Coalition govt focused on ‘scams than schemes': YSRCP
Addressing the media at the YSRCP city office on Wednesday, Bharat accused the govern-ment of gross irregularities in the allocation of prime land and targeting honest officials for political vendetta. Referring to the allocation of the prime URSA lands in the heart of Visakhapatnam, Bharat questioned how land valued at Rs 50 crore per acre was being allotted for just Rs 50 lakh. He accused the government of simultaneously increasing state debt while disposing of valu-able public assets at throwaway prices.
Bharat also strongly condemned the recent arrest of senior IPS officer PSR Anjaneyulu, call-ing it an act of vengeance based on an outdated complaint from an actress. 'Arresting a sin-cere officer without proper verification, just because it's being dictated by CM Naidu, will have consequences,' he warned.
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The Hindu
27 minutes ago
- The Hindu
I want people of Andhra Pradesh to be ‘healthy, wealthy, happy', says Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu says his vision is to see 'healthy, wealthy and happy people' in the State, irrespective of their caste or religion. Addressing a gathering at East Veerayapalem village of Darsi mandal in Prakasam district on Saturday, Mr. Naidu said he wanted to reduce inequalities and ensure an equitable society with the P4 (People, Public, Private Partnership) scheme. Mr. Naidu said, 'I am working round the clock for the welfare of the people to improve their standard of life. After developing Hyderabad, which is now the highest per-capita income generating city, in undivided Andhra Pradesh, I am now focused on developing Amaravati as a global city. My vision is to develop Andhra Pradesh as the No. 1 State in India by 2047.' Lashes out at YSRCP Criticising the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders, Mr. Naidu said, 'People must remain vigilant against those wearing the mask of politics. In my 47-year political journey, including 15 years as Chief Minister, I have never seen such degradation in politics. A party depicted Amaravati women as prostitutes. When a few women demanded an apology during its leader's visit to Podili in Prakasam district, they were assaulted.' 'TDP MLA Prashanti Reddy was abused by another YSRCP leader. Instead of condemning it, their party chief spoke in support of it. They tried to frame me in connection with their uncle's murder. At Bangarupalem in Chittoor district, mangoes were crushed under tractors to create a political spectacle. Fake videos were shown in Nellore to create false public support,' Mr. Naidu said. 'I will not remain silent if criminals foray into politics. The political parties must serve the people. Even if power is their ultimate goal, they must uphold values, discipline, rules and decency. Should people learn foul language and violent conduct from these leaders? I'm working to protect the lives and the future of the poor,' Mr. Naidu said.
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Amid Trump tariff threat, PM pledges to protect farmers, MSMEs & youth
1 2 Varanasi: Amid the tariff stalemate with the USA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sent a strong message to the world that protecting India's economic interest was paramount. Speaking in his parliamentary constituency on Saturday, the PM emphasised that the "top priority of the government remains the welfare of farmers, small industries and employment for youth." He reaffirmed the resilience of the Indian economy, saying that the country must remain vigilant about its economic interests and adopt 'swadeshi' products. "There is an atmosphere of global instability. All countries are focusing on their individual interests. India is going to become the third biggest economy in the world and this is why India will have to stay alert as far as its economic interests are concerned," the PM said, two days after UP President Donald Trump called India a 'dead economy'. CM Yogi Adityanath and two deputy CMs, Keshav Maurya and Brajesh Pathak were present on the occasion. Addressing a public gathering at Kalikadham in Sevapuri after transferring Rs 20,500 crore directly into the bank accounts of over 9.70 crore farmers as the 20th installment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme and inaugurating and laying the foundation of 52 projects worth around Rs 2,200 crore, the PM urged people to go 'Vocal for Local'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How to Trade ETH/USD Without Holding Ether IC Markets Learn More Undo "Anyone who wishes good for the country and wants to see India become the third-largest economy must encourage this spirit of going local," he said. The PM urged traders to promote 'swadeshi' products, terming it a true national service, and appealed to citizens to use Indian-made goods during the upcoming festivals and wedding seasons. He also advised people to hold weddings in India instead of abroad, highlighting that many young people were already doing so. "Every choice we make in favour of 'Swadeshi' will shape the future of the country. With everyone's effort, the dream of a developed India will come true. From now on, let's pledge to buy and decorate our homes with only Indian-made products," he added. Modi highlighted his government's farmer-centric policies, stating that unlike previous governments, the BJP administration has fulfilled its promises to farmers, citing the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi as a prime example. "When this scheme was launched, opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and Congress left no stone unturned to mislead farmers by claiming that after the 2019 Lok Sabha election, it would be stopped and even the money transferred into the accounts of farmers would be taken back. However, Rs 3.75 lakh crore has been transferred directly to farmers' accounts so far," he said. In UP alone, 2.5 crore farmers have received over Rs 90,000 crore, while farmers from Kashi got Rs 900 crore, he added. Referring to the transparency maintained in the schemes of his govt, Modi said, "There are no cuts, commissions, or middlemen. We created a permanent system where there's no leakage and no one can steal the rights of the poor." Prime Minister Modi emphasized developing the most backward regions with his mantra of 'High priority to more backward'. He highlighted the newly approved PM Dhan Dhanya Agriculture Scheme, focusing on underdeveloped districts with low crop production and income. He said the govt will invest Rs 24,000 crore in this scheme to support farmers from 'lab to field' and 'seed to market' for their products. Massive investments are being made in irrigation, and under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, over Rs 1.75 lakh crore in claims were already paid out to farmers. Modi also mentioned a record increase in the MSP for farmers. Emphasising the govt's focus on boosting women's participation in agriculture through initiatives like Lakhpati Didi and Drone Didi, he stated that the aim is to empower 3 crore rural women financially, with over 1.5 crore already becoming Lakhpati Didis. Taking a subtle dig at the opposition, the PM said: "Hearing these numbers, SP leaders might just hop on their cycles and run away. " Despite agriculture being a state subject, the Centre has taken proactive steps to enhance farmers' income and living standards by implementing beneficial schemes, PM Modi said. He praised banks for launching a mega campaign and holding fairs in villages across the country for KYC renewal of the account holders under the Jan-Dhan scheme on the completion of its 10 years of launching. Modi also marked the distribution of assistive devices under the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana to 2,000 Divyangs by handing over devices, including low vision glasses to Babli Kumari (visually impaired student), sports wheelchairs to Santosh Kumar Pandey and Vikas Kumar Patel, hearing aids to Kishun, and a motorized tricycle to Sita Kumari Pal (teacher). Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan joined the event virtually from Patna. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
New Indian Express
44 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Mamata Banerjee and the debate around the almost Rs 500-crore Durga Puja dole in West Bengal
Eighty-five thousand? Ninety thousand? Ninety-five? One? Ok. One lakh ten! And, with that, the hammer came down on Mamata Banerjee's donation of Rs 1,10,000 to each of the 45,000 pandals where Goddess Durga will be worshipped for officially for five days this September-October across West Bengal, including 3000 in Kolkata. This donation, to be made from the coffers of the West Bengal government, was announced by the Chief Minister at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium on Thursday and it brought the audience of Durga Puja organisers to their feet, hands in air, clapping and cheering. But the noise drowned out a question that should worry anyone in a secular democracy: can the government directly or indirectly promote or even be associated with religion or a religious event? It is a question that has hung in the air since 2018 when, for the first time, Mamata Banerjee declared a grant to the Durga Pujas. Then, the size of the donation or dole was Rs 10000 to around 2,800 pandals or a total of Rs 28 crore. In the last eight years, the number of pandals has grown and, with that, the size of the largesse, totting up this year to a very handsome Rs 495 crore. There is some debate that the number of pandals is 43,000 and not 45,000 and the payout not Rs 495 crore but 473 crore. But that's just hair-splitting. Can the taxpayers' money be spent quite like this? Problematic but politically smart It is a problematic question but politically brilliant. For Mamata Banerjee, the cost benefits are simple. For Rs 495 crore, she secures the loyalty of the clubs that organise the Durga Pujas. The clubs are powerful and influential in their local neighbourhoods; remember, West Bengal has a long history of para and club culture. Winning their support is a sure shot short cut to winning local and bigger electoral battles. And this year's generous jump in largesse—from Rs 85,000 last year to Rs 1.10 lakh per Durga Puja club—surely has much to do with the fact that West Bengal goes to Assembly polls next year. 2026. BJP's Catch 22 It is also a winner of a move as it puts the BJP in a spot. The Durga Puja donation or largesse—many call it dole—completely demolishes the BJP's biggest ammunition against Mamata Banerjee: the charge of minority appeasement. The move is a thorn in BJP's flesh for yet another reason—the BJP can't oppose the dole to the Durga Pujas because it is, after all, donation to a Hindu religious festival. No wonder BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari fumed, "Let her give Rs 2 lakh or 10 lakh to the Durga Pujas. We are not complaining. But let her also pay DA arrears to government workers that is pending for ages and fill in vacancies in government." West Bengal has around 12 lakh employees including pensioners who are due DA totalling, according to some reports, a payout of Rs 10,000 crore. The court ordered on May that the DA arrears should be paid within three months which means by mid-August. So far, there have been no payments. It's the economy, honey The strongest defence of the dole/donation/largesse by Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party (TMC) is that the government intervention is meant to boost the local economy that has grown over the decades around the Durga Pujas. According to a study in 2013, the size of the festival economy was about Rs 25,000 crore. In 2019, the British Council conducted a survey on the festival economy which was relabelled "creative economy" that goes on round the year. That survey put the size of the creative economy at Rs 32,377 crore. Mamata Banerjee's argument is, the state government payout is directed not at religious affairs but at improving the economics for thousands of people who make a living from the festival—idol makers, pandal makers, drummers, decorators and dozens others. Economists have backed the model of economic development and given Mamata Banerjee a clean chit. Politically fraught This debate about whether the Durga Puja dole/donation is against secularism or not has been going on since it started being given in 2018. But it is in election years that the issue becomes particularly fraught and explosive. While Mamata Banerjee may have announced the donation and moved on, with the confidence that it will bring her political dividends, the BJP is desperately trying to launch an effective counter offensive. Last heard, BJP's Suvendu Adhikari has appealed to Durga Puja pandal committees to reject the dole as a protest against the rape and murder of the RG Kar doctor last year that had rocked Kolkata, and in fact, communities across the world. Last year, a handful of puja committees had set the example. All eyes are on how many will follow suit this year. But Adhikari's strategy is clear: to enlarge the scope of opposition to Durga Puja donation by the state. But for the last seven years, Mamata Banerjee has reaped huge benefits from this strategic intervention and there are very little signs of that changing in its eighth year or the foreseeable future. In fact, it is hard to imagine that should BJP come to power in the state, it will roll back the dole to the goddess. The political ethics of Durga Puja dole will always be debatable but the West Bengal Chief Minister is not turning a hair, as long as the dole earns her the people's—and perhaps divine—blessings.
