India

Bhopal, Dec 14 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Prahlad Singh Patel claimed on Saturday that farmers do not support the organisations agitating in Delhi and other adjoining states.

“Being a farmer’s leader, I am aware of farmers issues. Some people are protesting in the name of farmers, but the fact is that farmers are not with protestors. This has been proven in Haryana and Punjab today,” the minister said.

The Minister further stated that the BJP government have always thought about the welfare of the farmers.

“Whether it is Madhya Pradesh or across the country, farmers have received benefits from the BJP government. The benefits received by farmers were provided under our government,” he said.

Notably, the protesting farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders in Punjab, since February 13, after security forces stopped their attempts to proceed to Delhi.

On Saturday, Haryana Police lobbed teargas shells to disperse protesting farmers who were attempting to cross multi-layered barricades erected as a preventive step at the Shambhu border point between Punjab and Haryana.

The farmers staged the protests demanding to go to the national capital in support of their long-pending demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, loan waiver and reforms to improve conditions in the agricultural sector.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Dec 14 (IANS) Renewed and aggressive protests on the streets are the only alternative now to get justice for the Kolkata-based R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital doctor who became the victim of a brutal rape and murder within the hospital premises in August this year, opined the junior doctors as well as parents of the victim on Saturday.

Their realisation comes in the wake of the failure of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in filing a charge sheet within 90 days against two individuals accused of tampering evidence in the rape and murder case, following which a special court in Kolkata, on Friday, granted "default bail" to former and controversial R.G. Kar principal Sandip Ghosh and former SHO of Tala Police Station Abhijit Mondal.

On Saturday, West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF), the umbrella body spearheading the movement on this issue, brought out a protest rally to CBI’s special crime unit office at CGO complex Salt Lake on the northern outskirts of Kolkata, which was attended by the victim’s father.

“More aggressive protests on the streets are the only way left for us. We have to hit the streets again on a daily basis again as we had been doing before,” the victim’s father said. He said that he had been apprehensive of Ghosh and Mondal getting bail since he and his family were not happy with the progress of the investigation by the CBI.

The victim’s father also said that his family is also considering legal options on whether the decision of the lower court can be challenged at a higher court or not.

A leading face of the junior doctor’s movement on the issue Debasish Halder said he is happy that thousands of common people have joined them in the protest rally. “We are organising this protest to give a message to CBI that the legal system cannot be turned into a farcical exercise in such a manner. We want to send the message that the common people are with us and in the coming days we will be going for bigger protests,” he said.

Already WBJDF leadership has hinted that they might resume their cease-work protests which they withdrew keeping the larger public interest in mind.

--IANS

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Ramanagara, Dec 14 (IANS) In a bizarre and shocking incident, a man raped a stray dog in Karnataka’s Ramanagara district on Saturday.

Police said that the public noticed the man indulging in the unnatural act with the stray dog on the Sathanur road near Channapatna town. The people thrashed the man and handed him over to the police.

Police said that the dog was tied and the accused was caught red-handed while raping the dog.

The accused has been arrested, police said.

The police stated that the accused has been identified as Basava and police are questioning him, adding that they are yet to book a case as the people who handed him over to them refused to lodge a complaint.

The incident has created outrage among animal lovers and police are considering lodging a suo motu case.

Recently, a youth was booked with an FIR for trying to rape a stray dog in an inebriated state in Chikkamagaluru district. The incident had taken place in the limits of Jayapura police station.

The acts of the youth to behave in a vulgar manner with the street dogs were recorded on the CCTV. The police had taken up the case following a video of the incident going viral on social media.

In yet another shocking case of animal cruelty, a man in Shirva in Udupi district was charged with dragging a dog over more than six kilometres by tying it behind his scooter.

The incident had occurred in full public view and a police complaint was lodged by an organisation dedicated to the service of animals. The police investigated the case and arrested the accused as he was riding without a helmet.

The accused was identified as Abdul Khader. The police had registered a case under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) Section 325 for mischief by killing or maiming the animal. He was also booked under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 14 (IANS) Highlighting the welfare initiatives of his government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid down 11 duties and pledges for citizens, including zero tolerance for corruption and an end to the dynastic system, to achieve a Developed India by 2047.

Speaking on the second day of debate on 75 years of the Constitution's adoption, PM Modi hit out at the harm done to the spirit of the Constitution by dynastic politics, vowing to initiate at least one lakh youth, without any political background, into politics to give “fresh energy” to the nation.

“It is our constitutional duty to rid the country of dynastic politics,” he said.

Highlighting that the saturation of all welfare schemes of the government is the true reflection of social justice and secularism, PM Modi said the duties and responsibilities of citizens are the soul of our civilisation.

He said the Constitution’s spirit reflected by the words “We the people” is the soul of the mantra of ‘Sab ka Vikas’.

Our commitment toward the Constitution should be strengthened in the 75th year of Independence and our duties should make us “Shreshtha Bharat”, he said.

For the future of the country and taking inspiration from the spirit of the Constitution, I want to lay down 11 Sankalp (duties or pledges for citizens), he said.

The 11 duties laid down by him included the stipulation for citizens and the government to follow their responsibility, equal development for all sections or ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, zero tolerance to corruption and the corrupt should be socially ostracised.

Enlisting the other duties, he said everybody should take pride in following the rules and regulations, taking pride in the country's heritage and ridding oneself of the colonial mindset.

Targeting Congress, the PM laid down the sixth pledge of freeing the country from the dynastic system.

His seventh pledge also was aimed at the Congress whose leaders, including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, carry copies of the Constitution as political platforms. “The seventh duty is respect for the Constitution and total ban on its use as a tool for political gains,” he said.

Opposition to the religion-based reservation and no tolerance for the removal of quotas was the PM’s eighth pledge.

Promoting women-led development and nation-building through state building were his ninth and tenth Sankalp.

He ended with the 11th pledge that “Ek Bharat, Shreshta Bharat” should be the driving principle for all.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 14 (IANS) Taking part in the debate on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended his government's constitutional amendments, asserting that they were not intended to consolidate power but to correct past mistakes and strengthen the unity and progress of the country.

He accused the Nehru-Gandhi family of amending the Constitution to serve their own interests, claiming that their amendments were self-serving, unlike those made by his government.

“We amended the Constitution to rectify past errors, enhance national unity, and address longstanding issues such as the neglect of OBCs,” said PM Modi.

"Hamne saare sanshodhan Sanvidhan ki bhawana ke prati kiye ("We have made all the amendments in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution),” he said.

He further stated that the constitutional amendments his government had made to empower women, address the concerns of OBCs, and ensure the welfare of marginalised communities.

PM Modi credited the exit of Congress from power as a turning point for the Constitution and democracy, claiming that after their departure, his government was able to bring about the necessary amendments for the country's development.

He lauded his government's efforts to dismantle barriers such as Article 370, which had prevented the full implementation of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir. "Babasaheb's Constitution didn't reach J&K due to Article 370. We demolished this wall, and the Supreme Court supported our decision," he said.

PM Modi also spoke about the amendment to grant Constitutional recognition to the OBC Commission, fulfilling a demand that had been ignored for decades.

He also noted that the government's introduction of a 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker people in the General Category was widely accepted and passed smoothly in Parliament.

Reflecting on the passage of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam bill, PM Modi flayed the opposition for obstructing the women's reservation bill for 40 years, recalling an incident when a member of the opposition tore up the papers during a session.

“We didn’t do this for power, we did it for the 'punya' (virtue),” he remarked.

PM Modi also defended the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), stating that it was in line with Mahatma Gandhi's vision, who had once said that India should protect religious minorities in distress from neighbouring countries.

“We brought CAA to address the suffering of persecuted minorities,” PM Modi affirmed, further stating that his government’s legislative initiatives were in line with the Constitution. The CAA gives citizenship to persecuted religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

On the issue of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), PM Modi explained that the Constituent Assembly had decided after extensive discussions that the government should work towards implementing the UCC.

He pointed to B.R. Ambedkar’s support for ending religion-based personal laws, noting that the Supreme Court had also called for the introduction of a UCC. He said that his government is working towards a Secular Civil Code.

PM Modi reflected on his government's commitment to constitutional integrity, recalling how the Vajpayee-led NDA government in 1998 respected the Constitution by choosing to resign after losing a vote by just one.

He contrasted this with Congress, claiming that the opposition had resorted to unconstitutional tactics to cling to power, including bribing MPs in the 1990s. “Atal ji also chose to step down after 13 days, without considering any unconstitutional ways to save his government in 1996,” he recalled.

"During the Vajpayee government, we respected the Constitution and never took unconstitutional routes," PM Modi stated. "We never chose unconstitutional ways. This is our record, unlike others who used every unconstitutional method to stay in power."

--IANS

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Shivpuri, Dec 14 (IANS) In a significant boost to tribal welfare, 18 tribal families in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district, have received new homes under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN).

The initiative has brought much-needed improvements to their living conditions, with modern amenities such as clean water, electricity, and access to education -- all part of a newly developed Adivasi Colony. The move has been widely celebrated by the tribal community, who have expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the enhanced living standards.

Surma, one of the beneficiaries, shared her joy, saying, "We used to live in a 'Kuccha House' before, but now we have a 'Pucca House' under this scheme. Thanks to Prime Minister Modi, we get free ration, money for vegetables, and there are taps for water and meters for electricity. A road has also been constructed, which we didn't have before. We're truly thankful to the Prime Minister for everything."

Dayachand, another beneficiary, echoed similar sentiments, saying, "It's a great feeling to finally have our own house. The basic facilities -- water, electricity, and roads -- are all here. What's even better is that there’s a school nearby for our children. We’re grateful to Prime Minister Modi for making this possible."

The newly established Adivasi Colony in Kota village aims to integrate the marginalised tribal community into the mainstream, providing them with essential infrastructure and educational opportunities for their children. The development includes a school to ensure that the younger generation can pursue education, setting them on a path towards a better future.

This housing initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan reflects the government's commitment to uplifting backward communities and improving their living conditions. Tribal women, too, have welcomed the scheme, expressing their happiness with the positive changes it has brought to their lives.

PM-JANMAN scheme is a flagship initiative launched by the Central government aimed at uplifting tribal communities across the country, particularly marginalised sections of society.

--IANS

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Patna, Dec 14 (IANS) Union Minister Chirag Paswan and national president of the Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas (LJPRV) said on Saturday that he is prepared to fight the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections if his party asks him to contest.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Paswan emphasised his commitment to the development of Bihar, encapsulated in the slogan "Bihar First, Bihari First."

“I always think of promoting my slogan of Bihar First Bihari First while staying in my own state. My party would decide whether I would contest the assembly election. I will follow the decision of my party,” Paswan said.

When questioned about potentially becoming the Chief Ministerial face after the tenure of Nitish Kumar, Paswan appeared hesitant.

“The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would contest the Assembly elections under Nitish Kumar's leadership next year. Kumar would continue as the Chief Minister of Bihar,” Paswan said.

He refrained from speculating about leadership, stating that such decisions rest with the alliance.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan addressed remarks made by Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, who alleged that the BJP would “drown” Paswan in the same way it had allegedly drown Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Responding to the claim, Paswan dismissed the notion and emphasised the unity within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

He accused the opposition of attempting to sow discord in the NDA and deflected criticism toward the India Alliance's internal issues.

“The opposition is waiting for a rift in the NDA, but nothing like this is going to happen. We are working together to take Bihar forward and will also contest elections together,” Paswan asserted.

He also criticised Rahul Gandhi for not acknowledging the imposition of the Emergency under Congress rule, despite his frequent references to the Constitution.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Dec 14 (IANS) Karnataka Congress will celebrate the centenary in Belagavi on December 27 which will be attended by the party President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and MP Priyanka Gandhi and former party president Sonia Gandhi.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state chief D.K. Shivakumar called upon the Congressmen to witness the centenary of the Belagavi convention after making the announcement.

“In 1924, Mahatma Gandhi became the Congress President and assumed the leadership role in the Independence struggle. The Congressmen have an opportunity to celebrate this proud moment and all people must make use of it. We have formed a committee comprising 60 people including Minister for Law H. K. Patil, former union minister Veerappa Moily, senior leader B.L. Shankar and others to finalise the modalities of the celebration,” said Shivakumar.

“We will hold the Congress Working Committee meeting on December 26 at the same place where Gandhiji took oath as the AICC President in Belagavi.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, all members of CWC, Presidents of all PCCs, CLP leaders, 150 MPs and AICC General Secretaries will participate in the convention, Shivakumar stated.

"We will unveil a statue of Mahatma to mark the occasion. The Karnataka Chief Minister will also hold a dinner for the dignitaries in the evening. The historic convention will take place at 11 am on December 27. We have delegated responsibilities in the last Cabinet meeting,” he detailed.

He added that to mark the 75th anniversary of the Indian Independence, the party had organised an ‘Independence Walk’ in which over three lakh people participated.

“We have delegated the protocol responsibilities to each of the MLAs. We have also given responsibilities to former MLAs and ministers. We have not organised any transport or accommodation in Belagavi. The people who have won or lost in the panchayat elections, appointees to boards and corporations, committee members and corporation members must come in their vehicles,” he called upon.

He said that the party will illuminate the Belagavi city at a cost of Rs 8 crore on the same lines as Mysuru during Dasara.

“We are organising awareness programmes for party workers in Kitturu Karnataka region regarding the convention. The leaders in charge must bring a minimum of 5,000 people from each assembly constituency in this region and make this event a grand success,” he said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 14 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday tore into the Gandhi family for repeatedly amending the Constitution after they “tasted blood” and murdering the statute’s spirit for personal interest, vote bank politics and display of arrogance.

Speaking on the second day of debate on 75 years of the Constitution's adoption, PM Modi lashed out at the Congress for getting into the habit of the amendment of the Constitution, a phenomenon that started with first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and continued with former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi.

“Once they tasted blood, they wanted to do it again and again,” he said, referring to the imposition of Emergency and blunting of the Supreme Court’s 1985 verdict in the Shah Bano case.

“The Constitution was amended 75 times in 55 years, the seed sown by the First PM was nurtured by PM Indira Gandhi and subsequent family members,” he said, adding that these people have opposed reservation repeatedly and worked against Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s dream of reservation, including the implementation of the Mandal Commission report.

As the Congress members stood up to object during PM Modi’s attack on the Gandhi family, the PM repeatedly reminded that he was only stating facts about incidents of disrespect for the Constitution.

He also recounted his government’s constitutional amendments aimed at giving constitutional status to the OBC Commission, women’s reservation, demolishing the wall of Article 370, quota for the poor among general category people and many other initiatives for giving a dignified life to citizens.

“To negate a verdict of the Supreme Court in 1971, the Constitution was amended. The provision for judicial scrutiny of Parliament’s right to amend the Constitution, including Fundamental Rights, was taken away by PM Indira Gandhi,” he said during his speech lasting one hour and 46 minutes.

Recalling the Emergency, PM Modi said former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi murdered democracy and disrespected the Constitution by bringing the 39th amendment to the Constitution and denied rights to people and muzzled the judiciary and media.

The 39th Amendment of the Constitution of India, enacted on August 10, 1975, placed the election of the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha beyond the scrutiny of the Indian courts, he said.

The idea of a “Committed Judiciary” was nurtured by her, PM Modi said, adding that Justice H.R. Khanna who gave a dissenting judgment over the imposition of Emergency was prevented from becoming the Chief Justice of India.

Innocent people were jailed, atrocities were committed against citizens and all this was happening because the bad habit of amending the Constitution had gone into the blood of the Gandhi family, he said.

Citing the Shah Bano verdict by the Supreme Court of 1985 to give alimony to helpless Muslim widows, he said former PM Rajiv Gandhi amended the Constitution to undo the verdict with a view to vote-bank politics and pleasing fundamentalists.

PM Modi said the next generation of PM Rajiv Gandhi is also indulging in this practice of disrespecting and tinkering with the Constitution.

Reading excerpts from a book by former PM Manmohan Singh, he said the government under Manmohan Singh was answerable to the party and the party chief had emerged as a power centre.

“This was for the first time that the Constitution had inflicted such serious blows that an unconstitutional authority ‘National Advisory Council’ was placed above the democratically elected Prime Minister,” said PM Modi, amid shouts of "shame".

In a veiled reference to Rahul Gandhi's 2013 act of tearing a document related to a Union Cabinet's ordinance to save convicted legislators from disqualification, PM Modi said an arrogant person tore the document and forced the Cabinet to change its decision.

The current generation of the Gandhi family is taking forward the legacy of attacking the Constitution after tasting blood long back, he said.

Earlier, he said, "The Congress did not follow its own Constitution, and made Nehru the leader when state units had supported Sardar Patel."

--IANS

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Jaipur, Dec 14 (IANS) Three officers, including a farmer's son, from Rajasthan shine at the Air Force Combined Graduation Parade on Saturday.

One of the officers is Flying Officer Ram Prasad Gurjar, Administration, who was born into a modest family of farmers and then did his schooling at the Govt Senior Secondary School in Tanganer, Rajasthan before joining the National Defence Academy (NDA).

An official said that his determination, commitment and resolve led him to achieve many laurels during his training days at the NDA and Air Force Academy.

Gurjar is an avid sportsman who enjoys his passion for long-distance running, swimming and trekking. He represented the Air Force Academy in the Inter Academy Sports Championship where he won a Bronze medal in Cross Country.

Flying Officer Ram Prasad Gurjar is the proud winner of the prestigious "President's Plaque" for standing first in the overall merit in 214 Ground Duty Officers Course and the "Chief of the Air Staff Trophy" for standing first in the overall order of merit in the Administration branch. Flying Officer Gurjar achieved this distinction through diligence and excellence, said officials here.

Flying Officer Shyam Lal Jani, Logistics branch, hails from Birami in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. A post-graduate in English Literature, the young Officer has served in the Indian Air Force as an Airman before becoming a commissioned Officer.

He is passionate about cycling, travelling and running and participated in many Bicycle expeditions.

He stood first in the overall order of merit in the Logistics branch of the 214 Course. Flying Officer Shyam Lal Jani strived hard to achieve this feat.

Flying Officer Muskan Janu hails from Jaipur in Rajasthan. Daughter of a helicopter pilot of the Indian Air Force, Muskan did her schooling at MGD Girls School in Jaipur before graduating in Commerce from Sri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University.

Holding a diploma in Kathak, she loves reading and has been a podium finisher across multiple marathons.

At the Air Force Academy, she stood first in the overall order of merit in the Accounts branch of the 214 Course. Flying Officer Muskan Janu achieved this feat through hard work and determination.

--IANS

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