Maharashtra Congress Chief Nana Patole on Friday attacked Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis for his allegations that several organisations associated with Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra were undermining the state and democracy, and promoting "Urban Naxalism." His demand came a day after the Maharashtra CM told the assembly that 40 of the 180 outfits that took part in the Bharat Jodo Yatra were named as frontal organisations when the Congress-(undivided) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ruled the state and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power at the Centre."Congress is never involved in any anti-social activity. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for the nation and the Constitution of India. Rahul Gandhi received a lot of support in the Bharat Jodo Yatra and he united the nation...I wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding a list of the organisations," Patole said.In the letter, the Maharashtra Congress Chief also called for transparency and demanded CM Fadnavis to provide a list of the "urban Naxal" organisations and their heads. who allegedly participated in the Bharat Jodo Yatra, news agency ANI reported. Patole stated, "In progressive Maharashtra, various organisations have been doing social work for several years and are working for the welfare of the poor and common citizens of the state. Such organizations are working to strengthen democracy in the state and country. Along with such social organizations, intellectuals, and senior citizens also participated in Bharat Jodo Yatra. It is very wrong for the Chief Minister of the state to call such organizations Naxalite."Further, speaking to reporters today, he pointed out that Congress has "never" been involved in any 'anti-social' activity.Patole's reply comes to CM Fadnavis's allegations made during his address in the Maharashtra Assembly this week, ANI reported.The CM also addressed the concerns of the people about the 'Maharashtra Special Public Safety Bill-2024'.Speaking in the Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday, CM Fadnavis stated that the bill was introduced in the Legislative Assembly to "close down the urban Naxal hideouts"."The threat of Naxalism is not limited to remote areas only. Many front organisations have been formed. They are trying to shake the faith in the Constitution through an ecosystem. Many of these organisations try to rescue the arrested Naxalites," he said.(With ANI inputs)
20 December,2024 10:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe authorities of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport will kick off the celebrations of its 100 years of flight operations on Saturday, officials said. According to news agency PTI, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu is scheduled to launch the three-month-long celebrations of the milestone on Saturday. The airport's terminal building and the premises on the city-side area, including the garden facing it, have been decked up with multi-coloured lighting, PTI reported. Several posters related to the event have been put up inside the terminal building as well. "Celebrating 100 years of Kolkata Airport! Join us for the inaugural event at the Airport Lawn, Arrival Area, Kolkata Airport tomorrow at 4:30 PM. A century of connectivity, progress, and memories," the airport's official handle posted on X on Friday. According to PTI, a short film on the 100 years' history of Kolkata airport will be displayed during the opening of the event, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said. The celebrations will include panel discussions and talks on aviation by eminent personalities and aviation experts. Besides, regular cultural events such as flash mobs and extempore performance will take place in the terminal building, where local artists, passengers and stakeholders will participate, the official added. A signature campaign will also be organised to mark the occasion. In addition, videos of passengers sharing their travel experience during the celebration will be made. AAI has also lined up a series of initiatives, among which is releasing of a commemorative stamp, a coin and memorabilia to commemorate the 100 years of flight operations at Kolkata airport. Noida airport: CM increases land compensation for farmers Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath on Friday announced an increase in land compensation rates for farmers providing their land for the Noida International Airport in Jewar area of Gautam Buddh Nagar district, news agency PTI reported. The compensation rate has been raised by Rs 1,200 per square metres, fulfilling long-standing demands from the farmers, an official statement from the CM's Office revealed. Adityanath held a meeting with farmers at his official residence and announced the increase in the compensation rate for land acquisition under the third phase of the airport project from Rs 3,100 to Rs 4,300 per square metres, along with additional interest as per norms, PTI reported. He also assured that adequate measures will be taken to address the rehabilitation, employment, and resettlement of project-affected farmers and their families. According to PTI, CM said that the airport, set to be India's largest upon completion, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April. (With PTI inputs)
20 December,2024 10:08 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondentMore than 100 police officials have been slapped with cases in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar for taking away documents to their new places of posting, hampering investigation into over 900 cases, a senior officer said on Friday. According to Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar, FIRs have been lodged at eight police stations of the district against 134 such officials. "Yes. We have ordered FIRs against these officials", the SSP told PTI over phone, without divulging details. Sources in the district police said it was found that in a total of 943 cases, the investigation was hanging fire as the then investigating officers got transferred and did not hand over the files to their relievers. The officials, who have been booked under Section 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita (criminal breach of trust by public servants), took up their new assignments "five to 10 years ago", said the sources. They added that the highest number of such officials had been posted at Town police station (54), followed by Brahmpura (27), Sadar (21), Kazi Mohammadpur (11) and Ahiyapur (six). The sources claimed that these officials, many of whom were now posted in other districts, had failed to return the files despite repeated written request from Muzaffarpur police. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 December,2024 09:44 PM IST | Muzaffarpur (Bihar) | PTIIndia and Kuwait are expected to focus on shoring up ties in a range of key areas including defence and trade during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the Gulf nation beginning Saturday. Modi will hold talks with the top Kuwaiti leadership, visit an Indian labour camp, address the Indian community and attend the opening ceremony of the Gulf Cup football tournament. It will be the first trip to the Gulf nation by an Indian prime minister in 43 years. A day ahead of the prime minister's trip, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said discussions are underway with Kuwait on a bilateral investment treaty and a defence cooperation pact. At a media briefing, Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (Overseas Indian Affairs) in the MEA, said a few bilateral documents are expected to be firmed up during the prime minister's visit. "The historic visit by the prime minister is expected to open a new chapter in India-Kuwait bilateral relations," he said. "It will not only consolidate the partnership in existing spheres but also unveil new avenues for future cooperation, reinforce our shared values and build a more stronger and dynamic partnership for the future," he added. Chatterjee said the visit is also expected to boost the ties between India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The GCC is an influential grouping comprising the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait. The total volume of India's trade with GCC countries stood at USD 184.46 billion in the financial year 2022-23. Kuwait is the current chair of the GCC. Chatterjee said India is holding negotiations with the GCC for a free trade pact. We hope both sides will be able to conclude it, he added. On Modi's planned visit to a labour camp in Kuwait, Chatterjee said the government of India attaches considerable importance to the welfare of all the Indian workers abroad. "The idea of the visit of the prime minister to the labour camp is to express the amount of importance the government of India attaches to our workers. That is the prime purpose," he said. Over 45 Indians were killed in devastating fire in a building housing foreign workers in southern Kuwait's Mangaf locality in June. The prime minister is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Besides meeting the Emir, Modi will also hold talks with the Kuwaiti Crown Prince and the prime minister. "The visit would help develop a more dynamic partnership between the two countries," Chatterjee said. Modi will review with the Kuwaiti leadership the entire spectrum of bilateral ties including in areas of trade, investment, energy, culture and people-to-people contacts, he said. The Kuwaiti Crown Prince will also to host a banquet for Modi, he added. The last Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981. India is among the top trading partners of Kuwait. The Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait. The Gulf nation is among India's top trading partners, with bilateral trade valued at USD 10.47 billion in the financial year 2023-24. Kuwait is India's sixth largest crude supplier, meeting 3 percent of the country's energy needs. Indian exports to Kuwait reached USD 2 billion for the first time, while investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority in India exceed USD 10 billion. India and Kuwait have enjoyed traditionally friendly relations, with links dating back to pre-oil Kuwait when maritime trade with India was the backbone of its economy. Kuwait's economy revolved around its fine harbour and maritime activities which included ship building, pearl diving, fishing and voyages to India on wooden dhows carrying dates, Arabian horses and pearls that were traded for wood, cereals, clothes and spices, according to people tracking the ties between the two nations. The Indian Rupee remained legal tender in Kuwait until 1961, a symbol of the enduring economic and cultural ties. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were formally established in 1961, with India initially represented by a trade commissioner. Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jabar Al Sabah visited India on a private visit in July 2017. The last high-level visit from either side was that of the prime minister of Kuwait to India in 2013. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 December,2024 09:08 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIDelhi Police on Friday transferred the case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in connection with a scuffle on the Parliament premises to its Crime Branch, an officer said. This comes a day after the city police registered an FIR against Gandhi accusing him of "physical assault and incitement" during a scuffle in Parliament premises. "The Crime Branch will now investigate this case," the officer said. On Thursday, a face-off at the Parliament entry steps between the opposition and NDA MPs in Parliament premises over the alleged insult to B R Ambedkar left former minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput injured. The FIR under sections 117 (voluntary causing grievous hurt), 115 (voluntary causing hurt), 125 (act of endangering life or personal safety of others), 131 (use of criminal force), 351 (criminal intimidation), and 3(5) (common intention) of the BNS was registered at Parliament Street Police station. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 December,2024 09:02 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Aparajita Sarangi on Friday gifted a bag with "1984" written on it in red to Congress lawmaker Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, news agency PTI reported. This comes days after Vadra carried bags with messages on Palestine and Bangladesh written on it to the Parliament. Sarangi, the BJP MP from Bhubaneswar, gave the bag to Vadra in the corridor of Parliament. She handed the bag to the Congress MP while Vadra was walking in the Parliament corridor. Vadra took the bag from Sarangi and walked on, reported PTI. The BJP leader said that this is also an issue that the Wayanad MP should raise through her tote bags. The bag had “1984 riots” written on it, as per PTI. In a show of support for the people of Palestine, the Congress leader had carried a bag to Parliament on Monday that had "Palestine" emblazoned on it. The Congress MP was later on Tuesday seen carrying a cream-coloured handbag to Parliament on which it was written "Bangladesh Ke Hindu Aur Isaiyon Ke Saath Khade Ho" (stand with the Hindus and Christians of Bangladesh), reported PTI. Priyanka Gandhi likely to be in parliament panel for 'One Nation, One Election' bill Members of Parliament (MPs) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Manish Tewari are set to be among the Congress representatives in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on 'One Nation, One Election' bill, reported news agency PTI. Kalyan Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress and P Wilson of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) are also expected to be its members, PTI stated. The committee is expected to have 21 MPs from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha. The panel will see a majority of representatives from BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and its allies owing to their numerical superiority in Parliament. MPs Ravi Shankar Prasad, Anurag Thakur and PP Chaudhary are being considered for the panel from the party. Shrikant Shinde of the Shiv Sena and Sanjay Jha of the Janata Dal (United), both allies of BJP, may also be included as members. Other representatives from the Congress for the joint committee of Parliament are Sukhdeo Bhagat and Randeep Surjewala. TMC leader Saket Gokhale and TM Selvaganapathi of DMK are also expected to be part of the panel, as per PTI. (With inputs from PTI)
20 December,2024 07:33 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentA liquified petroleum gas (LPG) tanker collided with multiple vehicles on Friday, leading to a massive fireball that turned a stretch of the Jaipur-Ajmer highway into an inferno, killing at least 11 people and engulfing more than 30 vehicles in flames, ANI reported. Rajasthan Medical and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar ensured that all appropriate arrangements were made for the speedy treatment of the injured at SMS Hospital. The newly built ultra-modern ward in the hospital has been dedicated to the treatment of the injured, Khimsar told ANI. "A control room has been established, with a team from the Information and Technology Department assigned to identify critically injured individuals with burn injuries and assist their families using Aadhaar numbers, thumb impressions, and other relevant data," he added. As per ANI, after the accident was reported, Medical Minister Khimsar immediately arrived at SMS Hospital to assess the situation. He also ordered the hospital administration to provide the best possible care for the injured emphasisinh that every effort should be made to save the lives of the Jaipur accident victims. Medical Minister Khimsar expressed his sorrow, saying, "This heart-wrenching incident is extremely painful. It is impossible to express in words the grief of the families who have lost their loved ones." He added that, following the instructions of Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma, efforts are being made to ensure prompt treatment and better medical facilities for the injured. "This time is extremely difficult, but the department stands with the grieving families with full sympathy and commitment," he stated. Medical Education Secretary Ambrish Kumar, along with officials from the police and district administration, were also in attendance during this time. Vasudev Devnani, Speaker of the Assembly said, "The morning incident is certainly painful. Thank God the incident happened at 5:30 AM; otherwise, there are schools nearby, and who knows what could have happened. It is heartbreaking to see this incident. Around 48 people were caught in the incident, 28 others are still hospitalized and 9 people were dead. The situation is largely under control. More than half, of those injured are in serious condition." (With inputs from ANI)
20 December,2024 06:43 PM IST | Jaipur | mid-day online correspondentThe Haryana government declared a three-day state mourning from Friday as a mark of respect to former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala who passed away in Gurugram. "The state government has decided to observe a three-day state mourning... that is December 20-22 . During this period, the national flag will fly at half-mast throughout the state on all buildings where it is flown regularly," an order issued by Haryana chief secretary's office said. It said all state government functions stand cancelled and there will no official entertainment during this period. The Haryana government has also declared Saturday as a public holiday in all state government offices as a mark of respect to the departed soul, read the order.Chautala will be accorded a state funeral at 3 pm on Sunday at Teja Khera farm in Chautala family's native Sirsa district. Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) president and five-time Haryana chief minister Chautala died in Gurugram on Friday at the age of 89. Chautala, who was former deputy prime minister Devi Lal's son, suffered a cardiac arrest at his house here and was immediately rushed to a hospital but could not be saved, a party spokesperson told PTI. He breathed his last around noon in Medanta hospital, a senior police officer said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
20 December,2024 06:18 PM IST | Chandigarh | PTIThe Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) has strongly opposed the proposal to levy an 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Floor Space Index (FSI) and Additional FSI charges imposed by local authorities for real estate projects. In a letter addressed to the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, CREDAI urged the central government to reconsider the move, warning that it could lead to a significant increase in housing prices and adversely affect both supply and demand in the real estate sector. According to CREDAI, imposing GST on FSI charges—whether retrospectively or prospectively—would escalate project costs by as much as 10 per cent, pushing up housing prices across various regions of India. The industry body claims that the additional burden would make affordable housing projects economically unviable, exacerbating the housing affordability crisis and potentially affecting the purchasing power of middle-class homebuyers, who make up 70 per cent of the total market. The proposed tax on FSI charges, which are fees paid to local authorities for the additional space developers are allowed to build, could also create substantial financial pressures on developers. CREDAI had stated that the move would not only raise construction costs but also disrupt financial planning for ongoing and completed projects. The introduction of retrospective GST clarification, in particular, would create unforeseen liabilities for developers, putting their financial stability and ability to complete projects at risk, the real estate body said. CREDAI warned that such uncertainty could lead to stalled developments, ultimately harming the financial security of homebuyers already invested in these projects. Boman Irani, President of CREDAI, highlighted the severity of the potential consequences, stating, "FSI/Additional FSI charges constitute a significant part of the project cost, and the proposal to impose 18 per cent GST on such charges could prove to be counterproductive and act as a deterrent to housing supply and demand, owing to additional financial obligations and increasing housing prices as a direct consequence." The real estate sector is already grappling with rising raw material costs, making the proposed GST levy on FSI charges an added financial burden that could further hinder the construction of affordable homes. CREDAI estimates that this could lead to an increase in housing prices by approximately 7-10 per cent, worsening the already dire affordability challenges faced by middle-income families. Moreover, the industry body had also pointed out that developers are currently unable to claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) on GST paid for these charges, which means the imposition of tax on FSI would lead to a scenario of double taxation and it would only compound the financial strain on developers, ultimately driving up housing prices and impacting demand, the CREDAI stated. CREDAI also referenced existing legal provisions, including Notification no 14/2017 and 12/2017, which state that services provided by central or state governments, local authorities, or governmental authorities, related to functions entrusted to municipalities, are either exempt from GST or not considered a taxable supply.
20 December,2024 05:15 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe uncle of the 28-year old Congress worker who died during the party's protest in Lucknow said that his "unconscious" nephew should have been rushed to a doctor, and that if everyone in the party office had paid attention, his nephew's life could have been saved, PTI reported. Prabhat Pandey, a Gorakhpur resident, died during the Congress protest near the Uttar Pradesh Assembly in Lucknow on Wednesday. Speaking to PTI reporters on Thursday, Manish Pandey said that he received a call from the Congress office on Wednesday informing him that his nephew was unconscious and not moving. The caller asked him to come to the office. Manish Pandey then sent an acquaintance to the Congress office in order to investigate. "Congress workers took him to a hospital, where he was declared dead. Had people there paid attention, his life could have been saved. According to the post-mortem examination report, both of his (Prabhat Pandey) lungs had become blocked. Due to suffocation, he was unable to breathe, and he died as a result," Manish Pandey said. Pandey also claimed that Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had called him to express his condolences. "However, condolences will not suffice. My child (nephew) has gone," he said. Prabhat, who served as the secretary of the Youth Congress, was living with his uncle in Lucknow while pursuing a computer course, PTI reported. According to PTI, his funeral had turned chaotic on Thursday after Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Ajay Rai arrived to pay his respects. Locals reacted angrily, condemning Rai for exploiting the tragedy for political gain. While Rai has claimed that Prabhat died due to "police brutality," the police said he was brought dead to the hospital from the Congress office. "Prabhat Pandey was brought to the Civil Hospital in Hazratganj in an unconscious condition from the Congress office. The doctors declared him dead on arrival," DCP (Central Lucknow) Raveena Tyagi said. "According to doctors, there were no visible injury marks on his body," he added. Police have registered an FIR in the matter and stated that further legal proceedings will follow. They have also requested the people to refrain from spreading rumors. Congress leaders have criticised the police's use of force against the party workers during the protest in Uttar Pradesh and Assam on Wednesday, which led to the deaths of two Congress members, PTI reported. (With inputs from PTI)
20 December,2024 03:23 PM IST | Lucknow | mid-day online correspondentCongress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday expressed his dismay over repeated disruption of the Parliament proceedings saying that the Parliament failed to fulfil its responsibilities and let the people of the country down, reported news agency ANI. Tharoor said it was unfortunate that discussion on major issues such as unemployment, price rise, Manipur, Sambhal violence could not take place due to repeated disruption. "I am a very disappointed MP. Most of our MPs are disappointed. I think that there are a lot of major issues to be discussed in our country, including unemployment, price rise, Manipur, Sambhal violence broke out just as Parliament was starting. Sadly, most of this time has been wasted in disruption. For many of us, the only constructive work was done in the Parliamentary committees. But the main Parliament did not fulfil its duty to the nation. I think we have let the people of India down. Very unfortunate," the Congress MP told ANI. In the first week of the session, the government and the opposition reached an agreement that the opposition could protest outside but inside work would continue, Tharoor said. Tharoor also expressed hope that the BJP-led central government would reach out to the opposition and find a solution so that the Parliament can function without disruption, stated ANI. "To my mind, Parliament is a forum for debate, discussion, and disagreements certainly but not for disruption. There was an agreement reached between the Government and the Opposition in the first week that the Opposition could protest outside but inside work would continue. It went on for 2-3 days. But thereafter, we ended up once again with a complete breakdown. I think that was very unfortunate. I really hope that the Govt reaches out to the Opposition and finds a solution. So that in an objective way, we can all get on with the work of the House," he said, stated ANI. "Budget session is coming now and we should not see a repetition of this in February-March," he stated. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned on Friday amid protests over Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on BR Ambedkar. The Winter Session 2024 of Parliament began on November 25, and concluded on December 20. (With inputs from ANI)
20 December,2024 02:47 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
