Latest news with #Modi-led
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Chandigarh Congress criticises UT administration for demolition of Furniture Market
1 2 Chandigarh: Chandigarh Congress on Sunday criticised the UT administration for bulldozing and demolishing the decades-old Furniture Market, leaving hundreds of shopkeepers devastated and rendering scores of workers jobless. Congress stated that the action was undertaken in disregard of the Honourable High Court's observation that a sympathetic view be taken and that efforts be made by the administration to see if alternate sites could be allotted to the affected parties to continue their livelihood. "Rather than pursuing a humane and consultative process, the administration opted for an abrupt and arbitrary demolition without reasonable time for evacuation and without any arrangement for the protection or relocation of inventory and assets. As a result, numerous shopkeepers suffered irreparable financial losses, losing not only their goods and furniture but also the very foundations of their businesses," Congress said. Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky strongly condemned the administration's insensitivity, saying, "What we are witnessing is not governance, but a systematic dismantling of the social fabric that binds our city. The administration has shown no regard for human suffering and no commitment to the principles of a welfare state. We demand that an immediate and comprehensive rehabilitation scheme be introduced and that alternate sites be allotted to the affected shopkeepers to enable them to rebuild their lives and livelihoods. Anything less would be a betrayal of the very ethos of governance in a democratic and socialist republic." The Congress stated that it stands firmly with the affected families and pledges to raise this matter at every appropriate forum until justice is served. It is imperative that the administration is held accountable for this gross overreach and made to answer for its repeated failure to act with fairness, compassion, and responsibility. Lucky also criticised the Modi-led central govt, under whom the Chandigarh administration works directly, for failing to provide relief to these decades-old establishments. (Photos Pritam Thakur)
New Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
'Opposition reduced itself to opposing everything for political reasons'
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences; Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office; and Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, and Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, criticised the Opposition for creating confusion over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In a free-wheeling interview with Rajesh Kumar Thakur, he accused them of misleading the public out of fear of losing ineligible votes. Excerpts Opposition parties are united against the SIR exercise being carried out in poll-bound Bihar, accusing your government of using it to drop voters from other parties. What do you have to say? These are totally untrue and baseless allegations made by the Opposition out of fear and frustration over losing the support of undeserving voters. The SIR, which is now being carried out successfully in Bihar, is not intended to remove people from voting lists but to ensure that voting rights are upheld for genuine voters. The Opposition currently has no agenda other than opposing initiatives that are in the larger interest of the nation or individual states. Will the removal of voter names under SIR hurt the NDA's poll chances in Bihar? Absolutely not. It is not designed to prevent anyone from exercising their voting rights but to ensure that only genuine voters participate. The people of Bihar are highly aware and understand the benefits of such an exercise, and they will not be misled by the Opposition. The NDA will not face any negative electoral consequences; in fact, it is the Opposition—which has been exploiting the inclusion of ineligible voters without proper documentation—that is alarmed by SIR. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused your government of 'snatching and stealing' votes through SIR. What is your response? Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is known for making baseless allegations simply to distract the public. In fact, he was the one who previously advocated for electoral roll revisions after his party's defeat in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi's intention is only to create confusion among the public about every initiative. But the people of Bihar are wise and understand his motives well. How is the Modi-led NDA gearing up to counter the Opposition in the Monsoon Session starting Monday? The NDA is fully prepared. Since the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi works for 'Sabka Saath', 'Sabka Vikas' and through 'Sabka Prayas', there is no issue on which the government is not in the right. The Opposition, which has reduced itself to opposing everything purely for political reasons, will gain nothing by creating an uproar. Rather, we urge them to offer constructive support to the government. Do you think women voters in Bihar are leaning towards the NDA this time? Yes, not only women voters but every voter who has witnessed the development and positive changes under NDA rule in Bihar will vote for the NDA. Prime Minister Narendra Modi represents trust for them. The 'Modi Guarantee', under the state leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar—who, along with BJP and other allied parties, has made visible changes in Bihar—is widely trusted. Bihar has become a model of women-led development. Will there be a discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament? What our leaders have said stands true. The government has been transparent about Operation Sindoor's success. The Opposition is simply trying to manufacture an issue where none exists. Did US President Trump actually mediate between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, as the Opposition claims? I'm not able to officially comment on such matters. The Opposition's stance is mere political posturing without any basis. They should stop creating unnecessary uproar and focus on being constructive rather than just opposing for opposition's sake. Since you oversee the Department of Atomic Energy, how is India tackling emerging challenges in the sector? India is on track to meet the target of generating 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047, and we are taking all necessary steps toward this goal. In addition to progressing in the civil nuclear energy sector, we are considering converting ten decommissioned thermal power plant sites into nuclear power sites for civilian use, aligning with India's ambition to reach 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047. Are private sector players being actively supported in the nuclear energy sector? Yes, significant changes are planned through updated regulations and legislation. The government, as announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, aims to amend key laws like the Atomic Energy Act and Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act to encourage private sector participation. Organizations such as NPCIL, BHAVINI, and ASHVINI are actively planning new nuclear plants. Indian scientists are developing Bharat Small Modular Reactors (50–300 MW) for retired thermal plants. Under PM Modi's leadership, India strives for self-reliance and global leadership in nuclear energy, aiming to become a developed nation by 2047 with strong private sector growth opportunities. How is India advancing its space program, and what is the status of key missions like Chandrayaan? India has become a global space leader with cost-effective, precise missions. Chandrayaan-3's historic South Pole landing and astronaut Shukla's record experiments highlight this progress. Chandrayaan-4 is slated for 2027, reinforcing India's position in space exploration and scientific innovation. When will India be able to launch its first human space mission, Gaganyaan? Gaganyaan is now in its final phase, and we are optimistic about launching the crewed mission in 2027. We consider it a historic mission that goes beyond scientific accomplishment—it symbolises our emergence as a global space power built on indigenous technology and fiscal prudence under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. How committed is India to promoting research, innovation, and science for the future? Since PM Narendra Modi took office, India has significantly boosted funding for R&D, allocating over Rs 20,000 crore for private sector innovation. This has transformed India into a global leader in science, technology, and startups. The government's focus on fostering a strong ecosystem has driven scientific progress, improving everyday life and showcasing successes like Operation Sindoor.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CPI(M) opposes installation of smart electricity meters in Vijayawada
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has strongly opposed the installation of smart electricity meters in households, accusing the ruling coalition government of burdening the public by surrendering to the directives of the Modi-led Central government. Addressing the press on Saturday, CPI(M) central city secretary Bhupathi Ramana Rao alleged that the smart meters and solar power projects are being used as a cover for large-scale corruption involving contracts and tenders worth crores of rupees. He criticised the government's double standards, pointing out that when the previous government proposed smart meters, TDP, the then-opposition party, had called for their destruction. 'The current coalition must remember its earlier stance,' he said. Mr. Ramana Rao further stated that public sentiment is strongly against the installation of smart meters. He demanded that the government immediately cancel the smart meter and solar power agreements. Highlighting ongoing protests, he said that the CPI(M) has been conducting door-to-door awareness campaigns over the past week in Governorpet, Suryaraopet, and Seetharampuram areas, educating residents about the implications of smart meters and helping them submit individual objections. The CPI(M) leaders submitted a petition and public grievance applications to the assistant engineer at the Governorpet electricity office, demanding a halt to smart meter installations. Ramana Rao warned that if the Electricity Department and the coalition government fail to consider the public's demands, the party would intensify the agitation by mobilising large-scale protests across the city. CPI(M) central city committee members Y. Subbarao, local leaders K. Gurumurthy, B. Lakshman Rao, and K. Venkateswara Reddy were among those who participated in the protest activities.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Kharge slams Modi's development claims, says only Congress guarantees have brought relief to people
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tore into the Narendra Modi-led Union government at a rally in Mysuru on Saturday and trashed its development claims as hollow while asserting that only the Congress' guarantee schemes had brought relief to the people. Mr. Kharge was speaking at Sadhana Samavesha organised by the government, in which 74 development projects worth ₹2,578 crore were either inaugurated or foundation stone laid for them. Copied schemes The AICC chief said that though the BJP was critical of the guarantee schemes announced by the Congress in the run-up to the last Assembly elections in the State, the former had ended up announcing similar schemes in States where it is in power. 'But I have visited most of the BJP-ruled States in the country and none of their guarantee schemes have been implemented properly on the ground,' said Mr. Kharge, who rebuked Mr. Modi for failure to implement welfare schemes. The Prime Minister should visit Karnataka and see for himself how the guarantee schemes have been implemented and how they have been benefiting crores of people, Mr. Kharge added. Taking on the Modi-led government and the BJP on development issues, Mr. Kharge said that when the Congress is in power, it empowers the people socially and economically, while the BJP's policies result in the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few people. Mr. Modi keeps asking what the Congress has done for the country during the years it was in power. But instead of talking of the Congress, let him tell the country what the BJP has done in the last 10 years, dared Mr. Kharge. Economic viability Dismissing sceptics who had questioned the economic viability of the guarantee schemes, Mr. Kharge claimed that if the government had gone bankrupt, it would not have sanctioned ₹50 crore for each MLA to take up development works or launched new projects. These are welfare schemes and they are benefitting crores of people, said Mr. Kharge. The five guarantee schemes of the Congress implemented in Karnataka are known all over the country, said Mr. Kharge and challenged the BJP to show one similar welfare programme launched by it which had worked on the ground. The Congress president dismissed reports of the flight of capital from Bengaluru to Andhra Pradesh or other neighbouring States and said, on the contrary, investors were courting Karnataka. ''When the Congress is in power, Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, graces the State with prosperity but when the BJP is in power, she turns are back and flees,'' quipped Mr. Kharge. Ready for debate Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, speaking on the occasion, dared the Opposition BJP and JD(S) to a debate on the development works in the State. The leaders of the two parties, who were misleading the people of the State 'with a series of lies', should come to one platform for a debate on the development works of the government. 'I too will come,' he said. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the Congress had silenced the Opposition parties with its works, and said the 'hasta' (the party's hand symbol) had given strength to women through the guarantees. 'The government has given a befitting reply to its critics with its works. Each family gets around ₹5,000 a month through the guarantees, ensuring financial stability,' he noted.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
India welcomes US decision to designate TRF as foreign terrorist organisation
The PM Modi-led Centre welcomed on Friday the decision of the United States Department of State to designate The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) acknowledged and appreciated the move, noting that it as a step that aligns with global efforts to combat terrorism . "We acknowledge and appreciate the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio in this regard," the MEA said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo
