The News Caravan

Tag: govts

  • Centre directs state govts to carry out Aadhaar authentication for prisoners

    Centre directs state govts to carry out Aadhaar authentication for prisoners

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    New Delhi: The Centre has authorised state governments to carry out Aadhaar authentication of prison inmates on a voluntary basis so that they will be able to get health care, skilling, vocational training, interview with relatives and legal aid, among other services.

    In a notification, the Union Home Ministry said the decision has been taken after it was authorised under Rule 5 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Rules, 2020, for the targeted delivery of financial and other subsidies, benefits and services.

    The Aadhaar authentication will be carried out on the prison inmates on a voluntary basis using Yes/No authentication facility for delivery of various benefits or facilities to which they are entitled, such as correctional reform measures, health, skilling, vocational training, interview with relatives, legal aid, etc, the notification said.

    The prison authorities of the states and Union Territory administrations shall adhere to the guidelines with respect to the use of Aadhaar authentication as laid down by the central government, the notification said.

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    #Centre #directs #state #govts #carry #Aadhaar #authentication #prisoners

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • JKNC Condemns Govt’s Appointment Of Blacklisted APTECH For JKSSB Exams

    JKNC Condemns Govt’s Appointment Of Blacklisted APTECH For JKSSB Exams

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    SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference State Spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar on Monday slammed the government on selection and the award of contracts to ‘tainted’ and blacklisted APTECH Company for conducting the upcoming Jammu Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) exams.

    Echoing the public rage over the decision, Imran, as per the news agency GNS, said “The Company has been penalized by the Supreme Court and is on the blocklists of various states including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. In J&K also the company was accused of blatant irregularities and violations of the law in altering the tender’s terms and conditions. Why is such a company being selected which has consistently failed to provide transparency and accountability in conducting such an exercise? This question begs to be answered. The board instead of addressing the genuine concerns and fear of the educated, skilled local youth seems hell-bent on destroying their future. Such an undue decision doesn’t inspire the confidence of aspirants in such public examinations.”

    In the first place, the company shouldn’t have been allowed to compete in the tendering process. “Commercial interest should never outweigh the public interest. As is happening in this case. There is every likelihood of biases, favoritism, and unfairness in the said process. I hope the incumbent LG administration will refrain from letting the company conduct public examinations which require a high degree of secrecy/fairness as the future of aspirants would depend upon such examinations.”

    There is a major scam at work, he said, “Despite J&K high court’s questioning the awarding of the contract to APTECH, the assigning of the contract to the same company doesn’t stand any reason. I also request the honorable high court to take Suo moto cognizance of the issues in the public interest.” (GNS)

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    #JKNC #Condemns #Govts #Appointment #Blacklisted #APTECH #JKSSB #Exams

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • PM Modi to attend swearing-in of new govts in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura

    PM Modi to attend swearing-in of new govts in Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura

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    Agartala/Kohima/Shillong: Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend the swearing-in ceremony of new Chief Ministers and their ministers in Meghalaya and Nagaland on Tuesday and that of Tripura on Wednesday.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President J.P. Nadda and a few Union ministers are likely to attend these events in three state capitals.

    Official and BJP sources said that the swearing-in ceremony of the new Meghalaya Chief Minister and his council of ministers would be held in Shillong at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, while the swearing-in in Nagaland will take place in Kohima at 1.45 p.m.

    The new Chief Minister and ministers of Tripura would be administered the oath by the Governor in Agartala on Wednesday.

    Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader and caretaker Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is also the convenor of the BJP-led North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), would meet the Central BJP leaders in New Delhi on Sunday, ahead of the formation of new Nagaland government.

    The ruling NDPP (25 seats), along with its ally Bharatiya Janata Party (12 seats) retained power in Nagaland for a second straight term by winning 37 seats together in the 60-member Assembly.

    Rio, who on Friday was unanimously elected as the leader of the NDPP legislative party, submitted his resignation letter to Governor La Ganesan on Saturday.

    In Meghalaya, National People’s Party (NPP) Chief Conrad K Sangma has reiterated that he has letters of support from 32 MLAs and claimed to have received an invitation from the Governor to form the next government. Sangma said that he has support of 32 MLAs, which is one more than the required number to form the government.

    The NPP in the February 27 assembly polls secured 26 seats while the BJP, which got two seats, extended its support to the NPP led government. Sangma, Chief Minister since 2018, submitted to the Governor a letter of support with signatures of 32 MLAs — 26 NPP, two BJP, two legislators from Hill State People’s Democratic Party and two independents.

    In Tripura, sources said that outgoing Chief Minister Manik Saha would hold the Chief Minister’s post once again.

    A meeting of newly elected MLAs and leaders was held in Agartala on Sunday. BJP’s northeast in-charge Sambit Patra, Manik Saha, BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee, and Union Minister Pratima Bhowmik among others were present in the meeting.

    In the February 16 Assembly polls, the BJP won 32 seats, one more than the magic figure of 31 in the 60-member Assembly while its ally Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura got one.

    The tribal-based Tipra Motha Party, which contested 42 seats on its debut, emerged as the second-largest party securing 13 seats. The CPI-M won 11 seats while the Congress bagged three.

    In the 2018 polls, the BJP had won 36 seats, and ally IPFT eight seats while the CPI-M had secured 16.

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    #Modi #attend #swearingin #govts #Meghalaya #Nagaland #Tripura

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Sisodia’s arrest: Delhi govt’s budget preparation likely to be affected, say sources

    Sisodia’s arrest: Delhi govt’s budget preparation likely to be affected, say sources

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    New Delhi: The preparation of the Delhi government’s budget for the next financial year is likely to be affected following the arrest of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, sources said on Monday.

    The finance department is still in the process of finalising the budgetary allocations.

    “Various departments have sent their budget estimates, revenue utilised this year. The budget is not yet finalised. The allocations to various departments are still being finalised,” an official said.

    There were plans to present the budget around the second week of March but it might be pushed to the third or fourth week. However, it has to be presented before April 1, when the new financial year starts.

    Before Sisodia’s questioning by the CBI in the excise policy case, the deputy chief minister held a series of budget-related meetings, with Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot also being a part of them.

    Sources in the Aam Aadmi Party said Gahlot may present the Delhi government budget this time.

    “As there was a possibility that the deputy chief minister may be arrested by the CBI, Gahlot was attending budget-related meetings for the last few days. Gahlot is likely to present the 2023-24 budget. It is scheduled to be presented next month. If Sisodia gets bail, he will present the budget but if he doesn’t, Gahlot might do it,” an AAP functionary told PTI.

    Sisodia was originally summoned by the CBI last Sunday but he sought deferment of his questioning citing the ongoing Budget exercise, following which, the CBI had asked him to appear on February 26.

    He was arrested on Monday and remanded to five-day CBI custody the next day.

    The Arvind Kejriwal government is staring at a possible crisis with the CBI arresting Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who holds as many as 18 of the total 33 departments, including education, finance and home.

    The arrest of Sisodia comes after that of Satyendar Jain, Delhi’s the then health minister, in June last year. Both have led what the Aam Aadmi Party describes as the successful transformation of Delhi’s education and health services, contributing to the party’s popularity and continued electoral success.

    Their absence leaves Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with no heavyweight lieutenant to implement his governance agenda in Delhi.

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    #Sisodias #arrest #Delhi #govts #budget #preparation #affected #sources

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Indian govt’s popular news agency ANI makes up sources, experts: Report

    Indian govt’s popular news agency ANI makes up sources, experts: Report

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    EU Disinfo Lab, a non profit based in Brussels has criticised ANI (Asian News International), a popular Indian news agency for allegedly using quotes and statements from made-up think tanks and experts. EU DisinfoLab, specialises in weeding out disinformation campaigns.

    In their new report, “Bad Sources: How Indian news agency ANI quoted sources that do not exist”, they pulled up the organisation for referencing personalities and groups which were allegedly made up.

    The EU DisinfoLab research, released on Thursday, is the third in a series of reports on a purported Delhi-based Srivastava Group-amplified Indian influence network based on fictitious NGOs and experts that were published in 2019 and 2020.

    The most recent investigation focuses on the website of the International Forum for Rights and Security, a think tank with Canadian roots (IFFRAS). Around 200 times between May 2021 and January 2023, ANI cited IFFRAS.

    Though IFFRAS was dissolved in 2014, its website remained online and was being updated. EU DisinfoLab said that the same IP address hosted the IFFRAS website and other websites from the Srivastava group.

    The report said that when it tried to trace the speakers mentioned on the website, they discovered that they were mostly non-existent.

    “Our guess is that the sole purpose of the IFFRAS is to produce content that can be covered by ANI and then republished widely throughout the Indian press,” said the report.

    The EU DisinfoLab researchers also looked into other foreign experts at ‘think tanks’ that were mentioned by ANI.

    They discovered the Policy Research Group (POREG), whose “geopolitical specialists” were frequently cited by ANI on topics including Chinese foreign policy and Pakistan’s army doctrines.

    According to the study, despite repeated attempts to reach these experts—names like “James Duglous Crickton,” “Magda Lipan,” or “Ms. Valentin Popescu,” depending on the spelling—they did not appear to be available.

    A third organisation that ANI began quoting findings from in 2021, was the Center of Political and Foreign Affairs (CPFA), a research group with French roots that is legitimately registered in Hong Kong. However, ANI was also disseminating information that EU DisinfoLab “could not attribute to genuine individuals” in addition to the CPFA team’s reliable findings.

    The latest EU DisinfoLab report was released in conjunction with the “Story Killers” project to investigate the disinformation-for-hire-industry. Coordinated by French non-profit Forbidden Stories, the project hopes to continue the work of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh.



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    #Indian #govts #popular #news #agency #ANI #sources #experts #Report

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

    February 24, 2023

  • Mayors Of Srinagar, Jammu Oppose Govt’s Move To Impose Property Tax In JK

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    SRINAGAR: The move by the  administration to impose property tax on those falling under the jurisdiction of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in Jammu and Kashmir from April 1 has come under fire, with the mayors of the twin capitals of the Union Territory speaking out against it.

    Srinagar City Mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu, called the imposition of the property tax “arbitrary” and stated that the decision was not approved by elected ULBs.

    He added that the SMC will explore ways to contest this move.

    Meanwhile, Jammu Mayor, Rajinder Sharma, stated that the property tax was imposed by the Administrative Council of the Union Territory and not by the JMC.

    He said that the aspirations of the people of Jammu must be taken into consideration, and an urgent General House Meeting (GHM) of JMC will be held on Friday to discuss the property tax and who shall be exempted from it.

    “The JMC Commissioner, Rahul Yadav, will give a presentation to clear any misconceptions about the property tax, and the views and concerns of JMC Councillors will be collected and sent to the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, BJP J&K President, Ravinder Raina, and BJP National President, J.P Nadda for accommodating the concerns of the Councillors,” he added.

    The mayors of both cities emphasized that the aspirations of the public and Councillors should be fulfilled, and that everything should be done to address their concerns.

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    #Mayors #Srinagar #Jammu #Oppose #Govts #Move #Impose #Property #Tax

    ( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

  • ‘UP Mein Jhuthe Case Ki Bahar Ba’: Akhilesh on Yogi govt’s notice to singer

    ‘UP Mein Jhuthe Case Ki Bahar Ba’: Akhilesh on Yogi govt’s notice to singer

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    Lucknow: Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday improvised on the viral song ‘UP Mein Ka Ba’ to target the Yogi Adityanath government over a notice sent by the state police to the singer, Neha Singh Rathore.

    Taking to Twitter, the Samajwadi Party chief said, “UP Mein Ka Ba (What’s with UP?), UP Mein Jhuthe Case ki Bahar Ba (there are false cases in UP), UP Mein Garib-Kisan Behaal Ba (poor farmers in UP are in dire straits), UP Mein Pichde-Dalit Par Prahar Ba (there is an attack on the backward class people and Dalits in UP), UP Mein Karobar Ka Bantadhaar Ba (there is closure of businesses and industries in UP), UP Mein Bhrashtachaar Hi Bhrashtachaar Ba (there is corruption and more corruption in UP),

    UP Mein Bin Kaam Ks Bas Prachar Ba (there are false claims and no work in UP), UP Mein Agle Chunaav Ka Intezaar Ba (UP is awaiting the next elections), UP Mein Agli Baar Bhajpa Bahar Ba (the BJP will be voted out next time in UP),” the Samajwadi Party chief said.

    The SP chief’s swipe came in the wake of the UP government sending a notice to ‘UP Mein Ka Ba’-fame singer for allegedly inciting hatred among the public through her music video.

    The notice was served on Neha in the wake of the video ‘UP Mein Ka Ba- Season 2’, which the singer uploaded on her Twitter and YouTube pages.

    A team from Kanpur police reached Neha Singh’s residence in Kanpur (rural) on Tuesday night and served a notice under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal procedure (CrPC).

    The police, through the notice, sought the singer’s clarifications on a number of questions on the video that went viral on social media.

    The police have asked her to clarify if she features in the video, and, if yes, whether it was uoloaded by her or someone else. The sleuths have further sought to know if the YouTube channel and the Twitter account on which the video in question was posted belong to the singer.

    The police have also asked her to explain if the lyrics are hers, and if yes, is she willing to stand by her words. “If you have not written the lyrics, then did the lyricist take your permission?” the notice read.

    The police also asked if she is mindful of the adverse social impact of her music video.

    The UP Police asked the singer to reply to the notice within three days, failing which she will be booked under relevant sections of the IPC and CrPC.

    “This song has created enmity and tension in society, and you are legally bound to make your stand clear on the issue. S, you are required to file your reply within three days of receiving the notice,” the notice read further.

    “If your reply is not found satisfactory, then a case will be registered under the relevant sections of IPC and CRPC, and proper legal investigation will be carried out,” it added.

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    #Mein #Jhuthe #Case #Bahar #Akhilesh #Yogi #govts #notice #singer

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • MGNREGA becoming victim of BJP-led govt’s repressive policies: Rahul Gandhi

    MGNREGA becoming victim of BJP-led govt’s repressive policies: Rahul Gandhi

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    New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed the BJP-led government on Friday for reducing the MGNREGA budget and alleged that the scheme, which was the foundation of India’s rural economy, is becoming a victim of the Centre’s repressive policies.

    He also accused the government of misusing Aadhaar against the poor sections of the society by linking it to the scheme under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

    “MGNREGA is the foundation of India’s rural economy. A revolutionary policy that has supported countless families. The MGNREGA scheme, which is running the homes of crores of families, is becoming a victim of the repressive policies of the Centre,” Gandhi said in a Facebook post in Hindi while citing a news report.

    Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also hit out at the Centre for “axing” the MGNREGA scheme, saying the poor will never forgive the Narendra Modi government.

    “Modi government’s axe is working on MGNREGA. A 33-per cent cut in the MGNREGA funds in the budget. The minister said MGNREGA is not a scheme to provide employment. States will have to pay 40 per cent money for the Centre’s 100 per cent work.

    “Narendra Modiji, don’t finish MGNREGA, the poor will not forgive,” Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi.

    Gandhi alleged that first the budget for the MGNREGA was cut and now, the linking of salaries with Aadhaar is being done, and said “both these are attacks on the income of the poor”.

    The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s vision for the Aadhaar card was to provide convenience, identity and economic security to people. But the present government is not only misusing this thinking, but also using it against the poor, the former Congress chief alleged.

    In his Facebook post, the Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad in Kerala said, “57 per cent of rural labourers will lose their daily wages if Aadhaar card is made mandatory for MGNREGA. They (government) do not have any policy to provide new employment. It has become the intention of this government only to take away the employment of people and create difficulties for the poor to get their rightful money.”

    “No new idea, no plan. Just one policy — torture the poor,” he added.

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    #MGNREGA #victim #BJPled #govts #repressive #policies #Rahul #Gandhi

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • ‘Bulldozer policy’ became face of govt’s cruelty: Rahul Gandhi

    ‘Bulldozer policy’ became face of govt’s cruelty: Rahul Gandhi

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    New Delhi: After the death of a mother-daughter duo in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur during an anti-encroachment drive by the administration, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and said the ‘bulldozer policy’ has become the face of the cruelty of the government.

    “When the arrogance of power takes away the right of the people to live, it is called dictatorship. My mind is disturbed by the incident in Kanpur. This ‘bulldozer policy’ has become the face of cruelty of this government. India does not accept this,” tweeted Rahul Gandhi.

    A 44-year-old woman and her daughter were killed after a fire broke out during an anti-encroachment drive at Marauli village of Kanpur Dehat region, the police said on Tuesday.

    The deceased were identified as Pramila Dixit (44) and her daughter, Neha Dixit (22).

    The victims’ family alleged that officials engaged in the drive set the house on fire when the mother-daughter duo were inside.

    Based on the allegations, a case has been registered against over a dozen people including sub divisional magistrate (SDM), station officer (SO), and Lekhpal.

    Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak spoke to the family of the victims via video call. The Deputy Chief Minister assured all possible help to the victims’ family and strict action against the culprits.

    According to information, the incident took place in the Marauli village on Monday afternoon during a demolition action by a team of district administration against “illegal encroachment”.

    The family members protested against the demolition drive and allegedly threatened to set themselves on fire to stop the removal action.

    This led to a scuffle between family members and officials, and during the ruckus a fire broke out and the entire house was gutted.

    There were four people inside the house at the time when the fire broke out, the exact cause of which was not clear.

    “Two of them were killed, while others sustained burn injuries,” officials said. Though the exact reason behind the fire was not clear, the victim family accused officials and anti-social elements of the area of deliberately setting their house on fire. Kanpur Police in an official note said that on the basis of the complaint by the victims’ family, a case has been registered against more than 12 people including SDM, SO, and Lekhpal.

    Four locals, identified as Ashok Dixit, Anil Dixit, Nirmal Dixit, and Vishal Dixit have also been named in the FIR.

    “There was a complaint lodged against Vishal Dixit (one of the accused named in the FIR) that he was trying to encroach upon the land belonging to village community. In connection with this, the administrative team reached the area to remove encroachment where the incident occured,” the police said.

    Further investigation in the matter is underway.

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    #Bulldozer #policy #face #govts #cruelty #Rahul #Gandhi

    ( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

  • Nomination of Numberdars Runs Opposite To Govt’s Claims Of Strengthening Democracy In J&K: Farooq

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    Srinagar, Feb 11 (GNS): National Conference President and Member of the Parliament Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said the recent move of J&K administration to nominate Numberdars/Chowkidars for villages and towns across J&K runs contrary to the government claims of strengthening democracy in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Echoing the concerns of a delegation of Numberdars that had called on him, Dr. Farooq said that the government is trying to bring in their own people for this important position through backdoor.

    Dr Farooq said the association members who called on him resented the manner in which the incumbent Numberdars were being shown the door and the new ones nominated by the incumbent administration ditching all established norms and procedures. “The incumbent numberdars who command public confidence as persons are being shown the doors. It seems the administration, by nominating candidates of their choice, is trying to set a political discourse in the villages and towns that suits their cause,” he said.

     “The positions of Numberdar and Chowkidar are very significant in terms of better coordination at the grassroot levels and for that reason the government should have acted more sensibly rather than in this arbitrary way,”Dr Farooq said adding, “The process of selection cannot evade accountability and public scrutiny. The manner in which the process is being carried out raises a number of questions and it’s the government which has to come clean.” (GNS)

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    #Nomination #Numberdars #Runs #Govts #Claims #Strengthening #Democracy #Farooq

    ( With inputs from : thegnskashmir.com )