degree approach for a green future. Green mobility is a big example of this.”
He stated that India has witnessed rise in the sales of electric vehicles in India. He said, “Today, India is expanding electric mobility at a fast pace. Today, the sales of electric vehicles in India are increasing rapidly every year. Last year, there was a growth of more than 40 percent in the sales of EVs. The day is not far when India will become global center of EV manufacturing and innovation. In the coming time, you are going to see India as a big global hub of green hydrogen.
The Prime Minister said that India’s strategy is to maintain equal closeness with all nations as compared to its previous policy of remaining equidistant.
PM Modi said, “Since last week, the Indian media is only talking about you. There is also a headline that it’s the first time in 45 years that an Indian PM is visiting Poland. A lot of good things are there in my fate. I visited Austria recently. There too, an Indian PM was visiting after four decades. Situations have changed now.”
“For decades, India had a policy to maintain distance from all the countries. However, the policy of today’s India is to have equal closeness with all countries. The India of today wants to connect with all. Today’s India talks about the development of all. Today’s India is with all and thinks about the interests of all,” he added.
He said that Indians are known for their efforts, actions and empathy. He stated that Indians are bringing laurels to the country through their efforts. He called empathy an identity of Indians and added that India is the first country which extends a helping hand when any country faces a crisis in the world. He recalled how India sent medicines and vaccines to over 150 nations during COVID-19 pandemic.
“Empathy is also an identity of us Indians. Whenever there is a crisis in any country in the world, India is the first country which extends a helping hand. When Covid came, India said, Humanity first. We sent medicines and vaccines to more than 150 countries of the world. Wherever there is an earthquake or any disaster in the world, India has only one mantra: Humanity first. If there is a war, India says – Humanity first and in this spirit, India helps the citizens all over the world,” PM Modi stated.
He also lauded Indian community members for helping Indian students who were stuck in Ukraine when the war erupted in 2022. He also thanked the Poland government for opening doors for Indian students and removing visa restrictions.
Expressing gratitude to people for giving him a warm welcome in Poland, he stated, “You all have come here from different parts of Poland. Everyone has different languages, dialects, food habits, but you all are connected with the feeling of Indianness. You have given me such a wonderful welcome here, I am very grateful to all of you, to the people of Poland, for this welcome.” PM Modi arrived in Poland on Wednesday, the first Indian leader to visit the Central European country in 45 years. His visit to Warsaw, comes as India and Poland are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.
Members of the Indian diaspora greeted PM Modi and he reciprocated their affections. The Prime Minister waved to the gathering and also shook hands with some of those present. The members of the Indian community raised slogans lauding PM Modi as also “Bharat mata ki jai” slogans.
Death Toll Rises To 17 In Reactor Blast At Andhra’s Anakapalli 18
The death toll rose to 17 on Thursday following a reactor blast at a pharma company in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) at Atchutapuram in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli.
Anakapalli District Collector Vijaya Krishnan confirmed the fatalities on Thursday.
The incident occurred after a 500-kiloliter capacitor reactor exploded at the pharma company, where approximately 200 workers were present at the time.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. The Chief Minister is expected to visit the families of the deceased and injured on Thursday.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and stated that he was “pained” by the loss of lives in the mishap. The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased, according to the PMO.
“Pained by the loss of lives due to a mishap at a factory in Anakapalle. Condolences to those who lost their near and dear ones. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs from PMNRF will be given to the next of kin of each deceased, and the injured will receive Rs 50,000,” the PMO mentioned in a post on X.
Police Arrest Over 40 People in Badlapur for Protesting Against Minors' Sexual Assault 20
Maharashtra Police have taken action against more than 40 individuals, arresting them and registering FIRs against 300 people, following massive protests over the alleged sexual assault of two minor girls in Badlapur. The unrest included stone-pelting, train service disruptions, and a lathi-charge on Tuesday. The arrested individuals will be brought to court on Wednesday.
Increased security measures have been implemented at the railway station, with police personnel deployed to prevent any recurrence of Tuesday’s outbreak. Internet services have been suspended in Badlapur, and shops have been ordered to close. DCP Manoj Patil of the Railway Police stated that the situation has returned to normal.
Patil remarked, ‘The situation is normal now. Railway movement is also normal. No section has been imposed. Internet services will be suspended for a few days to prevent the spread of rumors.’ On Tuesday, police used lathi charges to disperse protestors who had blocked the railway track, halting local trains. As a result, 12 mail express trains were diverted and 30 local trains were partially canceled.
After a 10-hour disruption, railway services resumed late at night following the dispersal of protestors by police. Speaking to the media, GRP Commissioner Ravindra Shisve reported that the tracks had been cleared and operations could resume.
The protests erupted after the alleged sexual assault of two fourth-grade girls by a school attendant in Badlapur, Maharashtra. The attendant was arrested on August 17. Earlier on Tuesday, police resorted to tear gas to disperse residents who began stone-pelting at the school.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the alleged assaults and announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team to probe the case. Fadnavis has also ordered the immediate suspension of several police officials for their delayed response in the initial stage of the incident.
Taking to his social media handle on X, Fadnavis announced, ‘In the unfortunate Badlapur incident, IG rank officer IPS Arti Singh has been appointed to conduct the inquiry. A charge sheet will be filed immediately and the case will be heard in a fast-track court. Our police department is committed to punishing the perpetrators swiftly.’
