Shashi Tharoor declines Congress' request to speak on Op Sindoor: Sources
After a week of disruptions, Parliament is set to begin discussions on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor on Monday during the ongoing Monsoon Session. Both the BJP-led NDA and the opposition are preparing to field their senior leaders in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for the high-stakes debate.
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Indian Express
22 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Ahead of elections, Maharashtra govt had cleared road works worth Rs 9,300 crore in tribal areas
In months leading to the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Maharashtra's Tribal Development department had approved road works worth Rs 9,300 crore against the approved budget of merely Rs 2,830 crore. As per the data accessed by The Indian Express, the government has dues pending Rs 10,100 crore for the works undertaken in the past three years. The finance minister has directed to avoid taking up the new projects and focus on paying up the dues. Directions have also been given to review the works which were given administrative approval but could not be started for over a year. The Tribal Affairs department of the state government undertake road works in tribal areas (budget head 5054 5117). Since the year 2022-23 to 2024-25, works worth Rs 13,016 crore were approved against the approved budget of just Rs 3,230 crore. As per the data, in December 2023 (leading up to Lok Sabha 2024 polls) woks worth Rs 4,500 crore and in July 2024 (leading up to Assembly 2024 polls) works worth Rs 4,800 crore were approved, which amounts to a total of 70 per cent of the total works in the past three years. Prior to December 2023, the total amount of administrative approval for the year 2023-24 was Rs 2,900 crore only. As per the data, works worth Rs 700 crore were given administrative approval in the year 2022-23 against the budget of Rs 400 crore. On Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar held a review of the financial situation of the department. 'The total pendency of the dues is around Rs 10,000 crore for last three years. The minister has directed us to ensure that dues are paid and there will be no new projects,' said an official who attended the meeting. Pawar has also asked to take the review of the pending road works for more than a year. 'There are works which did not start for more than a year despite administrative approval. Directions have been given that those works will be cancelled,' said the official. The associations of Maharashtra's contractors and engineers have been demanding their dues from the government since last year. In February they wrote a letter to state government's top leadership warning to stop all ongoing infrastructure works as payments worth Rs 89,000 crore from different departments have allegedly not been paid since July 2024. Despite stopping the works in phase-wise manner across the state, the contractors have yet not been paid. Among the alleged Rs 89,000 crore dues of the contractors include Rs 46,000 crore from the Public Works Department (PWD), Rs 18,000 crore from the Jal Jeevan Mission under Water Supply and Sanitation department, Rs 8,600 crore from the rural development department, Rs 19,700 crore from the irrigation department and Rs 1,700 crore from the works done under DPDC, MLA fund and MP fund.
Hans India
22 minutes ago
- Hans India
Under PM Modi's leadership, India progressing rapidly: Haryana CM
Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister under whose leadership the country is progressing rapidly towards becoming a developed nation. The Central government has worked to strengthen every sector by formulating inclusive policies for all sections of society and preserving India's rich culture and traditions, he added. 'Today, under the Prime Minister's leadership, India has emerged as a 'bright spot' on the global stage. The nation's economy has risen from the 11th to the fourth position, and over the past 11 years, citizens have benefited from a wide range of facilities and services,' said the Chief Minister. He was interacting with the media at Shri Sangameshwar Mahadev Temple in Arunay village in Pehowa in Kurukshetra district. Earlier, he performed Jalabhishek amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras and offered prayers for the well-being of the people and the progress of the state. Following the rituals, the Chief Minister visited the temple premises and also planted a sapling. Mahant Vishwanath Giri blessed the Chief Minister by adorning him with a Rudraksha garland and a 'patka'. Responding to a question on Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev, the Chief Minister said that the Opposition attempted to disrupt and stall Parliament proceedings merely to gain political mileage. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the truth before the nation during the session and took decisive action to eliminate the terrorists responsible for targeting innocent civilians. He added that Prime Minister Modi is a globally respected leader, and people have strong faith in his policies. Former Minister Subhash Sudha, Kamlesh Dhanda, Chairman Zila Parishad Kawaljit Kaur and other dignitaries were also present on this occasion.
Hindustan Times
22 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Don't control me': Jaya Bachchan's fiery remarks during Op Sindoor debate
Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan on Wednesday raised concerns in the Rajya Sabha over the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, questioning the government's handling of the situation and its promises following the abrogation of Article 370. Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan speaks during a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, at the Monsoon session of Parliament.(Sansad TV) 'It feels strange to say this because what happened looks like fiction to me. You read such things in books, you see them on screen. That people came like this, killed so many... It is really unreal,' she said during a debate on Operation Sindoor. As members from the treasury bench made remarks, inaudible in the broadcast, Bachchan responded, 'I won't pay attention, but my ears are sharp. What can I do about that? I can't help it.' Referring again to the treasury bench, she added, 'I will at least congratulate you for having such writers who come up with big names like Sindoor.' Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who was seated next to her, was seen smiling. Bachchan questioned the naming of India's precision strike against Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack, 'Why was this operation named Sindoor? Women's Sindoor has been wiped away.' When treasury bench members interrupted again, she remarked, 'Either you speak or I will speak.' BJP MP Surendra Singh Nagar, who was presiding over the House, said, 'Jaya ji, you address the Chair. Whatever you say will go on record.' To this, Bachchan again looked towards the treasury bench and said, 'When you speak, I don't interrupt. When a woman speaks, I never interrupt. So please mind your tongue.' She then turned to Priyanka Chaturvedi, who was seen gesturing with her right arm, and said, 'Priyanka, don't control me,' prompting laughter in the House, including from Chaturvedi herself. Jaya Bachchan continued, 'After the abrogation of Article 370, I saw people proudly saying terrorism will end. 'We promise you.' What happened? These tourists went with that belief. 'We are going to Kashmir, it is paradise.' What did they get? You have destroyed the faith and trust of the people you made promises to.'
