India

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) India's coal imports declined by 3.1 per cent to 149.39 million tonnes (MT) during April-October period of FY 2024-25 from 154.17 MT in the same period of the previous year due to the increase in domestic production, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.

Additionally, the Non-Regulated Sector (other than power) witnessed a more significant drop of 8.8 per cent, during April-October 2024 as compared to the same period of last year.

Despite possessing the fifth-largest coal reserves globally, India faces a significant shortfall in certain coal types, particularly coking coal and high-grade thermal coal, which are not adequately available from domestic sources.

This gap in supply necessitates coal imports to sustain key industries, including steel production, and to meet the growing energy demand.

Although there was a significant growth of 3.87 per cent in coal-based power generation from April 2024 to October 2024 compared to the same period last year, imports for blending purposes by thermal power plants decreased substantially by 19.5 per cent during the same period, the Coal Ministry statement said.

This decline underscores India’s steadfast commitment to achieving self-sufficiency in coal production and reducing reliance on imports, the statement explained.

The increase in coal imports for the power sector is attributed to the imported coal-based power plants. These plants are designed to utilise only high-grade imported coal and their imports increased to 30.04 MT during this period, from 21.71 MT in the corresponding period of the previous year, which represents a growth of 38.4 per cent.

Domestic coal production during April-October 2024 increased by 6.04 per cent to 537.57 MT compared to 506.93 MT in the same period of FY 2023-24.

This upward trend reflects the government's ongoing efforts to streamline coal usage and enhance domestic production, the statement said.

The Ministry of Coal continues to implement strategic initiatives aimed at bolstering coal production and improving availability. These efforts are not only focused on safeguarding foreign reserves but also on enhancing the nation’s energy security.

The proactive measures taken by the government to increase domestic coal output will ultimately reduce dependence on imports and contribute to the overall sustainability of India's energy landscape, the statement added.

--IANS

sps/pgh

Hyderabad, Dec 19 (IANS) Leaders of Telangana's ruling Congress on Thursday staged a sit-in at the Ambedkar statue at the Legislature premises, demanding the sacking of Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his shameful remarks on Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Carrying portraits of Ambedkar in their hands and raising slogans, the Congress leaders. including ministers. staged the protest at the statue on the premises of the Assembly building.

The protest was led by the party's Telangana President Mahesh Kumar Goud, who is also a member of the Legislative Council. The leaders demanded that Amit Shah apologise for his remarks on Dr B. R. Ambedkar.

Congress MLAs and MLCs participated in the protest, the first by the ruling party since Amit Shah’s remarks kicked up a huge row.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar demanded that Amit Shah be sacked from the Union Cabinet for his remarks. He also demanded that the BJP leader be booked under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The minister also asked Central ministers G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay to make their stand clear on Amit Shah’s remarks on Dr Ambedkar. Prabhakar asked why the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) was silent when the BJP insulted the architect of the Indian Constitution.

Earlier, BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao termed Amit Shah’s comments as "shameful".

The Union Home Minister had made certain remarks on Tuesday during the debate to mark 75 years of the Constitution. Through another post on X, Rama Rao criticised the Congress for what he called its double standards on Ambedkar. The BRS leader said the Congress leaders in Delhi show love for Ambedkar for their political gains but in Hyderabad, they disrespect the big man by denying people access to the 125 feet Ambedkar statue, and disrespect Babasaheb on his birth and death anniversaries.

The statue was installed near the State Secretariat in Hyderabad by the previous BRS government.

--IANS

ms/vd

Lucknow, Dec 19 (IANS) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah withdraw his controversial statement about Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

Addressing a press conference here, Mayawati said that followers of Babasaheb will never forgive Amit Shah and asserted that the BJP’s attempts to manipulate Dalit sentiments will fail.

Mayawati also accused the Congress of hypocrisy, stating: "The Congress has consistently disrespected Babasaheb Ambedkar. Babasaheb himself advised Dalits to steer clear of the Congress."

She alleged that the Congress sought to erase Ambedkar’s contributions from history, including his crucial role in drafting the Constitution. "It was (BSP founder) Kanshi Ram Ji who carried forward Babasaheb’s unfinished mission," she added.

The BSP leader also criticised the BJP for its alleged opportunism. "The BJP is no different. They exploit Dalit votes but do not genuinely honour Babasaheb. Both parties use deceptive tactics, and Dalits must remain vigilant against their machinations," she said.

Mayawati asserted that the Bahujan Samaj Party remains the only true advocate for Dalit rights, working tirelessly for their welfare. "Dalits will not be misled by the hollow politics of these parties", she declared, urging the community to stay united and cautious.

The Union Home Minister’s remarks have sparked widespread protests, with opposition leaders staging demonstrations in response.

In the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Samajwadi Party (SP) members on Thursday disrupted proceedings, holding photographs of Dr Ambedkar and raising slogans. Despite the uproar, the supplementary budget was passed before the house was adjourned indefinitely.

Before the adjournment, UP Finance Minister Suresh Khanna asserted that the BJP had shown the greatest respect for Babasaheb by establishing Panch Teerth (five sacred places) in his honour. "The Opposition, on the other hand, has disrespected Dr Ambedkar by altering the Preamble of the Constitution he drafted," he added.

The Assembly Speaker reiterated the need to respect Dr Ambedkar’s contributions while urging the Opposition to focus on key issues like farmers’ welfare. "Everyone respects Baba Saheb. The entire state is watching. I appeal to the Opposition to respect his legacy and engage in meaningful discussions."

--IANS

skp/vd

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 19 (IANS) As Kerala CPI-M organisational polls get underway, party leaders and observers on Thursday expressed concern over poor representation of women in the party’s internal framework.

Party leaders advocating gender equality hoped a woman leader would get a chance to head a district unit as state organisational polls enter the last lap with the first district party meeting at Kollam getting over recently.

Hopes were raised for a woman leader getting a position of responsibility during the Kollam district committee proceedings when the name of J. Mercykutty, a former minister in the 2016-21 Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet, was doing the rounds for the post of district secretary. However, when the decision came the incumbent district secretary was asked to continue for a second three year term.

Another 13 district committee meetings are lined up in the coming weeks but Kerala CPI-M leaders are pessimistic about a woman occupying a top party district post.

“The only thing that party leaders can now hope for accommodation in the powerful state secretariat - the top state level party body,” said a woman party leader, refusing to be named.

At present, the 17-member state secretariat has only one woman, while in the party central committee there are two women from Kerala.

A media critic, on condition of anonymity, said the CPI-M is known for rhetoric over gender equality but their actions defy these claims.

“Senior party leaders get away with ignoring women colleagues’ progression in party framework as none speaks out due to party discipline,” he said.

Supporters of former Health Minister and legislator K.K. Shailaja claimed she stands a good chance to rise in the organisational ladder but what remains to be seen is if a women leader from Kerala would succeed in creating a space for herself in the new Politburo.

A new Politburo is expected to be elected by the newly-formed Central Committee at the upcoming 24th Party Congress in Madurai in 2025.

Kerala Left leaders also highlight the party’s poor track record in promoting women leaders and cite the example of the Congress which has deputed women as district committee heads.

Advocates of gender equality within CPI-M claimed that in the last six decades there has been no woman party Chief Minister, a woman party secretary and not a single woman leader has served as party district secretary in any of the present day 14 district committees.

Incidentally on two occasions a women leader of the CPI-M narrowly missed the post of the chief minister. The first one who missed it was the firebrand K.R. Gouri. E.K. Nayanar edged her out in 1987.

Later in 1994, she was booted out of the CPI-M and she formed her own party Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithi (JSS) and in 2001 to 2006 she became the Agriculture Minister in the Cabinet of A.K. Antony and Oommen Chandy.

Susheela Gopalan, wife of legendary Communist leader and the first Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha A.K. Gopalan, also came close to becoming the Chief Minister in 2001 but Nayanar again got the nod from the party for the top post.

Incidentally, Nayanar did not even contest the 2001 polls and after he assumed the post of Chief Minister, he won a by-election to become a legislator.

--IANS

sg/rch

New Delhi/Kochi, Dec 19 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the restrictions imposed by the Kerala High Court for the use of elephants in temple festivals.

The temple trusts of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms had petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the restrictions imposed by the Kerala High Court on elephant management in Thrissur Pooram and the order staying the High Court directive came from the bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and N.K. Singh.

The bench orally remarked that the High Court's directions were "impractical" and asked how could it frame rules, substituting the rule-making authority.

Billed as the "mother of all festivals" in Kerala, the Thrissur Pooram was started by Sakthan Thampuran, the Maharaja of the erstwhile Kochi state, in the late 18th century.

The most keenly watched event of the Pooram festivities is the elephant parade -- of more than 50 jumbos, besides the firecracker displays, that starts in the afternoon and continues till the early hours of the next day.

Looking into all aspects, the Kerala High Court ordered that henceforth, festival organisers must submit applications with all the relevant details before the authorities concerned at least one month prior to the festival.

Further, the High Court also ordered that elephants must not be paraded on public roads between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and they should not be transported between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. It also mandated that the elephants must get at least eight hours of rest during a continuous period of 24 hours.

The appeal, filed by the two temple bodies through advocate M.R. Abhilash in the apex court said that the "spatial restriction" mandating a minimum distance of 3 meters between elephants brings the historic festival to a grinding halt, as the thousand-year-old venue, theVadakkumnathan Temple, integral to Thrissur Pooram, cannot accommodate such constraints. "This venue, with its traditional layout, has been the epicentre of the Pooram for centuries and the direction by the Kerala High Court disregards the significance of the historic and UNESCO-recognised tradition," it added.

--IANS

sg/vd

Aizawl, Dec 19 (IANS) Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police in a joint operation seized foreign-origin cigarettes worth Rs 7.8 crore from Cherhlun in the state’s Lawngtlai district, officials here said on Thursday.

Assam Rifles sources said that the troops of the para-military force along with Mizoram Police acting on a secret operation seized foreign cigarettes valued at Rs 7.8 crore from Cherhlun village on Wednesday night.

A smuggler identified as Lalrin Chhana (28) was also arrested in connection with the seizure of the foreign cigarettes contained in 600 cases.

The entire seized consignment and the detainee have been handed over to the police department for further legal proceedings.

In another incident, the Assam Rifles along with the Customs Preventive Force recovered illegally smuggled areca nuts worth approx Rs 30.80 lakh in from Hmunhmeltha in Champhai district, which shares a border with Myanmar.

The areca nuts weighing 4,400 kgs have been smuggled from neighbouring Myanmar.

An Assam Rifles statement said that the ongoing smuggling of contraband items is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram and India.

“Assam Rifles, rightly christened as the ‘Sentinels of Northeast’ have continued their efforts against illegal smuggling and has also doubled its efforts to nab the kingpins of the smuggling of contraband items in Mizoram,” it said.

Between November 20 and December 10, various drugs including heroin and methamphetamine tablets valued at around Rs 200 crore were seized in Mizoram, Tripura, and Assam.

All the drugs were seized in the three northeastern states after being smuggled from Myanmar.

Mizoram, southern Assam, and Tripura are an easy corridor for drugs ferrying after being smuggled from Myanmar.

Varied drugs, especially heroin and highly addictive methamphetamine tablets are often smuggled into the northeastern states of India from Myanmar, which shares a 1,643 km-long unfenced border with four northeastern states – Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Manipur (398 km), Nagaland (215 km) and Mizoram (510 km).

--IANS

sc/kvd

Kolkata, Dec 19 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court on Thursday sought the response of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the plea filed earlier in the day, seeking a fresh probe in the ghastly rape and murder of a junior woman doctor of state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata within the hospital premises in August.

In their petition, the victim’s parents have claimed that they are highly unsatisfied with the present course of investigation by the CBI in the matter, a single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh has directed the central agency to submit its point of view on the matter to the court.

The next hearing on the matter has been scheduled for December 24 and before that, the CBI will have to submit its response and report to Justice Ghosh’s bench.

According to the parents, since the trial process in the matter has already started and the statements of the witnesses are being recorded, unless the Calcutta High Court intervenes in the matter right now, there might be possibilities of the probe going in the wrong direction.

Since the time a special court in Kolkata last week granted default bail to two individuals accused of tampering with the evidence since the CBI was unable to file a supplementary charge sheet against them within 90 days from the day of their arrest, the victim’s parents, as well as the representatives of the state’s medical fraternity, had been accusing the CBI of gross incompetence in the matter.

The CBI has come under scathing criticism because of its failure to submit the supplementary charge sheet against former and controversial Principal of R.G. Kar Sandip Ghosh and the former SHO of Tala Police Station Abhijit Mondal. Following its failure to submit the charge sheet within the stipulated period, both Ghosh and Mondal were granted default bail in the case by a special court in Kolkata last week.

While Ghosh continues to be behind bars because of the parallel probe by the CBI against him in the case of financial irregularities at R.G. Kar, Mondal is already out on bail.

Recently, the victim’s parents have also changed their counsel representing them at the Supreme Court.

The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, an umbrella of the body of junior doctors in the state spearheading the movement on this issue, has already threatened to resume their protests which they withdrew earlier keeping the larger public interest in mind.

--IANS

src/vd

Bhopal, Dec 19 (IANS) Congress MLAs in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday staged a protest on the premises of the Assembly complex here against the Mohan Yadav government accusing it of irregularities in the implementation of the 'Nal Jal' scheme in the state.

On the fourth day of the Winter Session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Opposition Congress legislators arrived on the Assembly premises carrying "water taps" and staged a protest.

The scheme was introduced by the Centre under the 'Jal Jeevan Mission' aimed at providing water on tap at each home.

Over a dozen Congress legislators, led by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Umang Singhar, assembled at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Assembly premises and shouted slogans against the BJP government led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

Congress members alleged that more than 40 per cent fund of the 'Nal Jal' scheme was misused by the state government. The criteria for implementation of such a big scheme wasn't followed properly, which has resulted shortage of funds for it.

"Nal Jal yojana was introduced to provide potable water to people. However, it was failed due to financial irregularities in Madhya Pradesh. A nexus of leaders from the ruling BJP and senior officials have misused Nal Jal Yojana's fund. We are demanding an investigation in the matter," Umang Singhar said.

Last month, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh raised this issue, particularly about Madhya Pradesh, claiming that the scheme was halted in the state because of a lack of adequate funds for it. Under the mission, 1.11 crore households will get tap water connections in MP, of which, 63 per cent work has been completed.

Recently, the MP government approached the Centre to bear the cost, as the scheme is on an equal sharing basis between the Centre and the state. But following the Centre's refusal, the state will now have to manage the cost of Rs 1,500 crore.

Official sources said that at least 7.5 lakh houses in over 5,000 villages were left out in the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in MP. The issue of including the remaining households, villages, or new settlements would soon be brought up in the state cabinet.

Notably, since the winter session of the MP Assembly began on December 16, Congress members have been highlighting irregularities in various schemes. Every day Congress legislators come to the Assembly and stage a protest before entering the House.

--IANS

pd/svn

Ranchi, Dec 19 (IANS) Indra Dev Paswan, a former director of Jharkhand's Mines Department and facing charges of corruption in the illegal allocation of iron ore mines to Usha Martin Litd, surrendered before a CBI court in Ranchi on Thursday.

Soon after the surrender, Paswan filed a bail petition, which the court approved on the condition of submitting two personal bonds of Rs 50,000 each and surrendering his passport.

The case pertains to the allocation of iron ore mines in Ghatkuri in West Singhbhum district, in 2005. Allegations of irregularities and corruption in the allocation process led the CBI to launch an investigation.

In September 2016, the Delhi unit of the CBI registered an FIR, accusing several people, including then Mines Secretary Arun Kumar Singh, Paswan, and Usha Martin’s promoters, under charges of criminal conspiracy, fraud, and violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The FIR accused the promoters of Usha Martin and officials of the mining department. It was said in the FIR that in the recommendation sent to the Central government for the allocation of the mine, the officials on behalf of the state government had allegedly shown favouritism in favour of Usha Martin.

The company had assured the state government that the extracted iron ore would be used in its steel plant at Hat Gamharia, providing an undertaking to that effect.

However, the CBI later alleged that the company reneged on its promise, citing the absence of explicit mention in the cabinet note.

The CBI concluded its investigation and filed a charge sheet in January 2023, which the court recently acknowledged.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier provisionally attached certain immovable properties of the company, valued at approximately Rs 190 crore pertaining to the wire rope business situated in Ranchi.

--IANS

snc/skp/vd

New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) A war of words broke out between BJP and Congress Parliamentarians over the pushing and shoving of two BJP MPs Pratap Sarangi and Mukesh Rajput, outside the Parliament complex, who are currently admitted in city’s Ram Manohar Lohia hospital for head injuries.

LoP Rahul is in BJP’s firing line for allegedly initiating the fracas, with many party MPs calling out his ‘objectionable and threatening’ behaviour with the elderly lawmakers while the Congress has rubbished BJP’s charges as conspiracy to sully his image.

A host of BJP MPs strongly condemned the incident and slammed the Congress as well as Gandhi scion for the chaos and drama that erupted outside Parliament, over the affront to Ambedkar.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “Our MP is admitted to the ICU, with stitches on his head. What else does Congress want to do?”

BJP MP Sambit Patra termed Rahul Gandhi’s behaviour objectionable, stating, “Rahul Gandhi pushed an elderly MP from Odisha, causing him to fall and sustain injuries. He is currently admitted to the ICU in RML Hospital. This incident is deeply distressing.”

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey called the event “indecent and shameful,” saying, “Congress forced its way in when BJP was protesting. Who gave them permission to do so? The way an elderly leader was hit is shameful.”

BJP MP Ramesh Awasthi said, “Rahul Gandhi and his colleagues, in a reckless manner, started pushing and shoving. I was also pushed but managed to balance myself. Pratap Sarangi, however, fell and suffered a head injury.”

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi too found fault with the LoP, saying, “When Rahul Gandhi arrived, people were giving way for him. Despite this, he pushed his way through. This reflects his frustration over political losses. Legal actions are open and will be considered.”

Meanwhile, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit dismissed the claim and told IANS, "I have seen the video, and it clearly shows that Rahul Gandhi was trying to enter but was deliberately stopped. If you watch the footage closely, it becomes evident what the intent was behind the obstruction. The claims being made are completely false and appear to be part of a larger conspiracy."

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has denied charges of pushing Pratap Sarangi or any BJP MP resulting in his fall.

"It might be recorded in the cameras. BJP MPs were stopping us from entering Parliament. They blocked and threatened us. This is our right to protest," he said.

--IANS

rs/