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Time of India
2 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
No legal action against ineligible Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin scheme beneficiaries, says Ajit Pawar
Pune: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar made it clear on Sunday that the govt would not pursue legal action against Ladki Bahin beneficiaries found ineligible. Pawar was responding to questions in Pune about 2,200 ineligible govt employees who have received benefits under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, which was announced just ahead of the Nov 2024 assembly elections. "When the scheme was launched, there wasn't enough time for a detailed verification process due to the upcoming elections. We appealed to people not to apply if they didn't meet the eligibility criteria, but some still went ahead and availed themselves of the benefits. We are not going to recover the money from them, but their names are now being removed from the list during the ongoing scrutiny," Pawar said. He confirmed that some govt employees were among the ineligible recipients. "There will be no legal action against them," he added. Under the scheme, eligible women in the age group of 21-65 are entitled to a monthly aid of Rs 1,500. The govt had made it clear that only those with an annual income of Rs 2.5 lakh or less could apply for the benefits, and govt employees would not be eligible. The total misuse of govt funds is estimated at around Rs 3.5 crore. The deputy CM was in Pune to attend the International Agriculture Hackathon at the Agriculture College in Shivajinagar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Roar into Style! Leopard Print Slim Fitting Dress! Undo Unleash Your Wild Side: Leopard Print Slim Dress! Undo Level Up Your Look: Men Tracksuit with Hoodie! Undo Get the Look: Rhinestone Juicy Sweatsuit - Shop Modefash! Undo Complete Your Look: Women's 3-Piece Sweatsuit - Undo Chic Comfort! Women's 3-Piece Sweatsuit. Undo Shop Exclusive Deals & Save Big! Undo Modefash: Ultimate Comfort - Men's Tracksuit with Hoodie! Undo Sparkle & Shine: Trending Rhinestone Juicy Sweatsuit! Undo Don't Miss Out! Exclusive Deals at Undo Responding to questions on heavy rainfall in parts of the state, Pawar said govt has instructed local administrations to conduct panchnamas to assess crop damage. He said govt has already arranged funds, and once the damage reports are submitted, appropriate steps would be taken. On reports about increased firearm licences issued by Pune Police between 2021 and 2023, he said that all the applications would be reviewed. "The police will be asked to verify the background of all individuals granted licences during this period. If no valid need is found, their licences will be revoked," he said. The deputy CM added that he had received similar complaints from Beed earlier. At that time, the SP had reviewed all the licences, and cancelled some, he said, and added that the same thing can be done in Pune as well. Unrest among Nagaland NCP MLAs Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar said on Sunday that a merger of all seven NCP MLAs in Nagaland with the governing Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) was triggered by growing unrest among them due to development projects in their constituencies getting stalled. Pawar said the MLAs had met him in Mumbai two to three months ago to express their concerns. "I told them we could speak to Nagaland CM [Neiphiu Rio] and request him to ensure their issues are resolved, especially since NCP was supporting the ruling [NDPP-BJP] govt in the state. I also discussed the matter with Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who assured me that he would speak to the Nagaland CM," Pawar said. He clarified that there was no violation of anti-defection law since all seven MLAs switched sides together. "I was unwell for the last two days, so I have not received detailed updates. But I will speak with the party's state president in Nagaland to review the situation," Pawar added. After the 2023 Nagaland elections, NCP had emerged as the third-largest party with seven MLAs. NCP then backed the governing NDPP-BJP alliance, contributing to an opposition-less assembly.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Sanand GIDC firms get panchayat tax notices
Ahmedabad:At least 300 industrial units including multinational corporations operating out of Sanand GIDC estate have received property tax notices from Hirapur Gram Panchayat, warning of prosecution, bank account attachment, and property seizure for non-payment. The move has reignited protests over double taxation, despite the state government's 2022 announcement to end such overlaps in GIDC estates—a policy that is yet to be implemented. As a result, industries remain caught in the crossfire between state policy inaction and local panchayat enforcement The Sanand GIDC estate, which the state government is positioning as a model industrial hub, spans across four different village panchayats. Industrial units are asked to pay service charge to the GIDC, and property tax also to local gram panchayats—despite receiving no municipal services from the local authority. Ajit Shah, President of the Sanand Industries Association (SIA), said, "More than 150 GIDC estates across the state face this issue of double taxation. In 2022, the state government announced it would implement the Ahmedabad model—wherein 75% of the property tax collected is returned to the industry association by the local authority—but this has not been put into effect. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Roar into Style! Leopard Print Slim Fitting Dress! Undo Unleash Your Wild Side: Leopard Print Slim Dress! Undo Level Up Your Look: Men Tracksuit with Hoodie! Undo Get the Look: Rhinestone Juicy Sweatsuit - Shop Modefash! Undo Complete Your Look: Women's 3-Piece Sweatsuit - Undo Chic Comfort! Women's 3-Piece Sweatsuit. Undo Shop Exclusive Deals & Save Big! Undo Modefash: Ultimate Comfort - Men's Tracksuit with Hoodie! Undo Sparkle & Shine: Trending Rhinestone Juicy Sweatsuit! Undo Don't Miss Out! Exclusive Deals at Undo Due to this inaction, we have stopped paying property tax. " "Now, Hirapur Panchayat has issued notices threatening attachment of some bank accounts, prosecution, and property seizure under various acts. We strongly oppose this. We demand that the state government either implement the 75:25 model or officially notify all GIDC estates, thereby eliminating the issue of dual taxation," Shah added. When queried about the issue, a company official said on condition of anonymity, " "All the facilities such as water supply, roads, drainage, sanitation, and waste management are provided by GIDC, for which we regularly pay service charges. The gram panchayat does not offer any facilities to industrial units. A petition has been filed in the Gujarat High Court challenging the legal jurisdiction of gram panchayats over GIDC plots. " The issue is proving especially problematic for multinational corporations (MNCs), which make up a significant part of Sanand GIDC's industrial base. Many local officers say they are struggling to explain the dual tax demands to their global headquarters, adding to operational complications and damaging investor confidence. Sanand shot to global prominence with the Tata Nano project, and its GIDC estate now hosts 54 multinational firms and around 600 domestic industrial units. According to the association, of 1,200 hectares of saleable land in the estate, over 1,000 hectares have already been allotted to industry. Ahmedabad:At least 300 industrial units including multinational corporations operating out of Sanand GIDC estate have received property tax notices from Hirapur Gram Panchayat, warning of prosecution, bank account attachment, and property seizure for non-payment. The move has reignited protests over double taxation, despite the state government's 2022 announcement to end such overlaps in GIDC estates—a policy that is yet to be implemented. As a result, industries remain caught in the crossfire between state policy inaction and local panchayat enforcement The Sanand GIDC estate, which the state government is positioning as a model industrial hub, spans across four different village panchayats. Industrial units are asked to pay service charge to the GIDC, and property tax also to local gram panchayats—despite receiving no municipal services from the local authority. Ajit Shah, President of the Sanand Industries Association (SIA), said, "More than 150 GIDC estates across the state face this issue of double taxation. In 2022, the state government announced it would implement the Ahmedabad model—wherein 75% of the property tax collected is returned to the industry association by the local authority—but this has not been put into effect. Due to this inaction, we have stopped paying property tax. " "Now, Hirapur Panchayat has issued notices threatening attachment of some bank accounts, prosecution, and property seizure under various acts. We strongly oppose this. We demand that the state government either implement the 75:25 model or officially notify all GIDC estates, thereby eliminating the issue of dual taxation," Shah added. When queried about the issue, a company official said on condition of anonymity, " "All the facilities such as water supply, roads, drainage, sanitation, and waste management are provided by GIDC, for which we regularly pay service charges. The gram panchayat does not offer any facilities to industrial units. A petition has been filed in the Gujarat High Court challenging the legal jurisdiction of gram panchayats over GIDC plots. " The issue is proving especially problematic for multinational corporations (MNCs), which make up a significant part of Sanand GIDC's industrial base. Many local officers say they are struggling to explain the dual tax demands to their global headquarters, adding to operational complications and damaging investor confidence. Sanand shot to global prominence with the Tata Nano project, and its GIDC estate now hosts 54 multinational firms and around 600 domestic industrial units. According to the association, of 1,200 hectares of saleable land in the estate, over 1,000 hectares have already been allotted to industry.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
NFSU's ‘digital threat library' to advance drone forensics
The National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) is building a comprehensive "digital threat library" with an aim to identify the make of unmanned aerial vehicles that are being increasingly used in modern conflicts. Recently, during Operation Sindoor, security forces recovered the debris of shot-down drones spanning from Kutch to Kashmir, with several identified as Turkish-made YIHA III kamikaze drones. In the past few years, drones of different designs have played both defensive and offensive roles in conflicts by countries from the US to Ukraine along with civilian use. The current repository at NFSU includes data pertaining to 35 different types of drones from major manufacturer countries such as the US, China and Israel and comprising of 5,000 different parts and components. "The drones seized by security forces are often damaged. Sometimes fragments of such unmanned aerial vehicles or unmanned aircraft systems (UAV/UAS) are found. The purpose of creating the library is to quickly identify the make of such UAVs and other details. We are in the process of expanding the library with latest models and details from other countries and manufacturers," said a senior NFSU official. Security experts note that drone technology extends far beyond the commonly known quadcopters. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Roar into Style! Leopard Print Slim Fitting Dress! Undo Unleash Your Wild Side: Leopard Print Slim Dress! Undo Level Up Your Look: Men Tracksuit with Hoodie! Undo Get the Look: Rhinestone Juicy Sweatsuit - Shop Modefash! Undo Complete Your Look: Women's 3-Piece Sweatsuit - Undo Chic Comfort! Women's 3-Piece Sweatsuit. Undo Shop Exclusive Deals & Save Big! Undo Modefash: Ultimate Comfort - Men's Tracksuit with Hoodie! Undo Sparkle & Shine: Trending Rhinestone Juicy Sweatsuit! Undo Don't Miss Out! Exclusive Deals at Undo The unmanned systems are categorized by design as either fixed-wing or single/multi-rotor configurations, range in size from micro to large-scale units, and can operate individually or in coordinated swarms. The most common use of drones in security applications is intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), but it can also be used to evade air defence systems or used for direct attacks. "While the make of the drones can help investigating agencies ascertain whether it is non-civilian or non-recreational in nature, based on visual match with database, digital forensics can help analyse telemetry data. It is extracted from a flight controller or chip that can provide details such as flight path, origin and destination, altitude and so on," said an official. The drone forensics experts make the identification based on its frame or chassis, flight controller, propeller, battery and other parts. Apart from military use, the repository aims to help police and paramilitary forces entrusted with protection of critical infrastructure and VVIPs. "It will help solve crimes involving drones," the senior NFSU official said. Dr J M Vyas, vice-chancellor of NFSU, said that UAVs/UASs play important roles across multiple sectors, making drone forensics the need of the hour and a timely addition to forensic science disciplines addressing emerging security threats. "While the discipline has seen a growing student interest in the past couple of years, we are also training police, paramilitary and military officers in digital and drone forensics to equip them with technical know-how to handle drone-related security cases," he added.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Gone absolutely CRAZY': Donald Trump slams Putin, mulls new sanctions on Russia
Russia is bombing Ukrainian cities with record ferocity. US President Donald Trump on Sunday declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin has 'gone absolutely CRAZY' as Moscow launched its largest aerial assault of the war on Ukraine, a barrage of 367 drones and missiles that killed at least 12 civilians, including children. Trump's harsh words - echoed in interviews and on social media - represent one of his sharpest rebukes of the Russian leader, even as he also blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for stoking tensions. 'Something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY!' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'I've always said that he wants ALL of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that's proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!' Trump didn't hold back during his remarks on the Morristown, New Jersey airport tarmac. 'He's killing a lot of people. I don't know what the hell happened to him, right? He's sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don't like it at all,' he added. But he also lambasted Zelenskyy for 'talking the way he does' and 'causing problems.' Trump's crossfire Even as he castigated Putin, Trump had barbs for Ukraine's Zelenskyy too, saying he was 'doing his Country no favors by talking the way he does.' Trump's allies argue he's trying to push both sides to the table. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Roar into Style! Leopard Print Slim Fitting Dress! Undo Unleash Your Wild Side: Leopard Print Slim Dress! Undo Level Up Your Look: Men Tracksuit with Hoodie! Undo Get the Look: Rhinestone Juicy Sweatsuit - Shop Modefash! Undo Complete Your Look: Women's 3-Piece Sweatsuit - Undo Chic Comfort! Women's 3-Piece Sweatsuit. Undo Shop Exclusive Deals & Save Big! Undo Modefash: Ultimate Comfort - Men's Tracksuit with Hoodie! Undo Sparkle & Shine: Trending Rhinestone Juicy Sweatsuit! Undo Don't Miss Out! Exclusive Deals at Undo But his public scolding of Zelenskyy as 'causing problems' has muddied America's stance, leaving Ukraine anxious about its most powerful backer's resolve. The New York Times described Trump's diplomacy as a 'theatrical performance that has nothing to do with the reality of trenches or bomb shelters.' Ukrainians, battered and exhausted, are no longer waiting for miracles from the outside. 'America and Russia are playing a dirty and bloody game,' Liliia Zambrovska, a pharmacist in Dnipro, told the NYT. 'Our future belongs to us alone.' 'Emotional overload' The Kremlin on Monday suggested that Trump's comment on Putin might be a reaction to emotional strain. At the same time, they thanked the US president for helping to kickstart peace negotiations in Ukraine. "We are really grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organising and launching this negotiation process," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked about Trump's comment on Putin. "Of course, at the same time, this is a very crucial moment, which is associated, of course, with the emotional overload of everyone absolutely and with emotional reactions." The question of sanity Putin's decision to unleash the largest aerial attack of the war - using 298 drones and 69 missiles in a single night - is a show of force but also a sign of Russia's reliance on brute tactics. Ukraine's military intelligence says Russia plans to ramp up drone production to 500 a day, intensifying fears that the war's bloodshed is nowhere near its peak. Amid this carnage, Trump's diagnosis of Putin as 'crazy' taps into a long-running debate in Washington and European capitals. Some see in Putin's increasingly violent tactics and rhetoric signs of a leader disconnected from reality - and willing to risk everything. Former US officials and analysts point to the Russian leader's increasingly erratic statements, including his insistence that he's fighting Nato and that the West wants to break up Russia itself. Bloomberg's battlefield data show Russia's military has advanced only incrementally this year, taking a fraction of territory at enormous cost. A year ago, Russia was clawing forward at about 125 square kilometers a week. This spring, that pace has plummeted to 41. The Economist, in a blistering dispatch, called the aerial blitz a sign that Russia is 'raining hellfire' to break Ukraine's will. But it also warned that even as the drone and missile barrages grow, Russia's ground war is stalling. For some, this gap between Putin's violent ambition and his army's grinding reality is a sign of a leader unmoored from reality - or at least from any reasonable calculus of gain and loss. Putin has been an ineffective and cautious war leader, failing to achieve almost any of his stated military objectives three years into Russia's war against Ukraine, despite an estimated 900,000 Russians killed and wounded.[6] His forces have not captured Kyiv, as they set out to do in 2022, nor have they captured all of Kherson, Zaporizhia, or Donetsk oblasts. They have been on the offensive for roughly 18 months but have gained only limited territory — and almost no significant settlements — at a staggering cost in casualties and lost materiel. An article titled 'Hiding Russia's Weakness' in ISW Between the lines: The Kremlin's calculation Trump's blunt assessment has set off a fresh round of debate: is Putin really losing his mind? Or is there cold method behind the madness? But is Putin truly 'crazy,' or simply following a cold, strategic logic shaped by years of confrontation with the West? Analysts caution that while his decisions may seem unhinged to outside observers, they remain rooted in a worldview where survival depends on confrontation. The Economist notes that Russia has fundamentally shifted its approach, flooding Ukraine's skies with hundreds of drones in an attempt to exhaust its air defenses - a strategy that is brutal, but not irrational. The Kremlin's narrative, amplified in Russian state media, is that this is an existential war - one that Russia must win to secure its future against what it sees as a hostile West. In that light, Putin's escalation is less about personal madness and more about his belief that only total victory can secure Russia's place in the world. Putin's tactics may be horrifying to Western observers, but they have a chilling logic: keep up the pressure on Ukraine's cities and exhaust the West's willingness to keep sending weapons and money. At the same time, the Russian economy has proven surprisingly resilient, with oil revenues stabilizing despite sanctions. As Russian military analyst Igor Korotchenko told the Moscow-based National Defense Magazine, 'Whatever territorial gains Russia makes will objectively strengthen its hand in the negotiations.' From the Kremlin's point of view, 'crazy' or not, escalation is a tool to break Ukrainian resolve and Western unity. The view from Kyiv Ukrainian leaders, meanwhile, see no evidence that Putin is ready to stop - or that Trump's shifting stance will help. In a fiery post on Telegram, Zelenskyy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak wrote, 'Without pressure, nothing will change and Russia and its allies will only build up forces for such murders in Western countries.' Many Ukrainians now see the war as a battle of wills as much as weapons. 'America and Russia are playing a dirty and bloody game,' said Liliia Zambrovska, a pharmacist in Dnipro, speaking to the New York Times. 'But Ukraine will fight on because our future belongs to us alone.' Europe's worries, China's shadow The fighting has also become a test of European resolve. France and Germany have both pledged new aid to Ukraine, but they fear Trump's vacillations - and they know that Russia's growing ties with China add a new layer of peril. Even if Ukraine survives, the specter of a Russia more deeply tied to Beijing haunts Europe's future. The final risk: Not a madman, but a man who can't stop? Is Putin truly 'crazy'? Or simply a man so locked into his own myth - the myth of Russia's rebirth through conquest - that he can't change course? Eric Ciaramella, of the Carnegie Endowment, thinks Putin's talk of 'all of Ukraine' may be pure bluff, given the Kremlin's actual battlefield struggles. 'Russia is only achieving localized breakthroughs,' he said. 'Putin's thinking that he can take all four regions swiftly - or even any time soon - is not realistic at all.' For now, though, Putin's actions suggest he sees no way back. His Russia is bombing Ukrainian cities with record ferocity, while his army grinds forward in the east. Every day he avoids a ceasefire is a day he can sell the war at home as proof of Russia's strength - or at least as a shield against its enemies. The destruction of Ukraine - and of Russia? Trump warned that Putin's full conquest of Ukraine would 'lead to the downfall of Russia!' But does Putin see that risk? Some think he does - and simply doesn't care. In 'The Russia That Putin Made', Alexander Gabuev wrote in Foreign Affairs that 'Putin's Russia has become much more repressive, and anti-Westernism has only become more pervasive.' In this worldview, crushing Ukraine is worth any price, even if it means turning Russia into a fortress-state at permanent odds with the West. Others, like Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense Magazine in Moscow, believe Putin sees victory - or at least the illusion of it - as the only way to maintain his grip on power. 'Whatever territorial gains Russia makes will objectively strengthen its hand in negotiations,' he said in a recent interview. Sadly, history offers a darker possibility: that Putin's 'crazy' war could drag on for years, because no one around him dares to say no. Until then, the war will continue - as much a reflection of one man's warped vision as of any cold logic. Whether that vision is truly 'crazy' is almost beside the point. The cost is real, and it is paid in blood every night that the drones keep coming.
