India

New Delhi, Dec 16 (IANS) Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, initiated the Constitution debate in Rajya Sabha on Monday and stated that the Congress amended the Constitution to protect those in power.

Mentioning an incident from 1949 she said, "Majrooh Sultanpuri and Balraj Sahni were both jailed in 1949. For what reason? During a meeting organised for mill workers in 1949, Majrooh Sultanpuri recited a poem written against Jawaharlal Nehru, and for that, he was sent to jail. He refused to apologise for it and was therefore jailed in 1949 along with Balraj Sahni, the eminent actor of those days."

"That was the level of intolerance," she added.

The Finance Minister also criticised the Congress for holding the Constitution in their hands, going to vote, and talking about freedom of speech, but still claiming that "there is a sense of fear in the country," she said.

"Did Majrooh Sultanpuri feel it? Did Balraj Sahni feel it? But history repeats itself when it comes to the Congress party," she added.

In 1988, the book 'Satanic Verses' was also banned, following the bans on Nehru's biography and the film 'Kissa Kursi Ka'. "This spree of curtailing the freedom of the press happened before 1949, during 1949–50, and it continues," said Sitharaman.

She further claimed that the judiciary was held in contempt. "A constitutional amendment was made to nullify the judgment in the Indira Gandhi vs. Raj Narain case, wherein the Allahabad High Court set aside the election of Indira Gandhi."

"A case was pending, being heard in court, but there was a hurry — what if the court came against her? The 39th Amendment Act was passed, which added Article 392(A)," she added.

She accused late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of making decisions against the court, "To save her chair, the amendment was made before the court's verdict, misusing the law for personal gain."

"Going against the court, which provides justice for the betterment of society, there was the Shah Bano Begum case. In this case, the Supreme Court granted alimony to the woman to give her justice, but then the Congress party, in 1986, passed an Act denying Muslim women their right to alimony" she professed and added that the Congress followed no intentions of social benefit or economic perspective while making amendments.

Talking about Emergency, Sitharaman said, "During the Emergency, the process was completely violated. The term of the Lok Sabha was extended without proper justification. In that extended term, when the entire Opposition was put in jail, a constitutional amendment was made. Was the process valid? It was a totally invalid process."

"Only five members opposed the Bill in the Lok Sabha, and there was none in the Rajya Sabha to oppose it. Yet the amendment, changing the Preamble, happened," she added.

These amendments were not about strengthening democracy according to the Finance Minister, but about protecting those in power.

She also quoted B.R. Ambedkar who argued against including the word "socialism" in the Constitution: "I do not see, therefore, why to tie down people to live in a particular form."

"As many as 21 MPs were held in jail under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). There are leaders who kept their children’s names after MISA to remind them of those black days, and today, they wouldn’t mind having alliances with them," she added.

She remarked that all these together turned the qualitative text of the Constitution into something different from what it was originally, as adopted on November 26, 1949.

--IANS

rs/rad

New Delhi, Dec 16 (IANS) India’s financial sector is poised for continued resilience, bolstered by structural improvements and robust economic growth prospects, according to the S&P Global Ratings 2025 banking outlook.

“We anticipate asset quality will stabilize, with weak loans in the banking sector projected to decline to approximately 3.0 per cent of gross loans by March 31, 2025. This positive trend is supported by healthy corporate balance sheets and enhanced risk management practices,” said Deepali Seth-Chhabria, Analyst, S&P Global Ratings.

While underwriting standards for retail loans remain strong and delinquencies manageable, the rapid growth of unsecured personal loans could introduce some risks.

S&P Global foresees loan growth slightly outpacing nominal GDP, particularly in the retail segment. However, deposit growth may lag, potentially impacting credit-to-deposit ratios.

According to the rating agency, credit costs are expected to normalize from a decade-low of 0.8 per cent in fiscal 2024 to a range of 0.8 per cent - 0.9 per cent. Despite this, profitability should remain strong, with returns on average assets projected around 1.2 per cent in fiscal 2025, she further pointed out.

The Reserve Bank of India’s intensified regulatory oversight, focusing on compliance and governance, may increase compliance costs but will ultimately enhance financial stability. Overall, the outlook for India’s financial sector remains steady as it navigates these evolving dynamics, the report added.

A recent RBI report has also stated that the Indian financial system remains resilient and is gaining strength from broader macroeconomic stability.

The banking sector is well-capitalised and its unclogged balance sheet is reflective of higher risk absorption capacity while the NBFC sector and the Urban Cooperative Banks also continue to show improvements, the report stated,

RBI Deputy Governor M. Rajeshwar Rao earlier this month said that the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) has played a critical role in improving bank asset quality and facilitating substantial pre-admission settlements of underlying debts of over Rs 10 lakh crore since it was first introduced in 2016. This is helping to strengthen banks.

--IANS

sps/dpb

Jaipur, Dec 16 (IANS) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, on Monday, emphasised the significance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and engaging in regular exercise.

He said this during his morning walk at Central Park in Jaipur where he interacted with locals, urging them to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines, irrespective of their profession. “Stay healthy, stay happy,” he told people who were present there.

The Chief Minister also took the opportunity to review the park’s facilities, noting areas for improvement in the outer circle, while acknowledging the enhancements already made in the inner circle. He assured the public that the observed shortcomings would be addressed promptly. His presence at the park created a sense of enthusiasm among the crowd as he discussed topics related to health and state development. Stressing the connection between fitness and productivity, CM Sharma remarked, “A healthy body and mind are essential for better performance in any work.”

It is not the first time that CM Sharma has reached out to the public during his morning walks. He has previously interacted with locals at City Park and Jawahar Circle Park in Mansarovar. On a prior visit to Central Park, he also visited the temple within the park and addressed public grievances.

On Sunday, CM Sharma celebrated his 58th birthday, which coincided with the completion of his first year in office. Several leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, extended their greetings.

Taking to social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi praised CM Sharma, saying, “Many congratulations to the hardworking leader of BJP and popular Chief Minister of Rajasthan Bhajan Lal Sharma on his birthday. His long experience of working at the grassroots level is proving very useful in the all-round development of the state. I pray to God for his healthy and long life.”

In response, CM Sharma expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister, stating, “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your warm and affectionate wishes, respected Prime Minister! It is the result of your visionary leadership and efficient guidance that a ‘New Rajasthan’ has become a leading model of service, security, good governance, and overall development in the country today.”

CM Sharma further added, “Under your active leadership, our government is working with full dedication and determination to realise the resolution of ‘Rising Rajasthan, Developed Rajasthan." Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde, and former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot were among others who extended their wishes to CM Sharma on his birthday.

--IANS

arc/dpb

Nagpur, Dec 16 (IANS) The Maharashtra government on the first day of a weeklong winter session, on Monday, presented a bill to temporarily postpone the elections of the presidents, vice-presidents and chairmen of the Subject Committees of some Zilla Parishads (ZPs) and chairmen and deputy chairmen of some Panchayat Samitis for 90 days.

The elections for these posts were due in October-November and due to the state Assembly elections held in November, the government earlier had issued an ordinance as both Houses of the state legislature were not in session.

However, with the commencement of the winter session, BJP Minister Chandrakant Patil presented the Bill in the state Assembly.

Patil said the government had issued an ordinance on October 14. "The general elections to the state legislative assembly were likely to be held in November. On account of the election, all collectors and staff of the district collectorate as well as police personnel were busy with preparation for the election and would have been occupied with pre and post-election duties. To rule out any overlapping of the elections and any possible undue pressure on civil and police administration and any law and order problem or any inconvenience to the citizens, the candidates and the electors concerned, it was considered expedient to temporarily postpone the elections of the Presidents, Vice Presidents and Chairmen of the Subject Committees of some Zilla Parishads and Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of some Panchayat Samitis for a period of 90 days,” reads the Bill.

According to the Bill, all the presidents, vice-presidents and chairmen of the Subject Committees of some Zilla Parishads and chairmen and deputy chairmen of some Panchayat Samitis, whose terms of office are deemed to have been extended or are extended, as the case may be, shall throughout the extended period, be deemed to have been and be competent to exercise all powers, perform all the duties and discharge all the functions.

The arrangements shall be made by the Collectors and other officers concerned to hold the elections of the president, vice-president and chairmen of the Subject Committees of some Zilla Parishads and chairmen and deputy chairmen of some Panchayat Samitis in accordance with the provisions of the Zilla Parishad Act and the rules made thereunder before or as soon as possible after the expiration of the extended term of these office bearers, reads the Bill.

The Minister also presented the Bill to amend the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act, 1965 to provide for the election of the president and vice-president by elected councillors from among themselves and a two-and-half-year term of such officers. In the case of the indirectly elected president and vice-president of the Nagar Panchayats, the term has been considered for five years.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)

--IANS

sj/dpb

Jagdalpur, Dec 16 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday commended the Chhattisgarh government for its determined efforts in combating Maoism in the state.

Addressing a gathering in Jagdalpur, Shah praised the collaborative approach adopted by the state government and central agencies to tackle the issue effectively.

During his visit, the Home Minister interacted with surrendered Maoists and their families, offering them reassurance and support. He emphasised the government's commitment to rehabilitating those affected by the violence and urged collective efforts to uproot Maoism from the region.

"The Central government, in collaboration with the Chhattisgarh government, will ensure comprehensive support to the families impacted by Maoism. I appeal to everyone to join hands with the ongoing campaigns by both governments to eradicate this menace," he said

Highlighting the progress made in the past year, Shah noted the decline in Maoist activities, including the neutralisation of several of its top cadres. "Commendable action has been taken under the leadership of the Chhattisgarh government, utilising a well-devised strategy. I am confident that we will achieve complete elimination of Maoism from the country by March 31, 2026," he asserted.

Shah specifically praised the leadership of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, along with the tireless efforts of the state police and other security forces. "The combined efforts of the Chhattisgarh government, police, and security agencies have laid a strong foundation for this campaign. I assure you all that the goal of a Maoism-free state will be realised within the set timeline," he reiterated.

HM Shah said when Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave him the responsibility of the Home Ministry in 2019, he thought that those who were involved in armed movements should be given a chance to lay down their arms, surrender and live a peaceful life. "Following our initiatives, 20 peace accords were signed in the northeast and 9,000 militants surrendered," he said.

He further said that PM Modi approved 15,000 homes for surrendered Maoists under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana while the National Dairy Development Board would provide at least one cow or buffalo to such families so that they could earn Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per month.

"Today in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, I met Maoist-affected people and those who surrendered their weapons and joined the mainstream. Maoism not only deprived the country's large population of their fundamental rights for decades but also crossed all limits of inhumanity and adversely affected their lives. Maoists, who sow seeds of fear and greed in the minds of youth and lead them on the path of violence, are the biggest enemies of the society. Our government under the leadership of Modiji is committed to the empowerment and all-round development of Maoist-affected people and the youth who have given up violence and joined the mainstream," HM Shah wrote on his X handle.

--IANS

skp/vd

Hyderabad, Dec 16 (IANS) Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) staged a protest at the Telangana Assembly complex over the alleged ill-treatment of farmers arrested in connection with the Lagacherla incident. The BRS legislators reached the Assembly building holding placards and raising slogans over the handcuffing of one of the arrested farmers.

They were stopped by the police and Assembly security personnel, saying there was no permission to enter the premises with placards.

BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao and senior leader T. Harish Rao were among the MLAs who participated in the protest. They demanded the immediate release of all farmers.

A farmer lodged in Sangareddy Jail was handcuffed when he was taken to a hospital after he complained of chest pain on December 12. The tribal farmer Hirya Naik was arrested in connection with the attack on officials during a public hearing on land acquisition for a pharma cluster in Lagacherla village of Vikarabad district.

Taking serious note of the incident, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had ordered a probe. The same day Sangareddy Central Prison Superintendent Santosh Roy and Jailer P. Sanjeeva Reddy were suspended.

Meanwhile, BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao took potshots at the Congress government over the arrests of farmers and the recent arrest of actor Allu Arjun. He also criticised the Chief Minister over his frequent visits to the national capital.

“As the Telangana Assembly proposes to discuss 'Tourism policy', the two specific areas where Congress Govt has achieved remarkable progress in this sector are 1) Delhi Tourism - More than 100 trips of CM and all Ministers combined! 2) Jail Tourism -- 40 Kodangal farmers in Jail -- Actors in Jail even after Bail -- Social Media warriors being jailed -- LnT CFO being threatened to be jailed,” Rama Rao posted on ‘X’.

Meanwhile, the BRS staged a walk-out from the Assembly over the issue of non-payment of long-pending bills of former sarpanches. The former sarpanches and other public representatives have been demanding the government to pay the bills to the tune of Rs.1,300 crore.

They say that they had borrowed money to take up various development works in their villages. Both the ruling Congress and opposition BRS blamed each other for pending bills.

Minister for Panchayat Raj Seethakka said that the Congress government inherited the arrears from the previous government. She said that if the then Finance Minister Harish Rao had signed a file, all the pending bills would have been cleared.

Responding to this, Harish Rao claimed that the BRS government was releasing Rs 275 core every month to gram panchayats under Palle Pragathi programme. He said the previous government said Rs 3,300 crore were released to gram panchayats since the launch of the scheme for the development of villages.

The BRS leader slammed the Congress government for not clearing the bills of poor sarpanches, MPTCs, ZPTCs and small contractors for the last year. Terming the government’s reply to the important question raised by them as ‘irresponsible’ the BRS staged a walk-out.

--IANS

ms/skp

Kolkata, Dec 16 (IANS) As India and Bangladesh are marking the 53rd anniversary of Vijay Diwas, a day that commemorates the historic victory in the 1971 India-Pakistan war, battle veterans and serving officers from both nations gather to reflect on the shared past, they speak with hope about the future, envisioning a stronger bond between their countries.

Talking to IANS, Wing Commander (Retired), D.J. Kler, reflected on the memories of the war: "Though 53 years have passed, but the memories are still fresh. We lost so many brave souls, and I lost many friends. Together, we helped create Bangladesh, liberated its people, and freed their women from terrible atrocities.

"Sadly, the situation there is dire today. Law and order are in shambles, and minorities, especially Hindus, are suffering. What crime have they committed? They are peaceful people, not terrorists, just ordinary citizens."

He continued with words of respect for the visiting Bangladeshi delegation. "As per our tradition, guests are treated like gods. We will honour and protect them during their visit," he said.

Major Rathindra Kumar Bhattacharya, a retired Indian officer, shared his feelings about the significance of this annual reunion.

"Every year, I return here. It feels like a homecoming, a chance to reconnect with friends and fellow veterans," he said.

On the situation in Bangladesh, he remained optimistic: "This is a temporary phase. Give it six months, and things will improve. India will never engage in actions that would attract international pressure."

From the Bangladeshi side, Major General Asim expressed his sentiments about the shared history.

"Our purpose is to celebrate the victory day for both our nations. It marks our liberation from Pakistan’s occupation force, with immense support from the Indian Army. We are commemorating this day together, which is a symbol of our enduring friendship. It is an occasion we must continue to build upon for a lasting relationship," he said.

Major General Abdul Salam Chaudhuri (retired in 2009) from Bangladesh offered his perspective on the situation in his country, particularly regarding the treatment of minorities.

"There are vested interest groups who create false narratives for their own gain," he remarked.

"The true story is far different, in my belief. The relationship between India and Bangladesh is strong and will last forever. If anyone doubts that, just look at how we are here together today," he said.

Vijay Diwas, celebrated on December 16, honours India’s victory in the 13-day war of 1971, culminating in Pakistan’s surrender in Dhaka and the birth of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan).

This day, marked by reflection and remembrance, also serves as a testament to the enduring friendship between India and Bangladesh.

This year, in a joint spirit of celebration, eight Indian war veterans and two serving officers have travelled to Dhaka for Bangladesh’s Victory Day events.

In return, eight distinguished 'Mukti joddhas (freedom fighters)' and two serving officers from the Bangladesh Armed Forces have arrived in Kolkata to participate in the Vijay Diwas commemorations.

The mutual respect and camaraderie between these veterans are a hopeful sign of a bright future ahead for both nations.

--IANS

jk/rad

Bhopal, Dec 16 (IANS) The winter session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly began after an all-party meeting chaired by Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar and some other senior ministers attended the all-party meeting in the Assembly premises

Outside the Assembly, the opposition Congress staged a protest to corner the ruling BJP and highlight the public issues on the very first day of the five-day winter session of the Assembly.

The main protest was organised at Roshanpura Chowk and was planned to march toward the state Assembly, around 5 km from the spot. A big stage for the protest was set up late at night.

Heavy security has been deployed and the city's roads leading towards the state's Assembly were barricaded to stop the protesters.

The Leader of Opposition (LoP), Umang Singhar along with several Congress MLAs crossed the police barricade put up on the road connecting to the Assembly near the Vyapam office. Security personnel tried to stop them, however, they jumped the police barricades.

"BJP government has failed to fulfil its promises made to the people, which is why the Congress, being the Opposition, decided to stage a peaceful protest. However, Congress workers and leaders are being stopped from reaching the protest site," Singhar said.

On the first day of the winter session, three newly elected MLAs (who won recently held bypolls) will be sworn in as members of the state's Assembly. Of them, two are from the ruling BJP - -Kamlesh Shah (Amarwara), Ramakant Bhargava (Budhni) and Congress MLA from Vijaypur Assembly seat, Mukesh Malhotra.

The session will address a wide array of concerns, as indicated by the 1,766 questions submitted by MLAs. The government's agenda includes economic challenges, while Congress continues its demand for a caste-based census.

The five-day session is scheduled till December 20.

--IANS

pd/dpb

New Delhi, Dec 16 (IANS) In the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections, Chief Minister Atishi on Monday hit out at the night stays by BJP leaders in slums as a “drama” for vote bank politics, a charge denied by the Opposition party.

Addressing the media, Atishi claimed that BJP leaders were distributing dresses and goodies in slums and making lists of voters for deletion from electoral rolls, while Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said this is an interaction exercise, especially with the youth, in slum clusters to understand their problems and solutions directly from them.

CM Atishi said, “If there is any well-wisher of slum dwellers in the city it is Arvind Kejriwal, an Indian Revenue Service officer who quit his job and served people while living, spending six months in a slum cluster in Seemapuri.”

“Don’t fall into the trap of BJP leaders, who will visit your slum and later get it demolished,” said CM Atishi, citing the example of Sunder Nursery cluster near Nizamuddin that was razed in 2023 winter soon after BJP leaders went there for interaction with dwellers.

CM Atishi advised slum dwellers to accept the goodies that leaders from other parties gift them but urged them to continue to vote for the AAP.

Reminding slum dwellers about the AAP government’s welfare schemes like free power, free water, free Mohalla Clinics, free education and free bus travel for women, CM Atishi said, “AAP MLAs and leaders consider slum dwellers as their family members whereas BJP is anti-poor.”

She cited the example of Rajinder Nagar slums that were recently put under virtual lockdown and covered with curtains during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Pusa area. “They consider slum dwellers as untouchables and do not want them to come close to them,” she said.

AAP MLA from Rajinder Nagar alleged slum dwellers who work as daily wagers, house helps and e-rickshaw drivers were facing hardships as large curtains had been put outside their homes and their movement was restricted like it was done during the G20 Summit last year.

Meanwhile, the BJP claimed the AAP was in a state of panic due to the fear of being exposed by the pathetic state of civic amenities in slums.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said, “We have understood what challenges slum residents are facing. We are committed to resolving them and ensuring that the upcoming BJP government in Delhi will improve their lives through DUSIB.”

BJP National General Secretary Dushyant Gautam said, “The BJP government, which will come to power in Delhi in February 2025, will serve the last person in the slums with the spirit of Antyodaya”.

BJP’s Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said, “We are not just seeking votes from slum dwellers but have built a relationship aimed at transforming their lives and educating their children.”

The AAP attack on the BJP’s slum night stay programme comes close to visits by the Opposition party’s leaders to 1,194 slum clusters in the past few days. Dwellers in about 750 city slums form a big chunk of voters and account for 30 per cent of the city’s population.

Delhi Assembly elections to pick a 70-member House are expected to be announced any day and are likely to be held in February.

--IANS

rch/skp

Patna, Dec 16 (IANS) The Nitish Kumar government which always claims that teachers’ recruitment is its achievement, may face a new challenge managing the high volume of transfer requests from educators in Bihar.

With over 1.75 lakh teachers applying online for transfers, the numbers have far exceeded the education department's expectations, which were initially capped at around one lakh applications.

The government had set specific criteria for transfer requests, focussing on cases involving special circumstances such as incurable diseases, severe illnesses, disabilities, widowhood, deserted women, postings of both spouses or the inconvenience of long-distance postings.

Despite these targeted categories, a significant majority — around 1.25 lakh applicants, have cited long-distance postings as the reason for seeking a transfer.

This surge in applications due to distance-related issues indicates the magnitude of logistical challenges that the education department must now address.

The situation calls for an efficient, transparent process to resolve transfer requests while ensuring minimal disruption to the education system.

The second-highest category of transfer requests among teachers in Bihar is based on spousal postings, where teachers seek transfers to be stationed closer to their life partners.

The education department has set an ambitious target to complete these transfers by the first week of January, as disclosed by Dr. S. Siddharth, the department's Additional Chief Secretary.

“The process will now move to the verification stage, where the department will scrutinise the online applications received. Officials will analyse the data to determine how many teachers have applied for transfers within panchayats, municipal bodies, and across districts.

“Additionally, they will assess how many teachers are seeking transfers within their current district versus those requesting inter-district transfers,” Dr. S. Siddharth said.

Based on the preferences indicated by the applicants, the department aims to accommodate transfer requests to the extent possible while balancing administrative feasibility.

The next few weeks will be crucial for ensuring that the process is transparent, efficient, and aligned with the established criteria to maintain the trust of the teaching community and sustain the educational system's functionality.

The Bihar government is keen to resolve the teacher transfer-posting issue well ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.

The administration views this as an opportunity to showcase the successful resolution of a long-standing concern and bolster its governance credentials.

By addressing this issue proactively, the government aims to turn it into a positive highlight in its election campaign, leaving no room for Opposition parties to exploit it as a political issue.

--IANS

ajk/rad