Latest news with #OneNation
Hindustan Times
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
MP report card: Sittings enough if Opposition allows House to work without disruptions, says Anurag Thakur
As the 18th Lok Sabha completes its first year, here's a look at four-time MP Anurag Thakur's performance in the lower House of Parliament and his plans for the constituency. As the 18th Lok Sabha completes its first year, here's a look at four-time MP Anurag Thakur's performance in the lower House of Parliament and his plans for the constituency. (HT File) How would you describe your first-year experience? The year has brought an enriching experience for me. The party entrusted me to start the debate by thanksgiving motion. I spoke on the budget, all important debates, be it triple talaq or constitutional debate. I am part of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) of 'One Nation, One Election'. I was also part of the MPs delegation that went on the four-nation tour post Operation Sindoor. The party has given me enough work. I was made a star campaigner by the party. What was the high point of the year for you personally and your party in the House? The budget speech that I made set the narrative. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself tweeted my speech and his tweet came as a pat on the back which for me personally was the high point. Congress had tried to create a 'fake narrative' on the Constitution and caste census which I had countered. Are you satisfied with the number of sittings of the Lok Sabha? The sittings are enough if the House is allowed to work effectively by the Opposition. This is my fourth term and I think the sittings are enough. Opposition mostly disrupts the House for non-issues and whenever they stage a walkout, they lose an opportunity to raise an issue. What is the most effective way to raise issues of public importance in the House? From Zero Hour to Rule 377 to special mentions, participation in short debates along with Question Hour — these are ways one can use to raise the issues of public participation. If one is present in the House, there is no dearth of opportunities to raise issues. What constituency-specific issues were raised by you and what are your plans ahead? The rail budget for Himachal Pradesh has seen a significant increase, with a focus on strengthening rail infrastructure. This includes the Bhanupali-Bilaspur-Beri line and the upgrade of four railway stations under the Amrit Bharat scheme. The Nangal-Talwara rail line project, where land acquisition was previously halted, has been revived and is back on track after Centre took up the issue with Punjab. Apart from this, four-lane work between Mataur and Shimla is on track that will improve connectivity with Kangra and I am working on the four-lane road from Jalandhar to Nadaun in Hamirpur. For the rest of the term, my priority would be to strengthen infrastructure, road and railway network and health and education. Getting big projects will mean employment opportunities for our youth.
Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
PM Modi fulfilled Syama Prasad Mookerjee's dream after 66 years: J&K L-G
J&K L-G Manoj Sinha said on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi fulfilled Syama Prasad Mookerjee's dream 66 years after his martyrdom, asserting that he (Mookerjee) wished active participation of the people of J&K in the mainstream of development and nation-building. 'Today, India is making exponential strides in its development journey to achieve his (Mookerjee's) other resolves of building a strong, united, and developed India,' he said while attending the 125th birth anniversary celebration of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, at Tagore Hall, in Srinagar. Paying rich tributes to Mookerjee, the L-G recalled his immense contributions as one of the key architects of modern India. 'Mookerjee was a visionary statesman, educationist and fearless parliamentarian whose ideals continue to shape the destiny of India. His profound knowledge and resolute commitment to social cohesion and harmony will always be remembered,' he said. He further observed that J&K has launched a two-year celebratory campaign to honour the life and legacy of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and his role in strengthening national unity and advocating 'One Nation, One Constitution' for a brighter future of J&K. 'Syama Prasad Mookerjee sacrificed his life for the unification of J&K with India. He was a proponent of "One Nation, One Constitution' and opposed Article 370. His martyrdom in Srinagar while fighting for J&K's complete integration remained a defining moment in the nation's history,' he said. The L-G pointed out that PM Modi fulfilled Mookerjee's dream 66 years after his martyrdom, adding that, 'The achievements of J&K post-August 2019 are guided by the dream of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and the resolve of PM Modi. he (Mookerjee) was guided by the vision to build a discrimination-free J&K and to change its destiny by complete integration with India.' The L-G claimed that Mookerjee wished active participation of the people of J&K in the mainstream of development and nation-building. 'With the inspiration of Mookerjee and the commitment of PM Modi, J&K is setting new records of development. Mookerjee was the chief architect of India's industrialisation. He laid the foundation of a self-reliant India,' he claimed. He said that Mookerjee breathed his last in Srinagar, and the entire J&K is indebted to him. 'The new generation should actively engage in honouring his legacy. Week-long exhibitions in educational institutions and theatrical performances depicting his life's journey should be organised,' he claimed.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
KSRTC travel card gains traction, demand rises for unified ticketing
KOCHI: With the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) rolling out a travel card, there are now calls from several quarters for an integrated ticketing system — on the lines of the Kochi1 card — to facilitate seamless travel across multiple modes of transport. However, several hurdles remain in implementing services such as the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), also known as 'One Nation, One Card' -- a contactless debit card developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for payments across transport systems. While the 'Chalo' card and app, rolled out by KSRTC, are being hailed as a solution to problems like 'change' (coins and smaller-denomination currency), they are part of a closed-loop payment system that doesn't permit integration with other transport modes. 'The closed-loop system involves risk of fraud by stakeholders. BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation) switched over from closed loop to open loop after it lost Rs 4,000 after staff of a single bus deleted ticketing data and siphoned off the amount. The open-loop system is now increasingly being adopted the world over due to security concerns. Practically, it can't be integrated with other modes of transport or the ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce),' said G P Hari, former additional general manager (urban transport), Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL). The closest the state has come to implementing a single-ticketing system was in 2018 when the Kochi1 card, introduced by KMRL, was extended to private buses in the city. Seven private bus companies signed an agreement with KMRL for the smart cards and the facility was extended to nearly 900 buses run by Perfect Bus Metro Services, Kochi Metropolitan Transport Co-operative Society Ltd, My Metro, Muziris, Prateeksha Transport Operators Organisation Pvt Ltd, Kochi Wheelz United, and Greater Cochin Bus Transport. 'However, the initiative was wound down during the Covid lockdown when bus operators withdrew after Axis Bank put forward additional conditions. Also, there were issues like electronic ticketing machines (ETMs) developing glitches,' said Navas K M, a bus owner and member of Kochi Wheelz United. Demand for discounts Meanwhile, experts are advocating introducing discounts, similar to Kochi Metro, for luring more commuters to purchase travel cards, while they back up the KSRTC initiative to roll out the smartcard-based payment system.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE: 2 Uganda mosques to honour Indian doctor who died in RAK plane crash
A heartfelt tribute to a young UK-based Indian doctor who died in a light aircraft crash in Ras Al Khaimah has taken shape in the form of two mosques being built in Uganda instead of one initially planned. Dr Sulaymaan Al Majid, 26, a clinical fellow at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, was visiting the UAE to meet his family when he tragically lost his life in a sightseeing flight on December 26, 2024. The aircraft, piloted by Pakistani captain Frinza, crashed off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah, killing both her and Dr Sulaymaan. In the months since, friends and colleagues in the UK launched a charity campaign in his memory, raising funds through One Nation, a UK-based humanitarian organisation. What began as a modest effort to fund a single mosque quickly grew into a campaign that raised enough to build two mosques in Uganda. Posters with QR codes and tributes to Dr Sulaymaan were put up in mosques across the UK, calling on worshippers to honour his legacy through 'Sadaqah Jariyah' — a form of charity that continues to benefit others long after a person has passed. 'In loving memory of Dr Sulaymaan Al Majid,' read the posters, describing him as a 'beloved brother, doctor, and student leader whose impact lives on.' During his time at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), where he served as president of the School of Medicine, Sulaymaan left an indelible mark. He helped establish regular Friday prayers on campus, championed junior doctors' pay and wellbeing, and was an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights. His father, Majid Mukarram, told Khaleej Times the family has been deeply moved by the outpouring of support. 'We are amazed how the students rallied behind this cause. The funds raised have made it possible to build two mosques now, instead of one, in Uganda,' he said. 'Expected construction completion is before Hajj next year.' He added: 'On behalf of our family, we thank Dr Sulaymaan's colleagues and friends who initiated this project. This is an ongoing charity that will benefit generations to come.' Dr Sulaymaan was born and raised in the UAE and was the eldest of three brothers. A prominent voice in medical advocacy, he served as honorary secretary and later co-chair of the Northern Resident Doctors Committee of the British Medical Association (BMA). He played a pivotal role in pushing for the term 'junior doctors' to be replaced with 'resident doctors' and championed fairer treatment and recognition for NHS trainees. He also helped organise picket lines, represented resident doctors at key national forums, and contributed to policy discussions at the BMA's National Resident Doctors Conference and annual general meetings. Passionate about education, he served as Teaching Lead at the North East Foundation Trainees Surgical Society, mentoring aspiring surgeons.
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson laments exploding public sector reaching record levels under Albanese government
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has lamented the Albanese government's bloated public sector and claimed the huge growth in workers was 'making our life worse'. The federal public service has expanded to record levels under Labor, despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledging to bolster lagging productivity growth. New Australian Public Service (APS) data has revealed the federal bureaucracy is set to balloon to a record-breaking 213,000 staff, up from a 14-year low of 144,704 workers at the end of 2019. A considerable number of the growing workforce is made of up compliance, regulation, administrative, and human resources officers tasked with supervising the mammoth public service. The compliance category, which makes up HR, policy and regulation employees experienced the steepest bump, surging by more than 41,000 workers over five years to December 2024. 'They're actually making our life worse,' Senator Hanson told Sky News on Thursday. 'You put in more public servants, that means more taxpayers' money has to pay the wages and then on top of that you've got all superannuation on top and then all your benefits and everything.' Senator Hanson said the expanded public service was a 'drain' of taxpayers' dollars. 'Albanese has also increased (the public service) because public servants will vote for Labor because they've got a job for life and they're just going to not sack them,' she added. Mr Albanese made the topic of the federal bureaucracy a central talking point in the recent election and defended his government's hiring spree while criticising former opposition leader Peter Dutton's plan to cull over 41,000 civil servants in the nation's capital. Senator Hanson said the Liberal Party backing away from the policy to crack down on working from home was a 'big mistake'. 'They should have followed through on that,' she said. Despite Mr Albanese vowing to lift lagging productivity and reduce the workforce's dependency on government support, Australian Bureau of Statistics data released last week showed that the almost one million workers were employed in federal, state, territory, and local government positions. This makes up 6.8 per cent of the Australian workforce.
