India

Ahmedabad, Sep 16 (IANS) An Ahmedabad court on Friday convicted Congress leader Jignesh Mevani and 19 others guilty in a 2016 vandalism case and sentenced them to six months imprisonment.

The Metropolitan Magistrate awarded three different sentences under the three different sections of IPC - six months jail under one, Rs 500 fine under another, and Rs 100 fine in the third.

It has stayed the operative part of the order, so Mevani and others can appeal the order before the sessions court.

In 2016, Mevani and others were leading protests demanding to name Gujarat University's Law Department as Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan. The protest turned violent and the premises were vandalised. All protestors were arrested and produced before the court.

--IANS
har/vd

New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Friday granted more time to the Centre to file a detailed response to a petition seeking a declaration that the PM CARES Fund is "state" under Article 12 of the Constitution.

Seeking a detailed reply in the matter from the government, a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said: "It is an important issue requiring a proper response."

The matter will be further heard on January 31 next year.

In the previous hearing also, court had asked the Centre to file a "detailed and exhaustive" reply following a one-page affidavit response filed by the PMO Secretary.

The court was hearing the plea filed by Samyak Gangwal, seeking a declaration that the fund is "state" under Article 12 of the Constitution and to restrain it from using Prime Minister of India or Prime Minister, including its abbreviations, in its name and on its website.

According to the Centre's earlier submissions, PM CARES Fund is not a "public authority" under the ambit of Section 2 (h) of the RTI Act, further clarifying that no government money is credited to the PM CARES Fund and only unconditional and voluntary contributions are accepted in it.

"It is reiterated that the Trust's fund is not a fund of the Government of India and the amount does not go in the Consolidated Fund of India," said an earlier affidavit filed by the PMO.

--IANS
jw/vd

New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) Former Punjab chief minister and Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) chief Amarinder Singh will join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on September 19.

PLC spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal said that Singh will also announce the merger of his party with the BJP the same day.

He said that a few former MLAs will also join the BJP along with Singh on September 19.

Speculations of Amarinder Singh joining the BJP had grown stronger after he met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on September 12.

"Had a very productive meeting with Hon'ble Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Discussed various issues pertaining to national security, the rising cases of narco-terrorism in Punjab and the future roadmap for the overall holistic development of Punjab," Singh had tweeted after meeting Shah.

Singh had floated his own party after quitting the Congress last year citing humiliation by the grand-old party.

The two-time chief minister of Punjab had fought the assembly elections in the state earlier this year in alliance with the BJP as well as Akali Dal (Sanyukt).

His party - Punjab Lok Congress - though had failed to get even a single seat during the assembly elections.

Singh himself had lost from his home turf Patiala urban constituency.

--IANS
ans/svn/

Itanagar, Sep 16 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, responding to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu's request, has agreed to inaugurate 600 MW Kameng Hydro Electric Project. This is northeast India's largest power plant and the region's first greenfield airport at Itanagar, officials said on Friday.

A official of Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that Khandu apprised Modi about the Kameng Hydro Electric Project, executed by the state-owned North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) with an estimated cost of around Rs 8,000 crores and about the greenfield airport, commissioned by the Airport Authority of India at a cost of Rs 650 crore.

The Chief Minister told the Prime Minister that the 600 MW Kameng Hydro Electric Project is the largest in the northeastern region and it would be a boon for the power sector in the country, especially the northeastern states and provide power for grid stability.

The Chief Minister said that the Director General of Civil Aviation has issued the necessary licence on September 7 to operationalise the greenfield airport, which was recently renamed by the state government as "Donyi Polo Airport".

The Donyi Polo Airport is the first airport in Arunachal Pradesh with capabilities of landing big aircraft, he added.

"With the operationalising of this airport, Arunachal Pradesh would be connected directly with New Delhi. The long - cherished dream of the people of my state to see the state Capital in the air-map of India has ultimately come true," Khandu said in a statement.

The Donyi Polo Airport airport in Itanagar would be Arunachal Pradesh's third airport after Pasighat and Tezu airports, and northeast's 16th airport.

--IANS
sc/kvd

Hailakandi, Sep 16 (IANS) Cyber criminals in Assam's Hailakandi town targeted a district and sessions judge by creating a fake Whatsapp account using his name and picture.

Impersonating District and Sessions Judge Sanjay Hazarika, the fraudsters demanded money through the WhatsApp account claiming that he is sick.

The cyber criminals created a WhatsApp account with judge Hazarika's picture on the profile and demanded money from various court staff including his acquaintances.

On Thursday, Hailakandi court manager Arindam Sharma received a message on WhatsApp from a number which has a profile picture of judge Hazarika.

In the message, he was instructed to buy and send 25 Amazon e-gift cards worth 10,000 rupees. Sharma found the matter a little mysterious, and he discussed it with his colleagues.

On discussion, it was found that the court's system officer Praveer Sutradhar also received such a message on his WhatsApp number. They immediately reported the matter to the district judge.

Later, judge Hazarika filed a case in this regard at Hailakandi Sadar Police Station.

The police have started an investigation into the incident.

Superintendent of Police, Gaurav Upadhyay told IANS, "Upon receiving the complaint, we immediately blocked the number and launched surveillance to catch the culprits."

--IANS
tdr/shs

New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Rajasthan government to pay Rs 3,000 crore as environmental compensation for improper management of solid and liquid waste.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice (retd0 Adarsh Kumar Goel, in an order passed on Thursday, said the total compensation is rounded off at Rs 3,000 crore, which may be deposited by the state in a separate ring-fenced account within two months as per directions of the Chief Secretary and utilised for restoration measures.

This compensation amount includes Rs 2,500 crore for gap in the treatment of liquid waste sewage and Rs 555 crore for failure to scientifically-managed solid waste works, rounded off at Rs 3,000 crores

The order was passed as per the Supreme Court's directions which is requiring the tribunal to monitor the enforcement of solid and liquid waste management norms.

"We hope in the light of interaction with the Chief Secretary, the state of Rajasthan will take further measures in the matter by innovative approach, stringent monitoring at appropriate level, including at the level of the District Magistrates (who execute the District Environment Plans) and the Chief Secretary, ensuring that the gap in solid and liquid waste generation and treatment is bridged at the earliest, shortening the proposed timelines, adopting alternative/interim measures to the extent and wherever found viable," the green court said in the order.

The order said the state has failed to produce verifiable information with reference to compliance of the orders of the tribunal to develop model cities/towns/villages, having population of more than 1 lakh. This includes Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Bikaner, Ajmer, Udaipur, Bhilwara, Alwar, Bharatpur, Sikar, Pali,Ganganagar, Tonk, Kishangarh, Hanumangarh, Beawar, Dhaulpur, Sawai Madhopur, Churu, Gangapur, Jhunjhunun, Baran, Chittaurgarh, Hindaun, Bhiwadi, Bundi, Nagaur, and Sujangarh.

"Legacy waste sites need to be remediated and reclaimed areas utilised for setting up of waste processing plants so to process day-to-day waste generation," the bench noted.

The order also said, in view of continuing huge gap in solid and liquid waste generation and treatment, it is high time that Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) who have programmes like Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), AMRUT - 1 and 2.0 and River Cleaning, appropriately monitor compliance of waste management norms by the states concerned and take remedial action on their part.

Central Funding and state budgetary provisions need to be adequately allocated and apportioned keeping in view of environment compensation which is based on the restoration work estimate. The Union Environment Ministry and the Central Pollution Control Board may continue monitoring as per MSW Rules and the Water Act, it said.

--IANS
jw/vd

New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) To commemorate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday on September 17, the BJP will observe Seva Pakhwada from September 17 to October 2 across the country.

The highlight of the event would be a series of exhibitions charting Prime Minister Modi's journey from childhood to becoming the Prime Minister and showcasing his ideals and achievements.

BJP national general secretary Arun Singh told mediapersons that party chief J.P. Nadda would inaugurate the exhibition on Saturday at the party headquarters here.

"This exhibition on the Prime Minister's life's journey would showcase his spirit of selflessness and service towards the nation. While Mr Nadda will inaugurate the exhibition tomorrow here at the party headquarter, similar exhibitions would be inaugurated by chief ministers in all capitals of BJP-ruled states. In districts across the country, BJP MPs and MLAs would do the same," Singh said.

Seminars to discuss the Prime Minister's works and ideas would also be held in all districts of the country, he added.

Apart from this, to portray the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' during this period, people would be encouraged to adopt food and attire from each others' states.

"People of Rajasthan would be encouraged to adopt for a day, food habits and traditional attire of people from other states who reside there," Singh said.

"Unity in diversity has always been there in India. It is not like Rahul Gandhi, who has undertaken Bharat Jodi Yatra," the BJP leader said, taking a jibe at Congress party's pan India march for promoting national unity.

Singh further said that under Seva Pakhwada, several public oriented activities would be undertaken.

Blood donation camps and free health check up camps would be held during this period in 964 districts of the country.

"Free medical implants would be given to physically challenged people and free COVID booster dosage would be administered to those who can't go to hospitals," the BJP leader informed.

TB patients would be adopted for a year, where one patient each would be adopted by a party member.

"Their daily needs would be taken care of for a period of one year so that such patients should feel that party workers are there to provide them all kinds of help," Singh told mediapersons.

This adoption of TB patients is being done in line with the Prime Minister's vision of making India TB free before 2025, he informed further.

"Lok Sabha MPs who are ministers, would travel to their constituencies during the fortnight and participate in various programmes lined up for the occasion. Rajya Sabha MPs and those who are ministers would be delegated by their respective states. However some Rajya Sabha MPs would be sent to Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Kerala also," Singh said.

Social activities like Peepal tree plantation at all booths, Swachchta Abhiyan at public places and Shram Daan at Amrit Sarovars would also be conducted during this period.

--IANS
ans/shb/

Samarkand, Sep 16 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the SCO Summit has pushed for full right to transit within the member countries.

In his address in Hindi, the Prime Minister said: "The pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine caused many obstacles in global supply chains, due to which the whole world is facing an unprecedented energy and food crisis. SCO must make efforts to develop reliable, resilient and diversified supply chains in our region. This will require better connectivity, as well as it will be important that we all give each other full right to transit."

He said that the role of SCO becomes very important as SCO member countries contribute about 30 per cent of global GDP, and 40 per cent of the world's population also lives in SCO countries. India supports greater cooperation and mutual trust among SCO members.

He also said that India's economy is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent this year, which will be the highest among the world's largest economies. A lot of focus is also being given on the proper use of technology in our people-centric development model. We are supporting innovation in every sector.

Today, there are more than 70,000 Start-ups in India, of which more than 100 are unicorns.

"Our experience can also be useful for many other SCO members. For this purpose, we are ready to share our experience with SCO member countries by establishing a new Special Working Group on Start-ups and Innovation," he added.

The PM asserted that India is today one of the most affordable destinations for medical and wellness tourism in the world. WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine was inaugurated in Gujarat in April 2022. This will be WHO's first and only global centre for traditional medicine.


"We must increase cooperation on traditional medicine among SCO countries. For this, India will take the initiative for a new SCO Working Group on Traditional Medicine," he added.

--IANS
miz/kvd

New Delhi, Sep 16 (IANS) Former President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday released a book titled "Ambedkar and Modi: Reformer's Ideas, Performer's Implementation" here in presence of Union Minister I&B Anurag Thakur, MoS Dr L. Murugan and former Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan.

While speaking at the launch of the book, the former President said that this book is a collection of Baba Saheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's multidimensional ideologies and their works for the nation. Whether this is industrial development, labours' rights, self-reliance, electricity and water resources' development, planning wise development of cities, education or gender equality, this book gives ideological foundation and solid information on these important issues, said Kovind.

The book has been compiled by Bluekraft Digital Foundation and has a foreword by music composer and Rajya Sabha member Ilaiyaraaja. In 12 chapters dealing with domains as varied as infrastructure, education, socio-economic mobility, gender equality, self-reliance and many more -- the book not only presents Ambedkar's vision of India, but also takes into account several achievements of Modi and his government.

"Along with the maker of our constitution, Baba Saheb contributed immensely for the banking, electrification, labour management, revenue sharing system and education system of the country", the former President said while launching the book.

"This book contains 25 pictures which give Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unconditional love and respect to Baba Saheb. PM is perhaps the only leader in the country who organised Samvidhan Gaurav Yatra during the 'Heerak Janti varsh' which was held for the first time after the implementation of the constitution. It is the episode of 2010 when he was the chief minister of Gujarat '', he said.

Baba Saheb had always special emphasis on the development of the cities as he always used to say that the pressure of rising population should be minimised on the agricultural land and modern transformation be carried out in the cities to change the lifestyle. He also used to say the waterways as the pathway for the development which is being characterised by the Narendra Modi government. The Modi government has implemented the vision of Baba Saheb", Kovind added.

With utmost importance to the Jal Jeevan Mission, PM has forwarded the vision of Baba Saheb. It is an example in itself of how the Modi government has linked the vision of Baba Saheb to the common masses, he further added.

"I would like to say that this book is a testimony that PM Modi is a true disciple of Baba Ambedkar", the former President concluded.

"Many people did the work of collecting votes and making statues in the name of Dr Ambedkar. But his vision was for the upliftment of the deprived class, if someone is implementing it step by step on the ground that is Prime Minister Narendra Modi", said union Minister Anurag Thakur while speaking about the book.

The Union minister added further that Dr Ambedkar always believed that industrial development would prove to be a liberator for the underprivileged society. And today be it Make in India or self-reliant India, or PIL schemes, all this work is being done in that direction under the PM Modi government.

"Today we can proudly say that India of Baba Saheb's dreams is today marching with full confidence with the superpowers of the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi", he said on the occasion.

--IANS
avr/shb/

Tirupati, Sep 16 (IANS) Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani on Friday donated Rs 1.5 crore to Tirumala temple.

After offering prayers at the famous hill shrine, he presented the demand draft to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD).

The industrialist had darshan and participated in the rituals performed by the temple priests.

He later reached Ranganayakula Mandapam and handed over the DD to TTD executive officer A. V. Dharma Reddy.

The TTD EO presented temple prasadam to the Reliance chairman while priests rendered Vedasirvachanam.

Ambani later visited TTD Goshala and appreciated the efforts by the temple body in promoting cow worship across the country.

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MPs Vijayasai Reddy, M. Gurumoorthy and MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy were also present.

--IANS
ms/svn/