Want Bengal government to respond to Centre's queries on Aparajita Bill: Governor Bose
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Business Standard
12 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Punjab announces public holiday on July 31 on Udham Singh's martyrdom
31 July Holiday: On July 31, the Punjab government has announced a public holiday to observe Shaheed Udham Singh's martyrdom anniversary. Aman Arora, the cabinet minister and state president of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), announced that the vacation, which was previously restricted, has been proclaimed a gazetted holiday in remembrance of Shaheed Udham Singh. Govt Office, Bank and Schools Closed on 31 July 2025 All government offices, boards, corporations, and educational institutions throughout the state will be closed on this day, according to a statement released by the state administration. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has written to the Centre to name the Patiala-Bhawanigarh section of the national highway after Shaheed Udham Singh, according to Arora, who was joined by AAP's Jalalabad MLA Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy. Arora on Shaheed Udham Singh The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state chairman and Punjab cabinet minister Aman Arora said at a news briefing that this step honours the martyr's legacy and satisfies a long-standing wish of the Kamboj community. He emphasised that Udham Singh's sacrifice continues to inspire Punjabis and the nation as a whole. According to Arora, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann wrote to the central government to ask that the Patiala-Bhawanigarh portion of the national highway be named in honour of Udham Singh for his sacrifices. According to reports, the Bhawanigarh-Sunam-Bhikhi-Kot-Shamir route has already been renamed after the independence fighter. On July 31, the Punjab government will host a state-level ceremony in Sunam, Sangrur district, where Udham Singh was born, according to Arora. At Sunam, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will co-preside over a state-level memorial service. In Punjab and neighbouring Haryana, the Martyrdom Day of Udham Singh is typically commemorated with regional programs, public gatherings, and flower tributes. It is anticipated that this year's upgrade to a gazetted holiday will boost participation and formalise remembrance. Who is Shaheed Udham Singh? Shaheed Udham Singh (now Sunam Udham Singh Wala) was born in Sunam on December 26, 1899, and in retaliation for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919, he killed Michael O'Dwyer in London in March 1940. After being hanged at Pentonville Prison on July 31, 1940, he rose to fame in the Indian independence struggle. In 1940, Sardar Udham Singh killed Michael O'Dwyer in London as payback for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre that had taken place in 1919. Singh's rebellious actions have now come to symbolise resistance to colonialism.
Hindustan Times
37 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Withdraw notification to acquire Bitra island: Lakshadweep MP in Lok Sabha
New Delhi: Lakshadweep member of Parliament (MP) Muhammed Hamdulla Sayeed questioned the acquisition of Bitra island for defence and strategic use in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, terming it as 'ill conceived', and asked the Centre to withdraw the plan immediately. MPs attend the Lok Sabha proceedings during the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Wednesday. (Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab) Sayeed said the government does not have any compensation plan for the residents of Bitra, which is the smallest island in Lakshadweep, and added that the defence acquisition would affect the massive lagoon there, which serves as the largest economic zone for the fishermen from the entire archipelago. 'I represent Lakshadweep constituency which is a Scheduled Tribe area. It's socially and economically backward and now there is a notification which has been issued by the Revenue Department of Lakshadweep which talks about acquiring Bitra Island, which is the smallest island in Lakshadweep, not more than a kilometre and not having more than 500 people living there,' Sayeed said. 'But, it has the largest economic zone because the lagoon of Bitra Island is the largest in terms of area. It's bigger than any island in Lakshadweep. Fishermen from all the islands go camp there, fish and it's a big economic opportunity for them,' he added. Further, Sayeed said: the pretext on which the Revenue department is acquiring this land is national security. 'For the last so many decades, after independence, we have never had any issue of national security, Sir. For national security, Bitra already has a Coast Guard unit and a Navy unit. 'My humble suggestion through you, Sir, to the government is that immediately this notification should be withdrawn which is an ill-conceived plan which does not have any compensation for those who are already existing there. I urge the government that it should be withdrawn,' he told the Chair. HT reported on July 20 that Lakshadweep administration was moving to acquire the entire Bitra island for transfer to India's defence and strategic agencies, triggering fears among residents about displacement from their traditional fishing grounds. A notification issued on July 11 by the territory's revenue department for a social impact assessment cited the island's 'strategic location, national security relevance and inherent logistical and administrative challenges associated with civilian habitation' as justification for the takeover. HT reported that the acquisition would affect Bitra's 350 residents, who depend on fishing and coconut cultivation, and impact a crucial 45-sq km lagoon area used by fishermen from across the archipelago.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
A Central Scheme Changes. Experience With Jagan Reddy's Government Cited
Hyderabad: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced crucial modifications to the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), citing an experience of the Centre with the previous Jagan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh. The changes aim to ensure that farmers are not denied crop insurance benefits due to the default of state governments. Responding to a question from Rajasthan MP Hanuman Beniwal, Minister Chouhan detailed how the Modi government had transformed the earlier National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) into the PMFBY, with a mandate to settle farmer claims within 21 days. He then highlighted a critical issue that emerged in Andhra Pradesh. "Some states had announced that they would bear the farmer insurance premium themselves. However, in Andhra Pradesh, the then Jagan government failed to contribute its state share towards the premium for three consecutive years," Chouhan revealed. "Due to this, farmers in Andhra Pradesh suffered immensely as they were denied their rightful crop insurance." Emphasizing the Centre's commitment to farmers, Shivraj Singh stated that this "bad experience" had led to a fundamental policy modification. Under the revised PMFBY, the Union Government will now pay its share for crop insurance irrespective of whether the state government fulfils its premium contribution. To ensure accountability and prevent future lapses, the Union Minister announced a stringent penalty mechanism. "If a state government does not pay its share, it will be charged at 12% interest, and that amount will be directly credited to the farmers' accounts," Chouhan affirmed. "The insurance would not be denied to farmers, and the state would be penalized." This significant policy shift aims to safeguard farmers from bureaucratic delays and political inaction at the state level, ensuring timely and uninterrupted access to crucial crop insurance benefits.
