Latest news with #PrithvirajHarichandan
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Odisha to announce new excise policy by June 20: Minister
The Odisha government's new excise policy will be announced by June 20, Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said on Friday. "We are going to implement a three-year-long excise policy in a calibrated manner. We have formed several teams to study the excise policies of various states, and these teams have already started their visits. That is why the government is taking some time to formulate the new policy," Harichandan told reporters. A team led by the excise secretary is scheduled to visit Andhra Pradesh soon. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Liquidação de Vinho faz sucesso e viraliza Vinho Barato Undo "After the team's visit, the new policy will be announced, most likely between June 15 and June 20," the minister added. Previously, the BJD government had prepared an excise policy for each financial year. Live Events While the new BJP government issued a similar one last year, it now plans to implement a policy that will remain in force for three years. Harichandan also announced that the state government will launch a large-scale anti-drug addiction campaign across the state. The campaign will involve students, communities, youth and women. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is scheduled to launch the campaign on World No Tobacco Day (May 31), and it will continue till International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (June 26), he said. Harichandan added that the anti-drug addiction campaign, including public awareness, street play, folk arts, essay and debate competitions, will be organised during the period. It will be organised by the excise department in association with departments like Mission Shakti, Culture, School and Mass Education, Higher Education, and others.
India Gazette
19-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan issues stern warning to YouTubers linked to espionage
Bhubaneswar [Odisha], May 19 (ANI): Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Monday addressed the alleged link between YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra and YouTuber Priyanka Senapati, saying the government is firm against any illegal activity harming the state's interests. 'If somebody is involved in any illegal activity which hampers the interest of the state, the government is very firm in such cases. If somebody is spying for another country, or if anyone is supporting or helping them, they will also be taken on a proper task,' Harichandan said. He added that those involved will be linked with the investigative process, and if any connection is found, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will conduct a thorough probe. 'The investigation and prosecution process will be taken up properly. If any link is established, the matter will be taken very seriously and the situation will be handled accordingly,' the Minister said. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey also urged the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate the foreign tours, advertisements and bank accounts of online influencers after Jyoti Malhotra was arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive information and being in continuous contact with a Pakistani citizen. The BJP MP in a post on X said that the central agencies should investigate the activities of YouTubers, media influencers, Facebook journalists, and unemployed journalists in the last 5 years, whether they are also running an 'agenda' in connivance with some 'foreign powers'. 'Seeing the exploits of Jyoti Malhotra, who was caught spying for Pakistan, @NIA_India @dir_ed should investigate the foreign tours, advertisements, bank accounts, cars, and houses of such YouTubers, media influencers, Facebook journalists, and unemployed journalists in the last 5 years and whether they are also running an agenda in connivance with some foreign powers. In the last 3 years, Indians have earned 21 thousand crores from YouTube alone, @MIB_India @HMOIndia,' he said. Jyoti Malhotra, a resident of Hisar, Haryana, was arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive information and being in continuous contact with a Pakistani citizen. According to Shashank Kumar Sawan, Superintendent of Police (SP) Hisar, Malhotra was being developed as an asset and had maintained ties with other YouTube influencers and Pakistani nationals. Sawan stated, 'She was in touch with other YouTube influencers, and they were also in contact with the Pakistan Information Officers (PIOs). She used to go to Pakistan, like, on sponsored trips. She was in Pakistan before the Pahalgam attack, and the investigation is ongoing to establish any possible linkages.' Jyoti Malhotra was interrogated for allegedly passing information to the Pakistani side. She allegedly met a Pakistani officer, Ahsan-ur-Rahim, in Delhi, travelled to Pakistan twice, and shared sensitive information. Hisar DSP Kamaljeet said that the police have taken the woman on a five-day remand. She has been booked under the Official Secrets Act and relevant sections of BNS. The DSP said that police received 'some suspicious things' from her mobile and laptop. 'Yesterday, based on inputs that we had, we arrested Jyoti, daughter of Haris Kumar, under the Official Secret Act and BNS 152. We have received some suspicious things after we recovered her mobile and laptop. We have taken her on a five-day remand, and further investigation is on. She was in continuous contact with a Pakistani citizen,' Kamaljeet said. During the preliminary investigation, the woman told the police that she went to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi in 2023 to apply for a visa and met a man named Ahsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish. She also told the police that after exchanging numbers, she started talking to Ahsan-ur-Rahim and travelled twice to Pakistan. Officials said that the woman also told during the investigation that Ahsan-ur-Rahim arranged for her stay and travel and arranged meetings with Pakistani security and intelligence agencies. (ANI)
India Gazette
17-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Will help the globe to save mankind from cancerous disease of terrorism": Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 17 (ANI): Reacting to the all-party delegation's visit to different countries, Odisha Minister Prithviraj Harichandan on Saturday said that the Union government is doing this to save mankind from the 'cancerous disease of terrorism.' 'The Union government is doing this to strengthen our country's position and create a consciousness regarding terrorism. This will help the globe to save mankind from the cancerous disease of terrorism,' the Odisha Minister said. Meanwhile, Congress leader Sandeep Dixit asserted that the Congress has done this before, adding that he has also been a part of such multi-party delegations earlier. 'We have done this before as well. On important issues, a group of leaders from all parties always goes abroad to talks... I have also been a part of such multi-party delegations, and wherever we go, we always speak only the brief information given to us by the Indian government,' Sandeep Dixit told ANI. A seven-member all-party delegation is set to visit key partner countries, including members of the UN Security Council, later this month in the context of Operation Sindoor and India's continued fight against cross-border terrorism. The following Members of Parliament will lead the seven delegations: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, JDU leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, BJP leader Baijayant Panda, DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule, and Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Eknath Shinde. In a post on X, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said that India stands united, and seven all-party Delegations will soon visit key partner nations 'In moments that matter most, Bharat stands united. Seven All-Party Delegations will soon visit key partner nations, carrying our shared message of zero tolerance to terrorism. A powerful reflection of national unity above politics, beyond differences,' Rijiju posted on X. The All-Party Delegations will project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations. They would carry forth to the world the country's strong message of zero tolerance against terrorism. Members of Parliament from different parties, prominent political personalities, and distinguished diplomats will be part of each delegation. The tour is expected to last 10 days, commencing on May 23. The parliamentarians' groups are likely to visit several key world capitals, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Japan. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. India's precision strikes in Pakistan and PoJK on May 7 killed over 100 terrorists. (ANI)
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Centre approved national highway projects worth Rs 13,000 cr in Odisha in FY'26: Minister
The central government has approved national highway projects worth Rs 13,000 crore in Odisha for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The state government aims to complete Rs 2,000 crore worth of road construction by September. The Sambalpur-Cuttack national highway project, delayed due to financial issues, is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Centre has approved national highway projects worth Rs 13,000 crore in Odisha during the ongoing 2025-26 fiscal, a state minister said on Thursday. Out of those projects, the Odisha government has set a target to complete road construction work to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore by September, Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said here."We have to expedite the pace of construction work. We have set a target to make an expenditure of Rs 2,000 crore by September. If we complete the projects on time, we can get (a total of) Rs 13,000 crore (worth highway projects) from the Union government and create a new record on construction of national highways in the state," he also expressed confidence that Odisha will be able to add to its national highways network more than what the state had achieved in the last five on the national highway project connecting Sambalpur and Cuttack, he said it got delayed due to financial issues of the executing agency."Now, the issue has been resolved and the work is almost complete, barring some portions. I am confident that the remaining work... will be completed by the end of this year," the minister project, which began in 2017, had an initial completion target by 2020.
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Mohua flower sale norm needs a change: MLA
MALKANGIRI: Malkangiri MLA Narasinga Madkami met Excise minister Prithviraj Harichandan in Bhubaneswar on Friday and urged him to bring changes in the Orissa Excise (Mohua Flower) Rules-1976 to benefit harvesters by providing them suitable minimum support prices similar to neighbouring Chhattisgarh. Madkami informed that the state government issues licenses to villagers to sell mohua flowers under the category 'Go Khadya' (cattle feed) which he said needs to be changed. The MLA said that he suggested to simplify the rules and regulations regarding sale of mohua flower, following Chhattisgarh's model. Such changes will increase government revenue and benefit the common people, mohua flower sellers and marginal businessmen, he added.
