Maharashtra clears proposal to rename Islampur as Ishwarpur
The announcement was made in the Legislative Assembly on the concluding day of the monsoon session by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who confirmed that the proposal had received Cabinet approval and would now be forwarded to the Union government for final clearance.
'The power to change names lies with the Centre. The State Cabinet has done its part by approving the decision and sent the proposal to the Union government for approval,' Mr. Bhujbal told the House. The resolution was approved during a Cabinet meeting held on Thursday.
The demand to rename Islampur dates back to 1986 and was most recently revived by Shiv Pratisthan, a Hindutva organisation headed by a person named, Sambhaji Bhide. The group submitted a memorandum to the Sangli Collectorate, pressing for the change of name, warning that their campaign will not die down or be withdrawn until their demand was accepted.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Cargo trial on Kopili marks marks revival of river transport in Assam
Guwahati: Operationalisation of National Waterways-57 through a cargo trial on Saturday marked the resumption of intra-state waterborne freight transport in Assam. A significant advancement in reviving the state's river-based commerce and sustainable logistics occurred when NW-57 (Kopili river) commenced operations with its inaugural cargo trial from Govardhan Bridge in Chandrapur, Kamrup to Hatsingimari in South Salmara. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The vessel MV VV Giri, featuring self-loading capabilities, transported 300 metric tonnes of cement across the 300-kilometre route on NW-57 and the Brahmaputra, completing the journey in approximately 12 to 14 hours. Union minister for ports, shipping and waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal said this development made over 1168 kms of national waterways in Assam operational. "This is a watershed moment for Assam. With the operationalisation of NW-57 on Kopili, we are not only reviving a lost artery of trade within the state, but also taking a major step towards building an inland water transport system that is economical, efficient, and environmentally sustainable. For far too long, the rich inter-web of riverine transportation remained neglected post-independence," Sonowal added. This inaugural cargo trial movement on the 46-kms-long NW-57 since 2014 represents a significant milestone in reviving intra-state cargo through Assam's river systems, officials said. The route's operationalisation aligns with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and PM Gati Shakti's objectives of establishing sustainable, integrated, and efficient transport infrastructure nationwide. "Today, with the resumption of cargo movement on four national waterways of Assam — Brahmaputra (NW-2), Barak (NW-16), Dhansiri (NW-31) & Kopili (NW-57) — we have made 1168 kms of waterways operational, offering a reasonable, economic and effective alternative mode of transportation," Sonowal said, adding that this would reduce road congestion and create economic opportunities for the state's riverine communities. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Under the leadership of PM Modi, the govt of India has placed a strong focus on revitalising our inland waterways to create multimodal logistics corridors. Assam is an important state in this regard as IWAI, the nodal agency of our ministry, is working on multiple projects to unlock value across our river ways," Sonowal said. From Brahmaputra to Barak, from Dhansiri to Kopili, Sonowal added that this initiative would strengthen regional growth through enhanced inland waterways. "Reviving waterways like the Kopili is a direct contribution to Modiji's vision of a thriving and self-reliant northeast," Sarbananda added. He highlighted the practical benefits, stating, "By shifting freight movement from road to waterways, we reduce emissions, ease road congestion, and lower logistics costs — all while making better use of our natural resources. Today's trial run replaces roughly 23 truckloads of cement — that's the power and potential of inland water transport." Sonowal said the Kopili cargo movement represents modern Assam's progress. "We are determined to build on this success and scale up cargo and passenger movement across all our major rivers. Waterways are not just a mode of transport; they are the arteries of regional prosperity," he added.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
O. Panneerselvam: Friendless in Dravidian politics
Three-time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and former coordinator of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), O. Panneerselvam, could scarcely have imagined, even at the time of his expulsion from the party in July 2022, that he would one day visit the residence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and interact with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president twice in 12 hours. On July 31, both met at the historic and salubrious Theosophical Society in Adyar during their morning walk. In the evening, accompanied by his son and former Theni MP P. Ravindhranath Kumar, Mr. Panneerselvam held discussions with the Chief Minister and his son and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin for about 45 minutes at Mr. Stalin's residence in south Chennai's upmarket Alwarpet. The actions of the tea seller-turned-politician raised many eyebrows because he had all along fashioned himself as a quintessential loyalist of Jayalalithaa, who wore anti-DMKism on her sleeve on the lines of the AIADMK's founder and former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran. For the 74-year-old, who hails from the caste and communally sensitive southern region of the State, time seems to be running out for stitching the right alliance to face the Assembly election, due for April-May next year. Mr. Panneerselvam, widely known as OPS, is still considered a persona non grata, as far as the AIADMK general secretary, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, is concerned. As for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a party which Mr. Panneerselvam and his son had assiduously cultivated after Jayalalithaa's death in December 2016, the 'spell of love' towards the septuagenarian does not appear to exist any more. It has been sometime since Mr. Panneerselvam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah. When Mr. Modi visited Tamil Nadu to take part in the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival in Gangaikondacholapuram on July 26-27, Mr. Panneerselvam's request for a meeting was not granted. But Mr. Palaniswami, once a colleague-turned-foe of Mr. Panneerselvam, met PM Modi at the Tiruchi airport, along with his senior colleagues. At the time of announcing the revival of ties between his party and the AIADMK in April, Mr. Shah made it clear that the BJP would not like to 'interfere in the internal affairs' of the Dravidian party. In the 2024 Lok Sabha poll, Mr. Panneerselvam contested unsuccessfully from the Ramanathapuram constituency as part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Before holding the July 31 evening meeting with Mr. Stalin came the announcement that the 'OPS' camp had decided to exit the Alliance, a move that was attributed to the Union government's refusal to provide funds to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. Modi's man All the recent developments must have been odd for the Mr. Panneerselvam, who was not long ago seen as Mr. Modi's loyal supporter. He was present when Mr. Modi filed his nomination papers in Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency in 2019. He surprised many in November 2020 when he used a government function, where Amit Shah and Mr. Palaniswami were present, to announce that the AIADMK, for which he was the coordinator then, and the BJP would continue their alliance for the 2021 Assembly polls. At the function, the veteran political leader, who joined the AIADMK in 1977, had hailed the Union Minister as a 'modern day Chanakya'. The gist Panneerselvam was the AIADMK's 'natural choice' for the CM post in September 2001 after the Supreme Court unseated Jayalalithaa; in September 2014, when Jayalalithaa was convicted in a disproportionate assets case; and in December 2016, after her death After his resignation, he patched up with Palaniswami and became the Deputy Chief Minister. He was seen as a close supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Late last month, the 'OPS' camp decided to exit the NDA, a move that was attributed to the Union government's refusal to provide funds to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha scheme The perception generated by Mr. Panneerselvam's meetings with Mr. Stalin may be hard to digest for the traditional supporters of the AIADMK, who have been schooled in viewing the DMK as an 'evil force'. But he seems to be having limited options. Even though he still has the option of going along with the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor Vijay, the seasoned leader knows fully well that given the grip of the bipolar system in the State, it is next to impossible for a third force to capture even a handful of seats. Not everyone views Mr. Panneerselvam sympathetically and there are critics who say he has 'proved yet again' that he is 'unreliable'. Originally, he drew his strength from his proximity to former interim general secretary of the AIADMK V.K. Sasikala, who had served as an aide of Jayalalithaa for about 30 years, and her nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who is now heading the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK). All of them belong to the same caste group — Mukkulathor — though they are from different sub-groups: Mr. Panneerselvam from Maravar and Ms. Sasikala and Mr. Dhinakaran from Kallar. Once called 'Mr. Faithful', Mr. Panneerselvam, who was with the Janaki Ramachandran group of the party at the time of the party split in 1988, came to be noted for qualities such as humility and fierce loyalty. No wonder, he became the party's nominee for the chairmanship of the Periyakulam Municipality in 1996. His stock in the party began growing, particularly after he served as a key member of the campaign team when Mr. Dhinakaran contested from the Periyakulam Lok Sabha constituency in 1999 and won. Next year, Mr. Panneerselvam became the Theni district secretary of the AIADMK. His qualities and the reputation of an archetypal feudal supplicant had stood him in good stead. He was the party's 'natural choice' for the CM post in September 2001 after the Supreme Court unseated Jayalalithaa; in September 2014, when she was convicted in a disproportionate assets case; and in December 2016 after her death. In Jayalalithaa's Cabinet, he was, at one time, Minister in charge of 13 portfolios. 'Righteous war' The high point in his political career came in February 2017 when he went out all guns blazing against Ms. Sasikala. After quitting the CM post and a 40-minute long 'meditation' at the Jayalalithaa mausoleum on the Marina, he made a dramatic announcement, claiming that he was 'compelled to quit the post'. This marked the launch of his 'dharmayudham' (righteous war) against the 'domination' of Ms. Sasikala's family in the party affairs. In no time, he patched up with Mr. Palaniswami, and became the Deputy Chief Minister six months later. Feeling that he had only a limited space to operate in the party and the government under Mr. Palaniswami, he swiftly re-established ties with Mr. Dhinakaran. At the time of the 2021 Assembly polls, he tried hard for the AMMK's accommodation under the AIADMK fold, but to no avail. As he seems to have exhausted the 'goodwill of his benefactors', including Mr. Modi, Mr. Panneerselvam, a survivor of many trials, is now at the mercy of Mr. Stalin to keep himself and his loyalists afloat. The traditional supporters of the AIADMK may not like it, but for Mr. Panneerselvam, it is a matter of life and death in electoral politics.
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
Over 18k farmers to benefit from PM Kisan-Annadata Sukhibhava in Vizag
As many as 18,573 farmers from the district will benefit from the PM Kisan-Annadata Sukhibhava programme, the launch of which was held at Gajuwaka here in the city on Saturday (August 2). About ₹12,906 crore was released to the beneficiaries under the first phase. Social Welfare Minister and in-charge Minister for the district Dola Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy said welfare and development schemes are being effectively implemented by the State government in line with the Vision 2047 roadmap for achieving 'Swarna Andhra'. He described the Annadata Sukhibhava programme a historic milestone aimed at farmers' welfare. A.P. TDP president Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao expressed happiness over implementing Annadata Sukhibhava programme in Gajuwaka. He said the coalition government is fulfilling all its promises. North constituency MLA Vishnukumar Raju said both Union and State government schemes are bringing benefits to farmers and the poor. He lauded the State's decision to add ₹14,000 to the Centre's ₹6,000 PM Kisan funds, making it a combined annual support of ₹20,000 for farmers. Later, MLAs, along with District Collector Harendhira Prasad, DCCB Chairman Kona Tata Rao, handed over a cheque for ₹12.9 crore to farmers.
