Congress worker silenced over bridge collapse
'More AAP leaders may be jailed ahead of polls'
Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal has raised concerns that two more of his party leaders may soon be jailed. Speaking at a rally on Thursday protesting the arrest of AAP MLA Chatur Vasava in Gujarat, Kejriwal accused the BJP of using arrests as a tool to intimidate political opponents. He warned that AAP leaders Isudan Gadhvi and Gopal Italia could be targeted too and possibly arrested before the upcoming Gujarat Assembly elections. Despite the pressure, Kejriwal asserted that neither he nor his party would be deterred by such 'vengeful tactics'.
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Hindustan Times
8 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Amid Oppn walkout, Amit Shah hails PM Modi for giving Pak ‘befitting reply'
Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday attacked the Congress for 'giving away' parts of Kashmir to Pakistan when it was in power and said that the Union government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi was committed to ending terrorism and ensuring the return of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. Opposition MPs protest in Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI PHOTO) Shah was speaking in the Rajya Sabha even as the Opposition walked out in protest over the PM's absence from the Upper House during a special discussion on Operation Sindoor. 'I want to tell the Congress that POK was given by you, and only the BJP government will bring it back,' he said. 'Look at the coincidence that they died of bullet wounds in their heads. After the Pahalgam attacks I was requested by the family members of the killed to shoot the culprits in their heads, and coincidentally their demands have been fulfilled,' Shah said on the killing of the three terrorists. He also accused the Congress of creating the bogey of hindu terror in response to the 26/11 Mumbai attack. 'I proudly declare to the world... Hindus can never be terrorists' Shah said. The Opposition criticised the PM for not being present and speaking in the Rajya Sabha, as he had done a day before in the Lok Sabha. The government said its prerogative was to decide who will reply, but the Opposition dubbed the PM's absence as an 'insult to the House'. As soon as Shah rose to speak, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said, 'Members had demanded that after 16 hours of discussion, the Prime Minister should be present and address the House…Most of our questions are directed at him. It's not that you (Shah) are not capable of if the PM is present and still chooses not to come, it is an insult to the House.' As the opposition closed ranks and walked out, Shah slammed Kharge. 'He (Kharge) is not allowed to speak on important issues. The BAC decided that the discussion will be for 16 hours, and who will reply will be decided by the government. I know why they are walking out…for all these years, to protect their vote bank, they did not do anything to prevent terrorism,' he said. Congratulating the armed forces for the precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and more recently for Operation Mahadev, which led to the killing of three terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack that left 26 people dead, Shah slammed the Congress for failing to take a tough stance against terrorism. 'If the Congress had been in power, they would have declared Pakistan innocent. Congress has no moral right to question the BJP on terrorism. Today, we have a Prime Minister who responds with BrahMos missiles, not dossiers,' he said, criticising the Congress for not taking decisive steps against terror operatives. He said the party was opposed to the Prevention of Terrorism Act or POTA, a law passed in Parliament during the BJP rule in 2002 and scrapped it right away when it came to power in 2004. Responding to the Congress's charge about the timing of Operation Mahadev, the minister said he had wanted the terrorist responsible for the 'barbaric killing' of tourists in Pahalgam dead within days of the attack. Taking potshots at the Congress, he said, '...It is the mentality of the Congress party… in front of the whole world (P) Chidambaram proved that they will not be scared to support Pakistan for their vote bank; they will not be scared to save LeT for the sake of the vote bank. I also ask why they were killed today. They should've been killed much before.' Shah said the terror attack was used to deliver a message that Pakistan will not allow Kashmir to become free from terrorism. 'I want to give a message too… Kashmir will be free of terrorism,' he said, pointing out that the PM on April 24 has assured that those responsible for the attack would be punished 'beyond their imagination'. He credited the PM for giving the armed forces the 'operational freedom' to choose the time and the action in response to the Pahalgam attack. Shah also responded to Opposition criticism over US President Donald Trump's repeated assertion that he mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and said the pause was in response to the Pakistani DGMO's request. 'During Operation Sindoor, terrorists who were responsible for attacks during the UPA regime were killed,' he said. Shah cited the names of terrorists associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed who were killed during the May 7 operation across nine locations in Pakistan and PoK. Terrorists such as Dawood Ibrahim had fled the country during the Congress regime, he said. Criticising former Union minister P Chidambaram, Shah said, 'Why does Chidambaram need proof? Who is he trying to save—Pakistan or the LeT?' He said the forensic evidence and eyewitness accounts confirmed the involvement, and accused Lashkar's front, The Resistance Front (TRF), for executing the attack. 'Chidambaram questions if Operation Sindoor was decisive. Was (war in) 1965 or 1971 decisive? Then why did terrorism grow under the Congress?' he said. Shah lashed out at the party and said it was under Jawaharlal Nehru's premiership that Indian territory was lost to China. 'After the Indo-China war, Prime Minister Nehru gave away 38,000 square kilometers of Indian territory to China. At that time, the US had suggested that India should be made a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council instead of China. But the Congress government declined, pushing a case for China,' he said.
The Hindu
8 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Contract for biomining of legacy waste at Brahmapuram extended till September
Amid allegations of corruption and protests by the Opposition Congress and BJP councillors, the Kochi Corporation extended the contract with Bhumi Green Energy, the company engaged for biomining of legacy waste at Brahmapuram, till September 30. Responding to protests by the Opposition, Mayor M. Anilkumar said that it was improper to create a dispute over an issue of common interest to the city, and that the procedures were transparent. The company has requested contract extension citing financial constraints and difficulty in completing biomining within the existing time frame. The United Democratic Front (UDF) alleged corruption when the issue was considered. The UDF councillors alleged that the volume of waste at Brahmapuram was exaggerated and also cited audit objections and the failure to complete biomining within the agreed time while demanding not to extend the contract. The Mayor said that 90% of biomining had been completed. The Corporation has made a commendable achievement at Brahmapuram, which is fast emerging as a model for the rest of the country. The UDF was against biomining at Brahmapuram, which was driven by politics, said Mr. Anilkumar. UDF and BJP councillors had seen the work of Bhumi Green Energy and were convinced. There is no corruption in biomining. The High Court, Ministry of Housing, and the National Environment Research Institute have commended the operations at Brahmapuram. Audit objections have been given proper responses, the Mayor said. The bill is not based on refuse-derived fuel (RDF) but the volume of waste handled. Mr. Anilkumar said that anyone could examine them, and that the extension of the contract was a legal obligation. According to the survey conducted by the Kozhikode-based National Institute of Technology, there were over 8.43 lakh tonnes of legacy waste at Brahmapuram. In the initial survey, it was 7 lakh tonnes. Over 7.32 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste have been treated till June 12. Incidentally, the company, in last June, had claimed that biomining of 50% of legacy waste at the Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant had been completed, and that the entire project would be completed by April 2025. The Pune-based Bhumi Green Energy started biomining of legacy waste on January 15, 2024. Non-recyclable waste segregated through biomining is being diverted for cement production. Such waste is being shifted as RDF, which is used by cement factories. Biomining followed a devastating fire on plastic heaps at Brahmapuram in 2023 that lasted almost a fortnight.
Indian Express
8 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘A robust platform to empower young entrepreneurs': CM inaugurates CM YUVA Conclave
CHIEF MINISTER Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday inaugurated the CM YUVA Conclave and Expo-2025 in Lucknow. The CM YUVA Yojna has been launched under the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan. Adityanath said that over 68,000 youths have so far received interest-free and collateral-free loans amounting to Rs 2,751 crore under the scheme. The state government is offering 10 per cent margin money assistance to support budding entrepreneurs further. Highlighting the potential of Uttar Pradesh's youths, he said, 'CM YUVA Yojana is not just a financial aid programme, but a robust platform providing mentorship, market access and essential resources to empower young entrepreneurs.' He directed officials to ensure that at least 50 youngsters from each district visit the exhibition so they can gain firsthand knowledge about various government schemes, startup resources and market opportunities. He also inaugurated the exhibition and launched 'UP Mart', a portal for machinery suppliers, aimed at easing access to essential tools and equipment for startups. Also, 17 MoUs were signed in the CM's presence to boost entrepreneurship in the state. Underscoring the unique features of the scheme, Adityanath noted that it addresses the key challenges faced by aspiring entrepreneurs— lack of capital, training, and guidance. 'This is not just a scheme —it's a movement. A golden opportunity for every youth who has a dream but lacks resources,' he said. Addressing university Vice-Chancellors and youths at the CM YUVA Conclave, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed concern over the growing disconnect between academic institutions and society. 'Our institutions are becoming isolated islands, increasingly cut off from the people and government schemes. This disconnect is dangerous,' he said. He pointed out that due to lack of information, many young people fall prey to fraudulent schemes, get burdened by debt and are often left with no choice but to migrate in search of opportunities. 'But now, this cycle will end,' he asserted. The CM highlighted several initiatives launched to revive Uttar Pradesh's traditional industries, including handicrafts, cottage industries, and the MSME sector. 'Today, there is no licensing requirement for the first 1,000 days of starting a new enterprise in the state. We are also providing an insurance cover of ₹5 lakh to support young entrepreneurs,' he said. Reflecting on the 2017 Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra of the BJP, prepared under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said that a commitment was made to promote traditional industries through a dedicated scheme. Acting on this, a statewide survey was conducted post-2017, which revealed that every district had unique traditional enterprises. However, due to corruption, lawlessness, and large-scale migration, these industries had nearly collapsed. The CM said that the One District One Product (ODOP) scheme has helped boost Uttar Pradesh's exports from Rs 86,000 crore to over Rs 2 lakh crore. 'Earlier, Chinese products flooded the markets during festivals. Today, locally made ODOP items are finding a place in every household,' he added. He also announced that products from Uttar Pradesh would be prominently featured at an International Trade Show scheduled from September 25 to 29, 2025, at the India Expo Centre in Noida. 'The Buyer-Seller Meet held at this event has become a massive platform for showcasing the state's potential. No one would have imagined such innovation and enterprise from UP just a few years ago. From four lakh participants in the first year to five lakh in the second, the show is pushing forward our vision of taking local products to the global stage,' he said.
