Regional

Patna, Feb 6 (IANS) RJD MLA and former Bihar Agriculture Minister Sudhakar Singh has triggered a fresh controversy by calling Chief Minister Nitish Kumar a 'Jhasebaz'.

Addressing a gathering in a 'Kisan Panchayat' in Motihari, he said: "He (Nitish Kumar) is giving a slogan to the people not to come into the trap of insidious persons and give their votes to Nitish Kumar... The biggest spoofer is suggesting people not come under the trap of insidious persons."

Sudhakar Singh, in the past as well, had targeted Nitish Kumar and called him 'Shikhandi, night watchman and beggar'. Following his remarks, the JD-U raised strong objections arguing that his statements were against the "coalition pact". Eventually, the RJD served a show cause notice to Sudhakar Singh on January 18.

"Nitish Kumar has pushed Bihar in such a trough that it is extremely difficult to come out from there. Looting is taking place in Bihar. Bihar is under the severe grip of corruption due to the Nitish model of governance. The corruption is taking place under the connivance of the ruling party...," Singh said.

Singh also alleged that "public money is being looted in Bihar in a big way" in the name of the distribution of subsidised fertilisers to farmers.

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 5 (IANS) Kerala government is likely to cut by half the proposed cess on petrol and diesel by Re 1, sources said, adding that the decision is likely to be announced on Wednesday.

In the 2023-24 Budget, state Finance Minister, K.N. Balagopal has given a shocker to the Keralites by imposing a cess of Rs 2 per litre on petrol and diesel. This has led to several protests in the state with the opposition UDF warning of a series of agitations.

The ruling Left Democratic Front was in a spot following the heavy criticism from across the state and CPI-M state Secretary, M.V. Govindan had met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday. Sources in the CPI-M told IANS that he told the Chief Minister that people, across the state, are unhappy over the cess imposed on petrol and diesel.

The opposition UDF which had announced a series of protests against the imposition of the cess will conduct a meeting on Monday and is likely to hold protest marches on Tuesday.

--IANS
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Amaravati, Feb 5 (IANS) Youth from Andhra Pradesh are migrating to various parts of the country in search of employment opportunities as there are no jobs in the state, TDP national General Secretary Nara Lokesh said on Sunday.

As part of his ongoing padayatra 'Yuva Galam', Lokesh, the son of TDP chief and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, had a meeting with the local youth at Kanipakam in Puthalapattu Assembly segment in Chittoor district.

The youth informed Lokesh that they are migrating to other states in search of some employment and wanted him to initiate immediate steps for establishing companies in the state soon after coming back to power, thus saving the lives of the youth. "The state government should not threaten the companies and only then the investors will set up their units in the state," a youth said.

The youth from Rayalaseema lost employment opportunities as the Amara Raja Batteries shifted its unit to Telangana. They told the TDP leader that they pursued their studies by raising loans and now there is no employment.

Lokesh assured the youth that all the companies that shifted their units from the state will be invited back once the TDP is again into the government and the youth will be provided employment opportunities.

Responding to the complaint that the RTC fares are revised following which there is a lot of financial burden on them, Lokesh promised to withdraw once the TDP is back in the government.

The TDP national General Secretary also demanded that the age limit be extended for government jobs since the employment notifications are issued very late.

"Why is the job calendar not released on January 1 as promised," Lokesh asked and said that over 2.30 lakh posts have been lying vacant for the past four years.

"Chief Minister Mr Jagan (Mohan Reddy) who had said that he would make Delhi tremble if the voters from the State give him 25 MPs, is now getting shivers on seeing Delhi," Lokesh said in a sarcastic manner.

--IANS
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Bhubaneswar, Feb 5 (IANS) Senior BJP leader and Union Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, on Sunday slammed Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

Speaking to the media here, Pradhan said: "Naba Das, an influential Cabinet Minister, was murdered on January 29. However, no one has any clue about why a police officer killed him."

"The Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, has remained silent on this incident while the DGP is trying to shrug off his responsibility. This tells a lot about the law and order situation in the state," Pradhan said.

Raising questions about a Crime Branch probe under the monitoring of a retired judge of Orissa High Court, he said: "The judge was not appointed under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952. There is no clarity about the responsibility and power of the retired judge."

"In between, some people (Biju Janata Dal leaders) are saying that a Crime Branch investigation is going on. But the Crime Branch investigation is totally unacceptable. The case should be investigated by a third party," said the Union Minister.

Murder of the Minister is not just a single case, many other law and order cases have happened in the state, he said, referring to Mahanga double murder case and Anand Tappo murder case and the alleged sexual harassment case against a BJD MLA, where FIRs were registered only after the intervention of Orissa High Court.

"Only two days ago, a Balasore sub-collector and his driver were attacked by the sand mafia, when the officer was going to stop illegal sand mining. All these incidents show 'lawlessness' in Odisha," said the Union Minister.

"What is going on in Odisha? Who is holding the power? Who is ruling the state?" he said.

Meanwhile, senior Congress MLA Narasingha Mishra demanded a Court-monitored SIT probe into the murder case.

"We do not have any faith in the Odisha police. Though several capable officers are there in the state, the government is not allowing them to work independently," Mishra said.

Raising questions on the ongoing Crime Branch investigation, the Congress leader said: "When the bullet had pierced into the heart and lungs, the Minister might have died on the spot. Why was a drama created by air-lifting him to Bhubaneswar?"

The Chief Minister should step down and appoint a capable person as Home minister, he added.

Commenting on Pradhan's statement, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said: "In the BJP-ruled states, there have been very sensational cases, whether it is liquor tragedy or bridge collapse leading to the deaths of many people and also crimes against women. People demanded judicial enquiry but in most cases it was never done.

"The only intention of Pradhan is to politicise every criminal case and create a political narrative," he said.

"The state is transparent and has given this case to be monitored by a High Court judge nominated by the Orissa High Court. What's there to hide for us?" Patra questioned.

--IANS
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Nanded (Maharashtra), Feb 5 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday said that only farmers' rule can put an end to suicides by farmers and improve their condition.

Addressing a public meeting of his Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) at Nanded - the first meeting outside Telangana after Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) turned to BRS to expand its activities nationally, he said that the BRS is the first party to raise the slogan of "Ab ki baar Kisan sarkar".

KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said it was unfortunate that Maharashtra accounts for the highest number of suicide in the country. He urged people to ponder why this was happening.

He said this was not politics but a question of life and death. "Why should we die. Have we been born to commit suicide?" he asked.

The BRS chief said the farmers should rule the country to make laws to change their destiny. He pointed out that farmers constitute 42 per cent of the country's population. "There are 16 crore farm families. With agriculture workers working in fields, we are more than 50 per cent. We don't need more than this to form the government in the country," he said.

KCR called on people to think why the country had not achieved the desired development even after 75 years. "Think why there is no water for drinking, no water for irrigation and there is no electricity despite having all the resources," he said.

The BRS blamed both the Congress and BJP for the current situation. "Congress ruled for 54 years and BJP ruled for 16 years. Both the parties are responsible for this situation. One blames the other for scams..." he said.

Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, KCR said his scheme Make in India has become a joke in India. "Where is Make in India. You find China bazaar in every small town of the country. Manja for kites, colours and diyas for Deepavali, Ganesha idols and even our national flag come from China," he said.

KCR listed out the schemes implemented by his government in Telangana during the last eight years.

He claimed that Telangana is the only state providing 24 hours free electricity to farmers and drinking water to every household. He also mentioned schemes being implemented for the welfare of farmers.

He promised that if BRS is voted to power at the Centre, it would ensure a bright India with 24 hour quality electricity supply to every nook and corner within two years.

Referring to Rythu Bandhu, he said his government was providing Rs 10,000 as investment support for every acre per year. The farmers in Telangana are also covered under an insurance scheme. If any farmer dies, the government pays Rs 5 lakh to his family within four days. The government also procures the entire agricultural produce.

"When this is possible in Telangana, why not in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and other states," he said.

He pointed out that Telangana's annual budget is only Rs 2.50 lakh crorre while Maharashtra's budget is Rs 5 lakh crore. "There is no dearth of money but what lacks is will power," he added.

--IANS
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Chennai, Feb 5 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to relax paddy procurement norms.

Stalin, in a letter to Modi, noted that nearly one lakh hectare of paddy fields in the Cauvery delta region is submerged in water due to unseasonal rains.

Unseasonal and sudden rains in the districts of Nagapattinam, Myladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Pudukottai have inundated about to be harvested paddy (Samba) crops, he said, adding that hence, the moisture content in the harvested paddy will be much higher than the stipulated volume.

He said that the relaxation of moisture norms is a mitigation measure and cited the Central government allowing relaxation in norms on paddy procurement during the last Kuruvai season.

A similar relaxation is required for the paddy farmers now, he said.

Stalin said: "I request you to issue necessary instructions to allow the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation to procure paddy from farmers with moisture content up to 22 per cent and for relaxation in the minimum limit of immature, shrunken and shriveled up to five per cent as against the normal three per cent and damaged, discoloured and sprouted up to seven per cent as against the normal five per cent with necessary value cut for this Samba crop."

Several organisations of paddy farmers have asked the Chief Minister for relaxation in procurement norms.

PMK state President Anbumani Ramadoss has also urged for the total exemption of paddy crops from moisture conditions.

--IANS
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Chennai, Feb 5 (IANS) Veteran playback singer Vani Jairam, 78, who was conferred with the Padma Bhushan, was cremated on Sunday with full state honours at the Besant Nagar electric crematorium.

The singer, who has won three National awards and state awards from four state governments, passed away on Saturday at her residence in Haddows Road, Chennai.

Earlier on Sunday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin reached her residence and paid tributes to the deceased singer.

Stalin was accompanied by the State Health Minister, Ma Subramanian.

A wreath was laid on behalf of the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by Kerala government official in-charge of Non-Resident Kerala Affairs in Chennai.

Jairam has sung more than 10,000 songs in 19 different languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Odiya, Hariyanvi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati and several other languages.

She won state government awards for the best singer from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odissa and Gujarat.

Her husband T.S. Jayaraman died in 2018. The couple do not have children.

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 5 (IANS) The Kerala Police in a major operation across the state have arrested 2,069 'anti-social' elements under 'Operation Aag'. The raids started on Saturday evening and are continuing till now.

The raid is being primarily held to arrest those who were placed under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA). Some are absconding while others are those who have not appeared even after arrest warrants were served.

Those who are arrested under non-bailable charges will be remanded in judicial custody while the others will be placed in preventive custody for more than 24 hours and will be let scot-free after questioning.

The state police had earlier conducted 'Operation Kaaval' for cracking down on anti-social elements which were later discontinued.

According to police, most arrests took place in Thiruvananthapuram with the state capital district accounting for 297 arrests. As many as 113 criminals were arrested from Thiruvananthapuram City and 184 from Thiruvananthapuram Rural. As many as 261 criminals were arrested from Kollam, 257 in Kannur and 256 from Kozhikode district.

The arrests are continuing and senior police officers from the state police headquarters told IANS that 'Operation Aag' would continue in the coming days.

The Kerala Police is facing criticism from several fronts, including the ruling CPI(M) over the increase in the number of crimes, including drug peddling and assault against women.

The police have drawn flak after Om Prakash and Puthenpalam Rajesh, two- known history-sheeters hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, were absconding after assaulting a person and brandishing swords. The duo have still not been apprehended.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, Feb 4 (IANS) Putting an end to rumours of internal strife with the ruling BJP, former chief minister and Central Parliamentary Board Member B.S. Yediyurappa on Saturday stated that no one can stop the saffron party from achieving power in the state.

Speaking at the Special Executive Committee meeting at Bengaluru, Yediyurappa maintained that the budget presented by the state government and schemes and programmes of state and central governments have reached everyone's door steps. BJP is going to win 130 to 140 seats in upcoming assembly elections of Karnataka.

"BJP will come to power in the state under any circumstances. No one can stop it. Within Congress, the competition has already started to become the CM." He ridiculed and questioned whether Rahul Gandhi is a leader?

"We have brought the anti-Cow slaughter bill, we are building Ram temple at Ayodhya, Ambedkar Spoorthi Bhavan is being constructed opposite to Vikasa Soudha. The party will come to power without any support from others in the state," he said.

Karnataka BJP in-charge Arun Singh stated that the organisation seen in the party is not found anywhere. "Congress can never get loyal workers like BJP. Yediyurappa and Bommai governments have given pro-people programmes," he added.

--IANS
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Agartala, Jan 19 (IANS) Hours after the Election Commission announced the date for the Tripura Assembly polls, a 44-year-old worker of the tribal Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA) party was killed in Dhalai district, police said on Thursday.

A police spokesman said that the murder was non-political and the man was killed due to financial disputes.

So far, four people have been arrested and the police are looking for two more absconders in connection with the crime.

TIPRA supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman said that the state's ruling BJP members attacked Pranajit Namasudhra and he was seriously injured and subsequently succumbed to his injuries in a hospital.

Police said that some "unknown miscreants" attacked Namasudra when he, along with his friend, were returning home in a two-wheeler late Wednesday evening.

The miscreants, after attacking the victim at Bamancherra area, dragged him out and further assaulted him.

The victim was subsequently rescued by a police team and taken to hospital where he died during treatment.

The incident occurred after a Congress bike rally came under attack in West Tripura district's Majlishpur on Wednesday.

Ten Congressmen, including AICC General Secretary Ajay Kumar, suffered injuries in the attack.

Congress leader and the party's lone MLA Sudip Roy Barman alleged that a Minister provoked the BJP party workers to attack the Congress rally.

"We have already told the Election Commission that of the 60 Assembly constituencies, there is no conducive situation in 5/6 constituencies, including Majlishpur, to hold the polls in a fair and peaceful manner," Roy Barman told the media and urged the poll panel to take appropriate measures in these areas.

Elections to the 60-member Tripura Assembly will be held on February 16. Votes will be counted on March 2.

--IANS
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