Page 8 - Modi Govt

Morbi bridge collapse: Singapore PM condoles 135 killed in a letter to PM

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has sent condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the unfortunate collapse of a Morbi bridge in Gujarat which killed 135 people. In his letter to Prime Minister Modi, Lee wrote, "I was saddened to learn about the collapse of the Morbi Bridge in Gujarat and the tragic loss of lives. "On behalf of the Government of Singapore, I wish to extend my heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims. "Our thoughts are with the people of India during this time, and I wish the injured a speedy recovery." Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said there are currently no reports of Singaporeans among the casualties of the incident, adding that it will monitor developments closely. Singapore's Consulate-General in Mumbai is in close contact with the local authorities, Channel News Asia reported citing MFA. Authorities in India said they believe that around 200 people were on the bridge when it collapsed. Army, navy and

On high inflation, here is what RBI needs to tell govt: It is your fault

All the research since 1980 shows that loose fiscal policy causes inflation, and the RBI MPC needs to tell the govt just that

'Modi's governance prepares nation for quantum jump over other nations'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's model of governance prepares the nation for a quantum jump to overtake other countries of the world in the next few years, which in a nutshell would mean that Modi at 20 lays the foundation for India in 2047, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said on Saturday. In order to understand the essence and the spirit of Modi@20 it is essential to read the book in its entirety and in its real context and perspective, he said while delivering the keynote address on the book Modi @ 20 - Dreams Meet Delivery at Vaishnav College for Women here. "Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery" is a compilation of chapters written by Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, Amish Tripathi, P V Sindhu, Anupam Kher, and Sudha Murthy, among others. The book Modi @2.0: Dreams meet Delivery is about the rise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a watershed moment in Indian politics. Singh made a special mention of the chapter by Home Minister Amit Shah titled Democracy, ..

Environmental concerns, renewable energy key components of Modi govt: Puri

The need for addressing environmental concerns has been an integral part of Modi government's policy, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri has said. He was speaking at a summit 'The Leaders for Inclusive and Progressive Change' organised by ILead Global Foundation to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav on Friday. Delegates from 11 countries, renowned think tanks, academic organisations and universities participated in the summit. "The need to address environmental concerns has been an integral part of govt policy. From announcing an International SolarAlliance in 2015 to the #PanchAmrit strategy in 2021, PM Modi Ji laid out a roadmap for India's energy transition from the day he assumed office," Puri later said on Twitter. Minister of State for Defence and Tourism Ajay Bhatt spoke on India, the Cultural Centre of the World. He also threw light on India's cultural and historical lineage and emphasized how the country propagates the concept of the whole world as a

Legacy of Modi govt after 8 years, no jobs: Chidambaram attacks Centre

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday attacked the Centre over the issue of unemployment, alleging that the legacy of the Modi government after eight years is "no jobs". The Congress has been attacking the government over alleged lack of jobs for the youth and rising unemployment. "After 37 lakhs in Uttar Pradesh applying for Grade 'C' jobs, we have 35 lakh applicants for 40,000 Agniveer jobs. Is the government listening to the anguished voices of the young men: 'we are desperate, we have no choice'," Chidambaram said in a tweet. "That is the legacy of the Modi government after 8 years: NO JOBS," the former finance minister asserted. The unemployment rate is eight per cent, which is understated because of massive disguised employment, he added. "The September Monthly Review of the Ministry of Finance does not utter a word on unemployment!" Chidambaram said. The senior Congress leader has been alleging that the government's policies have resulted in worsening the econom

India borrowed Rs 80 trillion during 8 yrs of Modi govt, alleges TRS

: The ruling TRS in Telangana on Saturday accused the BJP of 'pushing' the country into debt trap with borrowings of the central government allegedly touching 61.6 per cent of the GDP by 2021. Releasing his party's political charge-sheet against BJP, TRS Working President and Minister KT Rama Rao, along with party leaders accused the saffron party of leaving people in lurch with ever increasing petrol and diesel prices, among others. After the independence, during the 67 years of various Prime Ministers rule, the country borrowed Rs 55.87 crore. After coming to power in 2014, the borrowings by (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) Modi alone in these eight years was Rs 80 lakh crore, Rama Rao claimed. The interest payments by the Centre during 2014-15 was 36.1 per cent of the revenues while it has gone up to 43.7 per cent during 2021. Despite NITI Aayog's recommendation of Rs 19,000 crore funding for Mission Bhagiratha, a safe drinking water project for every village in the State, the .

Govt will keep working to fulfil Guru sahibs' vision, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said his government will keep working to fulfil the vision of Sikh gurus. He was reacting to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh's letter expressing thanks to him for laying the foundation stone of Gurdwara Hemkund Sahib ropeway. It will connect Govindghat to Hemkund Sahib. Modi tweeted, "Jathedar Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, respected members of the Sikh community including leading spiritual personalities have expressed joy on the Hemkund Sahib Ropeway. I thank them for their kind words and assure the Sangat we will keep working to fulfil the vision of the Guru Sahibs.

Govt's refusal to give cash incentive impacted campaign: Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday said the Centre's blunt refusal to provide cash incentive to farmers in Punjab for not burning crop residue has impacted the campaign against stubble burning in the agrarian state. In July, Delhi and Punjab governments had jointly sent a proposal to the Centre and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to help them give Rs 2,500 per acre as cash incentive to farmers in Punjab for not burning stubble. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said in September the Centre had turned down the proposal. Farmers say a cash incentive can help them cover the cost of fuel used in operating the machinery for the in-situ management (mixing crop residue in soil) of paddy straw. Addressing a press conference here, Rai said stubble burning in any area will have an impact on Delhi's air if the wind direction changes. "So, we have been talking to the Punjab government. But the main problem there is that farmers had demanded financial support (fo

PM Modi sets target of Rs 40,000 cr in defence exports at DefExpo 22

Releases another import embargo list, unveils indigenous trainer aircraft designed by HAL; lays foundation stone of the new Deesa airfield in Gujarat

Spotty policies, Ukraine war darken India's climate change targets

The conflict will hamper further India's slow progress in meeting key goals

Be it Ram temple or Art 370, Modi govt made possible what seemed impossible

Referring to the abrogation of Article 370 and the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the Narendra Modi government made possible what had previously seemed impossible. Shah was addressing an election rally of the ruling BJP in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district ahead of the November 12 assembly polls. He said the Modi government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, which accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir, on August 5, 2019. "Did you ever think that Article 370 would be abrogated," he asked the gathering. "If you talk to Congress leaders and workers about Article 370, they remain mum as its provision was made by Jawaharlal Nehru," he said. On the construction of Ram temple, Shah said, "Congress used to taunt us and say 'Mandir vahi banayenge, tithi nahi batayenge'." Prime Minister Modi started the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, he said. "Be it construction of Ram Mandir or abrogation of Article 3

Saibaba's acquittal proves urban naxal tag by PM's brigade bogus: Congress

The Congress on Friday said the acquittal of former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba in an alleged Maoist links case proves that the "'urban naxal' tag invented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's brigade is completely bogus". The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Friday acquitted Saibaba in an alleged Maoist links case and ordered his immediate release from jail. A division bench of Justice Rohit Deo and Anil Pansare allowed the appeal filed by Saibaba challenging a 2017 order of the trial court convicting him and sentencing him to life imprisonment. Saibaba, who is wheelchair-bound due to a physical disability, is currently lodged at the Nagpur central prison. "Wheelchair-bound Prof G N Saibaba's acquittal after five years in jail proves that 'urban naxal' tag invented by the prime minister's brigade is completely bogus," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet. "Many others are still in wholly unjustifiable custody. Such smear tactics must be resisted

Nehru created mess in J-K, Modi govt cleaned it by revoking Art 370: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said India's first PM Jawaharlal Nehru created a "mess" in Jammu and Kashmir by introducing Article 370 in the Constitution, but the Narendra Modi government rectified the error in 2019 by nullifying the provision that gave special status to the erstwhile state. Speaking at an event to flag off the Bharatiya Janata Party's 'Gaurav Yatra' in Gujarat, where Assembly polls are due in the next two months, Shah said the Congress used to often taunt his party over construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, but work on the mega project was now in progress. The senior BJP leader flagged off one yatra from Zanzarka in Ahmedabad district and two others from Unai in Navsari district. Decorated vehicles are being used in these yatras. Due to the mistake of Jawaharlal Nehru, who inserted Article 370, Kashmir was in a mess... it could not be properly integrated with the rest of the country. Everybody wanted the removal of Article 370. Prime Minister ...

Countdown to a new tomorrow: PM Modi to launch 5G services on October 1

The Indian economy is expected to rake in $455 billion between 2023 and 2040 as a direct result of 5G, according to the GSM Association

Newsmaker: Constitutional law is new Attorney General Venkataramani's forte

With his appointment as AG, the many constitutional law matters that are pending before the Supreme Court will receive specialised attention

What is the PM Kisan scheme? Here's how to check beneficiary status online

The scheme launched in 2018 provides farmers nationwide a total sum of Rs 6,000 annually in three equal installments of Rs 2,000

Dislodging Modi regime inevitable to save democracy, says Yechury

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday demanded that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre immediately alter its policies that extended subsidies and tax benefits to big corporates, and also recover the huge loans granted to them. Addressing a public meeting marking the culmination of the 10-day-long 'Desa Rakshana Bheri' that the CPI(M) organised across the country, the party general secretary said the Modi regime had destroyed both the Constitution and the nation's economy in the last eight years of its rule. "If you don't do that (change the policies), we will dethrone you and bring in a new people-friendly government," Yechury warned as he called upon secular, democratic parties to join hands to bring down the Modi regime. "A staggering sum of Rs 11 lakh crore given as loans to mega corporates, who are Modi's friends, have been written off. On top of it, Rs 2 lakh crore was extended as tax benefits to them. This is an atrocious loot

Centre gives top priority to strengthen border infrastructure: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday asserted that the Narendra Modi government gives top priority to strengthen the country's borders, a reason why expenditure on infrastructure development in these areas has gone up considerably under the current regime. Addressing personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal at the Fatehpur outpost, falling in Bihar's Kishanganj district along the border with Nepal, Shah also underscored the Centre's sensitivity towards welfare needs of those manning the country's international boundaries. "Between 2008 and 2014, annually around Rs 4,000 crore were spent on border infrastructure projects. This subsequently climbed to nearly Rs 6,000 crore per year, he said after inaugurating buildings of Fatehpur, Raniganj, Aamgachhi, Pekatola and Beria outposts. The total money spent on border infrastructure projects under the NDA rule at the Centre has been Rs 44,600 crore, he said. This has led to a 3.5 times increase in the total length of border roads, Shah to

Various decisions of Centre based on Gandhian philosophy: VP Dhankhar

The Narendra Modi government's philosophy of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Prayas' is a Gandhian thought and it rises above "all politics", Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Saturday. He also described as "a very dangerous trend" the belief among a section of the people that only the philosophy they believed in was right, adding Mahatma Gandhi listened to every point of view. He was speaking at an event to mark the 90th foundation day of Harijan Sevak Sangh here. Asserting that all are equal before the law, he said every person, irrespective of his power or history, is bound by the law of the land. Keeping in mind Gandhi's principles, 90 crore people were provided with free food grain during two years of Covid. This was beyond any country's imagination, Dhankhar said. "The Mahatma's soul will be satisfied" as the government ensured two doses of coronavirus vaccine to crores of people during the pandemic, he added. Dhankhar said it was Gandhi's ideology

Government does not interfere in functioning of ED, says FM Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said the government does not interfere in the functioning of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and rejected the Opposition criticism that the central agency is often misused against opponents of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Addressing a press conference near Pune on the sidelines of a programme, she said the ED comes into picture only when there is suspicion of money laundering. Asked about ED actions against Opposition leaders, Sitharaman said the law enforcement agency, which comes under the Ministry of Finance, knows its responsibilities and the government does not interfere in its work. "Try to understand the functioning of the ED. It does not reach the spot when an incident happens. It's role comes into the picture only after it emerges that the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has been violated in a case. "The ED never comes into the picture directly. It comes when there is a doubt that money laundering has .