India

New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday paid tributes to party stalwart and former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao on his 20th death anniversary.

In a post on X, Kharge said, “His tenure was marked by significant milestones that transformed the trajectory of India. His government's bold Economic Liberalisation policy ignited an era of growth, uplifting and expanding the middle class.”

Simultaneously, he oversaw crucial advancements in India's nuclear programme and spearheaded innovative foreign policy initiatives, most notably the 'Look East' policy, said Kharge.

“His key role in nation building shall always be cherished,” said Kharge in a rare praise for Rao who BJP claims was disrespected and marginalised by his own party after his term ended in 1996 just because he was a non-Gandhi leader.

In February this year when Bharat Ratna was announced for the 9th Prime Minister, Kharge had hailed the former PM’s vision and legacy. Kharge had posted a message on X highlighting the huge contribution of the Telugu leader who took part in the Independence movement and was revered for his academic accomplishments, including his capability to speak 17 languages.

The Bharat Ratna award for Rao reignited the discussions about his legacy and the Congress party's historical approach of undermining his contributions.

The Congress has faced criticism for its treatment of Rao during his lifetime and its rivals, including the BJP, have questioned it for refusing to acknowledge his role in economic reforms.

After his death on December 23, 2004, Rao’s body was not allowed inside the Congress headquarters in New Delhi allegedly because of the perceived bitterness between the then party chief Sonia Gandhi and the stalwart from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

As part of BJP's allegations that the Congress has consistently disrespected Rao, undermining his legacy as a significant leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly highlighted how the Congress has historically ignored its leaders not belonging to the Gandhi family.

--IANS

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Mohali, Dec 23 (IANS) As part of the nationwide Rozgar Mela initiative, newly-appointed recruits shared their joy and gratitude after receiving their appointment letters.

An event was organised on Monday at the auditorium of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Mohali, Punjab.

Addressing the gathering, IPS officer Satish S. Khandare, Additional Director General of the BSF and the chief guest of the event, highlighted the significance of the initiative.

"The Government of India organises employment fairs across the country to connect the youth with opportunities in public and government sectors. The first National Employment Fair was held on October 22, 2022. Today's Rozgar Mela marks the 14th edition, being conducted at 45 locations nationwide, providing appointment letters to more than 71,000 selected individuals," he said.

He further informed that around 250 recruits from Chandigarh received their appointment letters during the event.

Several newly appointed recruits expressed their happiness to IANS, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opportunity.

Shiva Saxena, appointed to the CISF, shared his excitement, stating, "I am very happy, and my mother is the happiest because she supported me a lot. This milestone means a lot to me, and I am grateful to the Prime Minister for this initiative, which has provided jobs to more than 71,000 individuals."

Niranjan Kumar Dubey from Chandigarh, who will be joining the CRPF, said, "I am thrilled to have received my joining letter through Rozgar Mela. I thank PM Modi for these opportunities and hope this initiative continues to provide employment to many."

Manpreet Kaur from Mansa, Punjab, newly appointed to SSC GD BSF, expressed her joy, "I am extremely happy today. I had been eagerly waiting for this moment, and my family members were also very proud. This joining letter means the world to me."

Laxmi, another recruit, described it as the happiest day of her life. "The dream I had since childhood has come true today, and my family is overjoyed with my success," she said.

Amit from Haryana, appointed under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, shared, "I will be posted in Shimla. Receiving this appointment letter at the Rozgar Mela has been life-changing for me."

Earlier in the day, PM Modi distributed more than 71,000 appointment letters via video conferencing as part of the Rozgar Mela initiative.

The event aimed to empower youth through job creation and encourage their participation in nation-building.

The Prime Minister emphasised the government's focus on leveraging youth potential.

"Through Rozgar Mela, we are advancing this initiative. Over the past ten years, the campaign to provide jobs in government departments, ministries, and organisations has been ongoing. Today, over 71,000 youth have received their appointment letters," he said.

The Rozgar Mela is part of the government's broader commitment to employment generation and nation-building. Recruitments were made for various ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Posts, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Department of Financial Services.

According to a government release, the initiative aims to provide meaningful opportunities to youth, fostering their empowerment and contribution to India's growth story.

--IANS

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Chandigarh, Dec 23 (IANS) Three people, including a woman, all reported to be residents of Delhi and aged between 20 and 25 years, were shot dead in Morni hills of Panchkula in Haryana, police said on Monday.

The three were attacked by three men outside a resort, said the officials, adding that it could be a case of rivalry.

The trio had left a resort after celebrating a birthday when miscreants fired multiple shots at their SUV on early Sunday.

One of the deceased is Vicky, who along with his nephew and a woman, was there for the birthday celebrations.

The police are investigating an old rivalry behind the crime. The victims, all reported to be residents of Delhi, were celebrating a birthday at the restaurant when the shooting took place.

According to the police, three men arrived at the scene in an Etios car, opened fire indiscriminately on the victims and fled from the crime scene.

The police control room received information about the crime around 3.30 a.m.

The victims were brought to the Civil Hospital of Sector 6 in Panchkula, near the state capital Chandigarh, where they were declared dead.

The police have started an investigation.

Information about the attackers was being sourced. The police were scanning CCTV footage and gathering other clues and evidence, the officials added.

Further details are awaited.

In November, two explosions occurred outside two clubs in Panchkula-adjacent Chandigarh. The blast took place in Sector 26 outside the Seville Bar and Lounge -- owned by singer and rapper Badshah, and De Orra Club. It was reported that gangsters Goldie Brar and Rohit Godara of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang had taken responsibility for the blasts. Two people, allegedly involved in the crude bomb blast were later arrested following an encounter in Haryana's Hisar district. Both the accused were injured after being shot in the leg. The accused were identified as Vinay (20) and Ajit Sehrawat (21), both of whom are residents of Hisar.

--IANS

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Bhopal, Dec 23 (IANS) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami will visit Madhya Pradesh on Monday to attend the 'Jan Kalyan Parv,' a flagship event organized by the Madhya Pradesh government. He will join Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in Sagar this evening.

As part of the event, Dhami will participate in the Ganga Aarti on the banks of the historic Lakha Banjara Lake in Sagar. The lake, redeveloped under the Smart City Project by the state’s urban development department, serves as a vital water source for the city.

The redevelopment, costing over Rs 111 crore, includes modern facilities with a focus on environmental restoration. It will be inaugurated during the 'Jan Kalyan Parv' celebration.

Key features of the project include the construction of three water treatment plants around the lake, which spans over 400 acres. These facilities have successfully stopped the direct flow of sewage into the lake.

"A total of 41 drains previously discharging waste water into the lake have been diverted through the installation of a 5.5 km pipeline," a senior official from the Sagar Municipal Corporation informed IANS. The official added that the lake’s water quality was thoroughly tested, and restoration was conducted by first draining the lake completely to ensure its ecological integrity.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will formally inaugurate the redeveloped Lakha Banjara Lake during the event, which will also feature a cultural program.

The 'Jan Kalyan Parv' campaign, launched by CM Yadav on December 11 to commemorate one year of his government, has involved the announcement of key projects and the inauguration of completed initiatives. The campaign is set to conclude on December 26.

After the event, both Chief Ministers, Dhami and Yadav, will travel to New Delhi for a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah later tonight.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Dec 23 (IANS) Intermittent rains were recorded in various parts of Rajasthan on Monday morning. While Fatehpur and Churu experienced light rains, many other districts including Jaipur and Bharatpur, were overcast.

Officials reported that the highest rainfall of 10 mm was recorded in Taranagar, Churu. Additionally, fog was observed in some areas of western Rajasthan. The highest temperature in the state reached 28.6°C in Jalore, while the lowest temperature was 7.4°C in Alwar.

Further, the impact of the Western Disturbance began to be felt across the state from Sunday night. Bikaner, Sri Ganganagar, and Anupgarh have been receiving intermittent rain since then, continuing through Monday morning. Fatehpur and Churu in Sikar also saw light rain. Several districts, including Jaipur and Bharatpur, had cloudy skies.

In addition to the 10 mm of rain recorded in Taranagar, Churu, Pilani received 2.6 mm, and Jhunjhunu recorded less than 1 mm of rain. Fog was also observed in parts of western Rajasthan on Monday morning. According to the Meteorological Department, Sridungargarh and Chhatargarh in Bikaner district recorded 3 mm of rain each on Monday morning.

Temperatures rose in many areas, with Ajmer recording a minimum of 13.3°C, Bhilwara at 13°C, Alwar at 7°C, Sikar at 13.5°C, and Chittorgarh at 10.2°C.

These winter rains, also known as Mawath, are beneficial for farmers cultivating Rabi crops.

Meanwhile, met officials said that fog may occur in some areas of Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh on Tuesday.

An active western disturbance will re-enter Rajasthan on December 26, bringing the possibility of cloud cover and light to moderate rain in the southeastern parts of the state on December 26-27.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Amid the political confrontation between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government the and Centre over exclusion of Delhi’s tableau from Republic Day parade, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Monday derided the Atishi dispensation over its complaints of ‘bias and hatred’ towards the capital.

Sandeep Dikshit expressed concerns over the rejection, however in the same vein asked whether the city government has done or achieved anything substantial that it has to showcase.

Speaking to IANS, Dikshit remarked, "I don't know the exact reason why it was rejected, sometimes we see that BJP governments don't allow tableau of certain states where Opposition is in power."

However, he questioned AAP’s governance, stating, "Will the Aam Aadmi Party have to show anything? If any government has done something good, they would showcase it."

Congress leader questioned what achievements the Delhi government could present in the tableau. He alleged that issues such as polluted water, defective roads, and the highly polluted Yamuna River are emblematic of AAP’s governance failures.

He mentioned pending works of infrastructure projects like schools and hospitals, accusing the Kejriwal government of prioritising political campaigns over actual development.

The controversy escalated further when Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (LG) posted a video highlighting the filth and dirt in the capital’s streets.

Addressing this, Dikshit noted the deteriorating state of cleanliness in the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) area, which falls under the Chief Minister’s jurisdiction.

He commented, "For the past 3-4 days, I have been visiting the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is the condition is so bad that we are not able to walk straight.

Addressing Rohingya's alleged intrusion in Delhi, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said, "Why is this issue being raised? As we have been saying for the last 2-3 years whenever you ask us this question, we have been consistently giving the same answer that the Border Security Force and the Government of India are responsible for the border situation. So, how are these people crossing into India?

--IANS

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Lucknow, Dec 23 (IANS) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Monday took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his visit to violence-hit Parbhani in Maharashtra. She said he was going there only to shed crocodile tears and accused the Congress of historically adopting a casteist and contemptuous attitude toward Dalits and backward classes.

Taking to X on Monday, Mayawati wrote, "Unfortunate incidents like Parbhani happened as a result of disrespect/insult towards the original architect of the Indian Constitution, the most revered Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and the feeling of inferiority towards his crores of followers. It is proved that Congress and BJP are not their true well-wishers, everyone's intentions and policies are flawed.”

Referring to Gandhi's visit, Mayawati said, "The Congress leader's visit today to Parbhani is nothing more than shedding crocodile tears because the Congress' attitude towards the interests and welfare of Babasaheb and his followers has always been casteist and contemptuous, both during his lifetime and after his death. They remember the Dalits and backward classes only in their bad times.”

Rahul Gandhi, during his brief visit to Parbhani, will meet the bereaved families of Somnath Vyankat Suryawanshi, 35, who was studying his LlB, and another Dalit social worker Vijay Wakode, who suffered a heart attack and succumbed while attempting to control the rampaging mobs on December 11-12.

The BSP chief also called for a peaceful nationwide demonstration at district headquarters to demand the withdrawal of alleged anti-Ambedkar remarks made in Parliament. "The entire society should unite and make these protests successful," she urged, cautioning against "deceptive politics" carried out in the name of Ambedkar.

Mayawati reiterated her party's commitment to its Ambedkarite mission, stating, "The BSP's self-respect movement aims to empower the 'Bahujan Samaj' politically, while other parties merely pretend to champion Ambedkar's legacy for political gains. Their actions are duplicitous -- Ram on their lips, but a knife under their arm."

The BSP has announced a nationwide agitation on December 24 to protest against Home Minister Amit Shah's controversial remarks about Dr Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar in Parliament, which they claim disrespected the architect of India's Constitution.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) The Indian data centre industry’s capacity is set to more than double to 2-2.3 GW by fiscal 2026-2027 due to increasing digitalisation of the economy as enterprises increase their investments in cloud storage and consumer demand for data surges, according to a CRISIL Ratings report released on Monday.

“Further, rising penetration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) will drive the demand over the medium term,” the report states.

Incremental capital expenditure (capex) to support the strong demand would see a higher proportion of debt funding, resulting in a moderate increase in debt levels. However, capacity additions will lag demand growth, keeping offtake risks low. As a result, the industry can expect healthy and stable cash flows, which will keep the credit profiles of players steady, the report observes.

The CRISIL Ratings said the analysis is based on industry players, representing around 85 per cent of the market share by operational capacity.

Data centres cater to the computing and storage infrastructure demand, which is driven by two primary drivers. One, enterprises are rapidly shifting their businesses to digital platforms, including the cloud, a trend that has accelerated post Covid-19 pandemic. Two, increased accessibility of high-speed data has led to a surge in Internet usage, including social media, over-the-top (OTT) platforms and digital payments, the report points out.

Mobile data traffic logged a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25 per cent over the last five financial years. It stood at 24 GB per month at end-fiscal 2024 and is expected to rise to 33-35 GB by fiscal 2026, according to the report.

In addition to the ongoing demand, the rapid advancement of GenAI, which requires higher computational power and lower latency than traditional cloud computing functions, will also provide a tailwind to the data centre demand in India, the report adds.

CRISIL Ratings senior director Manish Gupta said, “To meet the growing data centre demand, an investment of Rs 55,000-65,000 crore is required over the next three fiscals, primarily towards land and building, power equipment and cooling solutions. Data centre operators typically build infrastructure -- land and building, which account for 25-30 per cent of overall capex -- with the expectation of future tie-ups. While this approach may expose incremental capacities to utilisation risks, strong demand is expected to support capacity utilisation to reach 80-90 per cent within a year or two.”

The capacity additions are driven by expansion plans of the existing players as well as the entry of new players. These are on the back of significant demand from hyperscalers. As hyperscalers typically wield high bargaining power due to large capacity requirements in a data centre, they are able to secure competitive pricing. Typically, the pricing of hyperscalers is likely to be 10-20 per cent lower than other customers. Hence, balancing the ramp-up in capacity utilisation with pricing remains key for returns on data centre investments, the report added.

--IANS

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Shimla, Dec 23 (IANS) The Himachal Pradesh capital and its nearby tourist resorts on Monday experienced mild spells of snow, bringing cheers among members of the hospitality industry with the sublime promise of a White Christmas, which has been elusive since 2016 when heavy snowfall occurred on Christmas Eve.

“Shimla and its nearby areas have been experiencing light snowfall and this was the season’s second snowfall in Shimla town,” an official of the Meteorological Department here told IANS.

Places near Shimla like Kufri and Narkanda have also been experiencing snowfall, turning the tourist destinations more picturesque.

Though the snowfall was light, it has warmed up the Yuletide spirit of the hospitality industry. There is the expectation of more spells before the New Year dawns as the MeT Office forecasts scattered rain or snow in the state till Tuesday.

After the opening of the skies, the minimum temperature across the state could plummet by three to four notches, a weatherman said.

The mountain peaks viewed from Shimla's historic Ridge and Dharamsala and Palampur towns have been wrapped in a blanket of snow.

As news of the snowfall spreads, tourists may flock to Shimla, known for the imperial grandeur of its buildings that were once institutions of power when the town served as the summer capital of British India.

Reports said some of the areas in the apple belt Jubbal and Kharapathar also experienced snow.

“High-altitude areas of Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba, Kullu, Kinnaur and Shimla districts have been experiencing snow,” the official said.

The majestic Dhauladhar ranges in the Kangra Valley have also got snow cover. Lower areas of the state like Dharamsala, Palampur, Solan, Nahan, Bilaspur, Una, Hamirpur and Mandi towns received rain, bringing down the temperature considerably.

Shimla saw a low of 3.4 degrees Celsius, while it was 1.8 degrees in Manali, 4.5 degrees in Dharamsala and 1.5 degrees in Palampur. The past week was largely sunny across the state.

Before 2016, the erstwhile capital of British India saw Christmas snows in 1991 when 49 cm of snowfall was recorded. Though some years between 2014 and 2018 had mild spells before the Yuletide spirit.

Also except in 2010, there has been no white New Year's Eve in Shimla either in the past 12 years.

Deforestation and pollution are blamed for the change in Shimla's climatic conditions, says a study by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

It says Shimla's harsh winter, which normally commenced in November and ended in March, has declined after the mid-1980s. The study examines the snowfall trend in Shimla from 1990 to 2007.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Dec 23 (IANS) Karnataka Police have filed an FIR against the accused who tried to attack BJP MLC C.T. Ravi in the corridors of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi, police said on Monday.

The accused had attempted to attack C.T. Ravi in the wake of an alleged objectionable statement against State Minister for Women and Child Welfare Lakshmi Hebbalkar. The incident took place on December 19 at Belagavi Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.

The complaint was registered in this regard with the Hirebagewadi police station in Belagavi by C.T. Ravi. However, the police had registered it as a miscellaneous case.

BJP MLC D.S. Arun and Prof. S.V. Sankanura had lodged the complaint with the Chairman of the Legislative Council Basavaraj Horatti alleging the attack on C.T. Ravi by supporters of Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar.

BJP MLC Kishore Kumar Puttur who was present at the time of the attack had also lodged a separate complaint with Chairman Horatti in this regard.

Ravi had repeatedly alleged that his complaint regarding the attack on him was never registered by the police.

Sources confirmed that the complaint has been registered under BNS 189(2) (unlawful assembly is a group of five or more people who have a common goal to commit an illegal act), 191(2) (rioting) 190 (unlawful assembly with the prosecution of common object), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 352 (intentionally insult others to provoke a breach of the peace or other offence), 351(2) (criminal intimidation) against the accused.

Talking to IANS, BJP MLC Kishore Kumar Puttur stated that he had lodged a complaint in this regard with the Council Chairman and he has yet to get updates about the progress.

“The attackers who were detained by the police in the morning were seen talking to television channels in the evening. The BJP would have never allowed the occurrence of such an incident if it was in power. I doubt any police action under the Congress government as it will be in favour of the ruling government,” MLC Puttur stated.

“The attackers had directly threatened me with life and challenged me that I will face consequences,” he stated.

Chaos and drama unfolded last Thursday as, during a heated debate session in the Legislative Council, C.T. Ravi allegedly referred to Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, as a "drug addict".

Taking objection to the remarks, Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar slammed Ravi, and called him a "murderer". Responding back, the BJP leader allegedly used derogatory words against the woman Minister.

"Regarding the allegations, the Speaker has given a ruling. I’ve already shared this with the media and won’t elaborate further... Our words are known to our conscience and the Almighty,” Ravi had stated.

--IANS

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