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Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Over 5k bodies give thumbs up to One Nation One Election
1 2 3 Lucknow: Groundswell for the BJP-backed One Nation One Election (ONOE) campaign may well be building up. Over 5,000 organisations, including local bodies, lent their support to the campaign, prompting the saffron outfit to step up its feedback-gaining exercise. UP BJP state general secretary and co-convener of the ONOE committee, Anup Gupta said that nearly 5,300 local bodies, including nagar panchayats, nagar palika parishads, nagar nigams, kshetra panchayats, gram panchayats and even cooperative societies, sent their letters of support to the President. "We also collected the copies of their support proposals. This clearly shows that the issue found significant resonance at the ground level," he told TOI on Thursday. Sources said that the BJP mobilised civil society, including NGOs and professionals, to give their feedback as part of an extensive outreach campaign aimed at building consensus for simultaneous elections across India. Early this year, the BJP launched a pan-India campaign to raise awareness about its ambitious plan for simultaneous elections and build broad public consensus around it. The advocacy, sources said, is essentially guided by a central BJP committee led by Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, with BJP general secretary Sunil Bansal as the national coordinator. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Panels have also been formed at the state level to take the message forward. The outreach focused on facilitating meetings on the need for ONOE with various sections of society, including academia, doctors, lawyers, traders, ex-servicemen, youth, women, farmers and sportspersons, as well as elected bodies like panchayats, nagar palikas and zila parishads. Deliverables of the campaign include pro-ONOE resolutions being passed by these bodies and organisations, all addressed to President Droupadi Murmu. A senior BJP functionary said that the campaign primarily aims to highlight its potential to reduce electoral expenditure and strengthen national unity. He stressed that the idea aligns with the Constitution's preamble, promoting a unified national identity. The BJP has been a vocal proponent of ONOE. Senior party functionaries have been arguing that frequent elections disrupt governance and development. Implementing ONOE could boost GDP by 1-1.5% by providing govts with more stable time for development work, the BJP stated. The opposition parties, including Congress, SP and BSP, however, have been vocal against the ONOE, believing that it would undermine the federal structure of the Indian Constitution and the states may lose autonomy. The BJP has been dismissing concerns that ONOE would harm regional parties, citing the historical precedent of simultaneous elections from 1951 to 1967.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh MC House clears tax hike for govt properties too
In a significant move, the BJP-led Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) House on Wednesday approved a proposal to extend the recently implemented property tax hike to government buildings, which had been exempted by the UT administration. The decision, however, still requires UT approval to come into effect. On March 31, the UT administration had approved a steep hike in property tax for residential and commercial properties starting April 1, but chose to exempt government-owned buildings from the increased rates. The decision sparked sharp criticism from city residents and opposition leaders alike, especially given that government buildings collectively owe a staggering ₹250 crore in unpaid property taxes, further straining the cash-strapped MC's finances. During Wednesday's meeting, former mayor Anup Gupta raised concerns about the fairness of UT's exemption. 'Why was the tax hike imposed solely on city residents while government buildings were exempted? Despite already enjoying a 25% annual rebate on service tax, many of these properties have defaulted on payments, resulting in a massive ₹250 crore in outstanding dues—a significant shortfall in MC's annual revenue,' Gupta said. He proposed that the same tax hike be imposed on government buildings to ensure fairness and boost the city's revenue, while also demanding that the House's decision of revoking the 25% rebate to government buildings be implemented at the earliest. Gupta's proposal was unanimously supported by BJP councillors, who then proceeded to approve the increased tax rates for government buildings, similar to those imposed on residential and commercial properties. MC's decision, however, will need UT administration's approval, as is the norm. Notably, over 650 government buildings—including those belonging to the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and central governments—are on the tax defaulters' list, along with institutions under the Chandigarh administration itself. Autonomous institutes like the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Panjab University (PU) and Punjab Engineering College (PEC) alone owe ₹123.13 crore. As part of its recovery strategy, MC has already issued property attachment notices to three institutions and has asked them to declare their movable and immovable assets. If dues are not cleared, the civic body is planning to seal their properties. In October 2024, MC councillors had even revoked the 25% rebate in service tax being offered to government buildings annually, but the decision was not approved by the UT administration. Congress, AAP stage walkout over rising financial burden on residents Earlier, as the MC House got into session around 11 am, high drama unfolded as opposition councillors from the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launched a scathing protest against the BJP-led administration's decision to hike property taxes in Chandigarh. Wearing black clothes and badges, the Opposition stormed the House with slogans like 'BJP aai, taxes lai' and 'Mayor Madam brought tax hike as a gift from Amit Shah'. The opposition councillors remarked that the tax hike was a reflection of the BJP's decision to target residents' pockets to help MC recover from financial crisis and BJP's failure to bring in legitimate additional grants from the administration. To defend the move, mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla invoked media reports, quoting Punjab governor and UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, claiming the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) will soon release ₹238 crore for MC. HT had on April 25 highlighted that UT administration has written to MHA and sought ₹238-crore recurring savings resulting from UT electricity department's privatisation that will further be redirected to the civic body. Calling it a 'celebratory moment', Babla urged councillors to think about development projects for their wards. Sweet distribution by BJP causes uproar In a move that shocked many, BJP councillors, on the directions of Babla, began distributing sweets on the floor of the House — a gesture that backfired entirely. The Congress and AAP leaders reacted with fury, condemning the act as 'inhuman' and 'insensitive,' especially given that the country is still mourning the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 innocent tourists were killed. Congress councillor Gurpreet Singh Gabi said, 'BJP has hurt religious and patriotic sentiments of each and every citizen of India by distributing sweets. BJP councillors displayed a shameful and inhuman mindset by distributing sweets, even as the pyres of 26 martyrs from Pahalgam had not yet cooled. This act not only dishonours the sacrifices of our brave martyrs but also exposes the inhuman and apathetic mindset of the BJP.' Senior deputy mayor Jasbir Singh Bunty exposed what he called the 'hollow announcements' of the BJP. 'Earlier, ₹92 crore was promised post-mayoral polls, but not a rupee has come. Now, they're banking on a 'requested' ₹238 crore, not even approved or confirmed yet. Is the BJP celebrating a tax hike or their failure to secure central funds?' AAP councillor and leader of Opposition Jaswinder Kaur added that the AAP demanded immediate removal of the BJP councillors and the mayor involved in this act, and a public apology and expression of remorse by them. The BJP hit back, insisting that the sweet distribution was unrelated to the tribute and meant solely to celebrate the central government's reported intent to financially assist the MC. Mayor Babla accused the Opposition of twisting facts to suit a political narrative. 'Tributes were paid with honour. Linking that with our separate celebration of the funding news is misleading and shows the opposition's petty mindset,' she remarked. BJP councillors even demanded suspension of Opposition councillors for 'politicising martyrdom'. However, by walking out of the House before tabling of key agendas around 3 pm, the Congress and AAP councillors left the floor open for the BJP-led MC to pass a steep hike in parking fees under the Smart Parking project and water bill penalties — without a single voice of dissent being recorded. The 35-member MC House has the BJP in majority with 16 councillors, followed by 13 of the AAP and six of the Congress. Member of Parliament Manish Tewari, who has an ex-officio vote in the House, did not attend the Wednesday meeting.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Uniqus Consultech raises $20m in Series C round
Consultancy start-up Uniqus Consultech has raised $20m in its Series C funding round, led by Nexus Venture Partners with participation from Sorin Investments. Uniqus, founded in 2022, is a consultancy that leverages technology to deliver services across accounting and reporting, environmental, social and governance (ESG), and technology consulting. The funding will be used to accelerate Uniqus' growth, launch new services, and expand geographically across North America and globally. Uniqus also intends to make significant research and development investments in AI-powered solutions to address client challenges around reporting and risk management. The company has established offices in 11 cities across the US, India and the Middle East, employing more than 550 professionals. Its global delivery model serves more than 250 clients including Bloom Energy, GAP, UST and TaskUs. With a focus on the US, the company plans to add offices in Chicago and Austin, aiming to triple its North America revenues over the next three years. Currently, Uniqus operates from New York and Silicon Valley. Nexus Venture Partners managing director Anup Gupta said: 'Uniqus represents the future of consulting. While traditional consulting firms struggle to adapt to changing market needs, Uniqus takes a fundamentally different approach that delivers superior results. 'The company's strategic use of technology and AI, coupled with its global cloud delivery model, unlocks an enormous opportunity to transform client outcomes and redefine consulting economics. We are thrilled to reinforce our partnership with Team Uniqus in this exciting journey.' Uniqus co-founder and CEO Jamil Khatri said: 'Our vision has always been to build a consulting platform that leverages global talent and technology to deliver exceptional client outcomes. With a $100bn+ addressable market before us, this is just the beginning. 'Our latest round of funding positions us to expand our capabilities and geographical presence as we tap into this market. The funding will also help us to build Uniqus AI, leveraging our deep domain skills and new GenAI models to transform how consulting services are delivered.' Uniqus has built four proprietary tech platforms to support its consulting services. UniQuest, powered by GenAI, enhances search, summarisation and analysis across sectors including regulatory filings. Risk UniVerse simplifies financial reporting controls, SOX compliance and internal audits. Reporting UniVerse delivers an end-to-end solution for financial reporting and data management, while ESG UniVerse focuses on advanced ESG metric tracking. In October, Uniqus partnered with WNS, a provider of global digital-led business process management solutions, to deliver advanced sustainability consulting services and technical accounting and reporting solutions. The collaboration combines WNS' expertise in finance and accounting and AI capabilities with Uniqus' proficiency in ESG, reporting and accounting. "Uniqus Consultech raises $20m in Series C round " was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Khaleej Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Uniqus Consultech raises $20 million in Series C Funding
Uniqus Consultech, a tech-enabled global platform that offers consulting solutions in the accounting and reporting, finance operations, governance, risk, ESG, and technology domains, has announced that it has secured $20 million in Series C funding. The round was led by Nexus Venture Partners, with participation from Sorin Investments. Nexus and Sorin are existing investors in Uniqus. The funds will be used to accelerate the company's rapid growth trajectory, launch adjacent services, and geographical expansion across the Middle East and globally. Uniqus also plans substantial R&D investments in AI-driven solutions for the reporting and risk management problems that its clients face. The funding comes amid exceptional growth as Uniqus satisfies the strong market need for modern consulting solutions. Companies now seek consulting services that blend deep domain expertise with cutting-edge technology and access to a global talent pool. Uniqus has emerged as a leader, providing specialised, cost-effective, and scalable technology-driven solutions that disrupt traditional consulting models. "Uniqus represents the future of consulting,' said Anup Gupta, managing director of Nexus Venture Partners. "While traditional consulting firms struggle to adapt to changing market needs, Uniqus takes a fundamentally different approach that delivers superior results. The company's strategic use of technology and AI, coupled with its global cloud delivery model, unlocks an enormous opportunity to transform client outcomes and redefine consulting economics. We are thrilled to reinforce our partnership with Team Uniqus in this exciting journey." Since launching two years ago, Uniqus has established offices in 11 cities across the Middle East, US, and India, employing more than 550 high-performing professionals. Its integrated global delivery model enables the company to serve over 250 clients, including leading companies in the Middle East like Al Rajhi Bank, Tawal, Bahri Shipping, Burjeel Holdings, Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE) to name a few. Uniqus' strong growth, coupled with the latest funding, will propel the company's expansion globally, with a particular focus on the Middle East. Currently operating from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, the company plans to expand into other key markets in the region, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. 'Our vision has always been to build a consulting platform that leverages global talent and technology to deliver exceptional client outcomes," said Jamil Khatri, co-founder and CEO of Uniqus. "With a $100 billion+ addressable market before us, this is just the beginning. Our latest round of funding positions us to expand our capabilities and geographical presence as we tap into this market. The funding will also help us to build Uniqus AI, leveraging our deep domain skills and new GenAI models to transform how consulting services are delivered." "As the Middle East cements its status as a thriving hub for economic growth and investment, businesses must embrace innovation and transformation to remain competitive. To meet these ambitions, companies require consulting solutions that deliver result-oriented expertise, and technology-driven insights. That's where Uniqus serves as a trusted partner, delivering exceptional value through our domain expertise, technological capabilities, and close client collaboration,' said Dinesh Jangid, regional managing partner, Middle East. Uniqus' comprehensive suite of technology solutions complements its consulting services, providing clear differentiation in the market. Uniqus has developed four proprietary tech assets: ● UniQuest: GenAI-powered platform transforming search, summarisation and analysis across industries including regulatory filings to deliver dynamic conversations and precise answers to reporting queries. ● Risk UniVerse: Proprietary platform designed specifically to streamline internal controls over financial reporting, SOX compliance, and internal financial controls. ● Reporting UniVerse: Comprehensive technology solution for financial reporting and data management. ● ESG UniVerse: Advanced data management and reporting tool tailored for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics. Uniqus also enhances its offerings through strategic technology partnerships with companies like Cranium AI to enhance AI Risk Management Solutions for its clients. "Uniqus continues to execute remarkably well as it builds a differentiated, global consulting company," said Sanjay Nayar of Sorin Investments, "The company has anticipated and capitalised on the growing need for tech-enabled consulting services, positioning itself well ahead of competitors. With its proven execution prowess and the significant opportunities that lie ahead, we are excited to partner with Uniqus on the next phase of its growth journey."
