
Chirag cites 'law and order collapse' in NDA-led Bihar, says 'feel sorry to support failing government'
Paswan, who heads the LJP (Ram Vilas) -- a constituent of the BJP-led NDA, was talking to reporters in Patna before leaving for Gayaji, where he is scheduled to address a rally.
"I have heard claims that the recent spurt in violent crimes is linked to the upcoming assembly polls, and there are attempts to defame this government. Still, it is the responsibility of the administration to keep the law and order situation under control. I feel sorry to support a government which is failing on this count," said the Hajipur MP.

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Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
CM Sai courts steel investors in Chhattisgarh, promises incentives and support
Advt Advt Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday urged steel entrepreneurs from across India to set up their production units in Chhattisgarh, highlighting the incentives offered under his government's new Industrial Policy and the state's rich mineral the ' Green Steel and Mining Summit ' organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) for its eastern region in Raipur, he emphasised Chhattisgarh's potential as a future hub for green steel manufacturing."Our government's new industrial policy places a special focus on the steel sector. Entrepreneurs engaged in green steel production will receive dedicated grants under this policy," Sai noted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India has doubled its steel production capacity from 100 million tonnes to 200 million tonnes in the last 10 years with a national target of reaching 300 million tonnes by 2030."In line with this vision, Chhattisgarh aims to raise its own steel production capacity from 28 million tonnes to 45 million tonnes with all groundwork already completed," the CM BJP leader underscored that Chhattisgarh's abundant mineral resources and well-developed infrastructure provide a strong foundation for industrial expansion."This growth will boost the state economy and generate employment at the grassroots level. We are fully committed to maximizing job creation through the manufacturing sector," he CM told the gathering that "Chhattisgarh Anjor Vision @ 2047", a roadmap, has been prepared to align with the national goal of Viksit Bharat @2047", which aims to make India a developed nation in 22 years from 'Anjor Vision' document outlines a phased development strategy with manufacturing identified as the core focus area, especially steel and power, the backbone industries of Chhattisgarh, he Railway infrastructure in the state has been significantly enhanced, and rapid construction is underway to further strengthen the network. The expansion includes ongoing projects worth Rs 47,000 crore. New routes, such as Rowghat-Jagdalpur line and Kirandul to Kothagudem line in Telangana (138 km of which will pass via Bastar), are being developed, the CM a new Railway corridor from Kharsia in Raigarh to Parmalkasa in Rajnandgaon will streamline the supply of raw materials and distribution of finished goods, significantly reducing production costs, he informed the state's new Industrial Policy features a single-window clearance system and over 350 reforms to improve the ease of doing business, Sai CM declared that industries adopting green energy solutions will receive additional support, including special corridors are being developed at a rapid pace, and new industrial parks are being established in the state. The government is offering special grants to private players to set up these parks, he CM urged entrepreneurs present at the summit to invest in Chhattisgarh and set up their units in the informed them about plans to develop a large steel cluster in the proposed State Capital Region that includes Raipur, Durg, and than 250 industrial representatives from five states - West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh - attended the explored industrial prospects in Chhattisgarh and held fruitful discussions, a release said.


Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Nitish Kumar will be Bihar CM after polls: Chirag Paswan
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: Union minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan on Monday said Nitish Kumar will take oath as Bihar Chief Minister again after the assembly elections to be held later this remarks came just two days after he expressed "regret" over having to support the Nitish Kumar government, which he alleged has "surrendered" before to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, the Union food processing minister also accused the Opposition of targeting the Army to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Operation Sindoor Paswan, the MP from Hajipur in Bihar, said the NDA is a "winning combination" for the elections and reiterated his commitment towards Prime Minister Modi "Several times I have reiterated that my commitment and love is towards the Prime Minister. Under PM Modi's leadership, the elections (in Bihar) will be fought. After the election results, Nitish Kumar will again take oath as chief minister. Definitely he will be the chief minister," he the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, Paswan said this process has happened four times earlier with no difference, except that digital technology has been linked now."Earlier, one used to go for physical documentation and now online you can submit," he Union food processing minister pointed out that Aadhaar cards do not have place of birth clarity, adding that people can appeal at three levels if there are any problems."Opposition created such noise on this issue. Have they given any proof to show if names have been removed wrongly?" he asked."Only the one wrongly registered will be deleted. But at the same time it will be ensured that no one is meted out with injustice. We also need to ensure intruders do not take advantage of our voters," Paswan noted that after every election, it was the Opposition that complained to the Election Commission about anomalies in voter lists. "EVMs are fine now, voter lists are an issue for them."The minister said the process will be implemented across the country eventually."Intensive revision is necessary. Some deceased's names are on the list and it is continuing. By chance, it (SIR) is implemented in Bihar. In the coming days, it will be done in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu where elections are due, and eventually across the country."Responding to RJD MP Manoj Jha 's suggestion about sending a fact-finding committee to Bihar to assess the law and order situation, Paswan said, "I am a Bihari. I need not send a committee to understand the situation in my state. I know the situation and therefore expressed concern.""When I raise the issue, they see my revolt. It is not a revolt, but a concern," he LJP(RV) chief said the Opposition would like the NDA to split as it cannot win on its own strength and can win only by weakening the opposite Operation Sindoor, Paswan accused the Opposition of not sparing even the Army in order to target Prime Minister Modi."Operation Sindoor was carried out by the Army not by a minister. Its success was due to the Army. I give credit to the PM as will power is necessary for giving approval for such a big decision. We kept in mind the sensitivity of the issue. To target Prime Minister Modi, they (Opposition) are putting a question mark on Operation Sindoor. What kind of thinking is this?" he LJP chief said he has a problem with the Opposition having "faith in every foreigner" but not the government and politicians in India."They believe what the prime minister of another country has said. They believe what the neighbouring country has said. But they don't want to believe what our Army and the democratically elected government are saying," he also criticised the Opposition for demanding a special session of Parliament to discuss Operation Sindoor and then creating ruckus when it was convened."When it was convened, what did they do? They created ruckus and proceedings were adjourned twice. Is this your priority?" he asked."Politicising every issue is not a good sign. You raise questions to seek response on the issue, but don't use the platform for political benefit," the Union minister said.


The Hindu
24 minutes ago
- The Hindu
What is Maharashtra's new security Bill?
The story so far: The Maharashtra Legislature passed the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill or a 'Bill to provide for effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of Left Wing Extremist organisations or similar organisations', during the recent monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly. The Bill has been termed as 'oppressive, ambiguous and open to misuse' by opposition leaders. What is the Bill? The Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill was brought in to counter 'urban Naxalism', as per the government of Maharashtra. The Bill states that, 'the menace of Naxalism is not only limited to remote areas of the Naxal affected States but its presence is increasing in the urban areas also through the Naxal frontal organisations. The spread of active frontal organisations of the Naxal groups gives constant and effective support in terms of logistics and safe refuge to their armed cadres. The seized literature of Naxals shows 'safe houses' and 'urban dens' of the Maoist network in the cities of the State of Maharashtra.' The Maharashtra government claims that the State has become a safe haven for 'urban Naxal' organisations. It has said that over 60 such organisations exist in Maharashtra, and that current laws are ineffective against them. However, civil rights activists say that the State government has not yet made public the list of these organisations, despite repeated requests. They have alleged that the Bill has been brought about to control left-wing organisations and civil rights activists who had rallied against the BJP in the 2024 Parliamentary elections. What about other States? Maharashtra is the fifth State after Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to enact a Public Security Act 'for more effective prevention of unlawful activities of such organisations.' The government has claimed that the other States have banned 48 frontal organisations under similar laws. But civil rights activists contend that the Public Security Acts in other States were brought in before the promulgation of more stringent pieces of legislation like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. They said that the Maharashtra government itself has claimed to have curbed left-wing armed extremists to only two districts of the State, with the help of currently existing laws, thus questioning the need for such a stringent Act at this time. When was the Bill introduced? The Bill was first introduced by the earlier Mahayuti government at the fag end of the monsoon session of Maharashtra Assembly in 2024. The State elections were held thereafter, and the BJP came back to power along with its allies with a thumping majority. The new government revived the Bill and introduced it during the winter session of the Maharashtra Assembly on December 20, 2024. A day later, a joint committee of members from both the Houses was formed to scrutinise the Bill. The committee received over 12,500 suggestions and objections but made only three amendments to the draft Bill. The activists have called the three changes 'minor'. After being cleared by the joint committee, the Bill was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on July 10. Only the Communist Party of India (Marxist) opposed the Bill. Other opposition parties raised objections, but did not oppose the Bill, which was passed by a majority by a voice vote. Two delegations have since met the Governor requesting him to not sign the Bill and send it back to the Legislature instead. What are the objections to the Bill? The opposition has said that the Bill empowers the government to declare organisations 'illegal' without due process; allows suppression of facts in 'public interest'; allows the government to extend ban on an organisation without any limit on the duration; has the potential to criminalise regular opposition under an ambiguous definition of 'illegal activity'; excludes lower courts from jurisdiction, effectively closing off easy judicial remedies; provides full protection to State officials acting in 'good faith'; and creates grounds for ideologically motivated action against opposition groups, activists and movements. The government has said that democratic and peaceful protests as well as journalists will not come under the Bill's ambit, but the ambiguity in the Bill has given rise to fear that it might be used against farmers' organisations, students' groups, and civil rights groups under the label of 'threat to public order'. For example, Section 2(f) of the Bill criminalises speech (spoken or written), signs, gestures or visual representations which 'tend to interfere' with public order or 'cause concern'. The opposition has said that such a provision allows authorities to criminalise expression, assembly, criticism, ridicule and association merely by indicating that they pose a potential threat. There is no requirement of actual violence, immediate harm or intent. What next? The Bill will become a law once the Governor gives his assent to it. It has been passed by both the Houses and has been sent to him. Meanwhile, civil rights activists and political parties have said they will continue to protest against the Bill and will approach the court against it.