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Bengaluru, Feb 3 (IANS) All preparations for the upcoming ‘Global Investors Meet’, scheduled to be held from February 12 to 14 in Bengaluru, have been completed. The state aims to attract investments worth Rs 10 lakh crore through this event Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on Monday.

Shivakumar made this statement during a high-level committee meeting at Vidhana Soudha, where he discussed the event’s preparations and coordination among various departments.

“The inaugural ceremony will take place on the evening of February 11,” Shivakumar announced.

The meeting was attended by Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil. Principal Secretary of the Industries Department, Selvakumar, presented an overview of the event.

The Deputy Chief Minister said that so far, over 2,000 investors have expressed interest and registered for the event. A total of 18 countries will participate, with nine of them having dedicated pavilions. More than 60 industry experts will speak at various panel discussions. The government will also highlight Karnataka’s business-friendly policies and investment incentives to attract global investors.

He added that Minister M.B. Patil has been working for several months to ensure the success of this summit.

As part of the preparations, he led high-level delegations to the U.S., Europe, South Korea, and Japan, conducting roadshows and engaging with potential investors. The event will also feature the unveiling of several new industrial policies aimed at boosting economic growth, Shivakumar stated.

Minister M.B. Patil said that the central theme of the Global Investors Meet is "Reimagining Progress", with four key sub-themes: Tech-Driven, Green, Inclusive, and Resilient. Karnataka has incorporated some of the best practices from the World Economic Forum in Davos into this event.

The government’s goal is to ensure that at least 70-80 per cent of the agreements signed during the summit translate into real investments, the Industries Minister said. The government will unveil a new five-year industrial policy for 2025-30 at the summit, with a focus on promoting investments in backward and most backward districts, as recommended in the Dr. D.M. Nanjundappa Report, Patil stated.

Minister Patil further added, “Additional incentives will be provided for industries setting up in these regions. The state will also launch a single-window clearance system to streamline business operations.”

Karnataka is home to numerous global R and D and Global Capability Centers (GCCs). The government plans to encourage local manufacturing to complement these centres. A strong focus will also be placed on environment-friendly energy solutions and electric vehicle manufacturing, Patil stated.

Previously, only a few states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat organised such large-scale investor summits. Now, more states are hosting similar events. This year’s summit will witness participation from top business leaders, including Kumar Birla, Anand Mahindra, and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.

The two-day event on February 12 and 13 will feature intense business discussions and networking opportunities, leading to the early inauguration on February 11 at 4 p.m., Patil added.

--IANS

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Imphal, Feb 3 (IANS) Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Monday launched the ‘Addiction Free Manipur Campaign’ as the state government has continued the ‘War Against Drug Campaign’ for the past several years.

The Governor launched the ‘Addiction Free Manipur Campaign’ at the Raj Bhavan which is being organised by Brahma Kumaris in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA)’, a flagship program of the Union Ministry.

An official said that the campaign aims to tackle the problem of substance abuse across the state through awareness generation, mass mobilisation and community outreach targeting vulnerable groups and general masses.

Launching the campaign at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan, the Governor said that the issues of drug abuse and addiction is one of the many challenges that require community participation and collaboration between governmental and non-governmental organisations.

He further stated that under NMBA, plans have been formulated to reduce drug abuse in the country.

Saying that altogether 372 districts in the country have been covered, Bhalla, a former Home Secretary, stressed that prevention through awareness campaigns is crucial to tackling the problem effectively.

The Governor commended the initiative taken up by Brahma Kumaris, stating that such efforts towards making India a drug-free nation are highly commendable.

He urged everyone, particularly the youth, to support this movement, come together to combat the menace and contribute towards achieving a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.

Banarsilal Shah, Secretary, Medical Wing, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan, Swapan Gupta, Associate Professor of Neurology, GB Pant Institute, New Delhi, Prof. RK Lenin Singh, President, Indian Medical Association, Manipur state Branch and B.K. Nilima, In-charge of Brahma Kumaris, Manipur among others attended the program.

Meanwhile, the state government since 2017 has been undertaking ‘War Against Drug Campaign’ and as part of the crusade, besides taking action against the drugs smuggling from Myanmar, various security forces in Manipur have been destroying illegal poppy cultivation in the state.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Feb 3 (IANS) Karnataka BJP MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) here on Monday in connection with the Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) recruitment scam.

The Congress-led government has ordered a reinvestigation into the scam, with allegations that Ashwath Narayan played a role in facilitating the recruitment of candidates from the Magadi region, including his relatives.

Sources stated that while answering questions from the investigating officers, Ashwath Narayan maintained that he had no connection to the scam and claimed that the allegations against him were politically motivated.

Karnataka's Congress government had announced that it would re-investigate the PSI recruitment scam. Police have arrested more than 30 accused persons including an ADGP-ranked officer for the first time in the history of the state.

As many as 54,041 candidates appeared for exams held on October 3, 2021, for the 545 vacant PSI posts. The exams were held in 92 centres across the state. The results were announced in January.

Later, the allegations surfaced that candidates who gave very poor performance in descriptive writing got maximum marks in Paper 2. However, the police and then Home Minister Araga Jnanendra denied any irregularities in PSI recruitment exams.

One of the candidates filed an RTI application seeking information on the OMR sheets of one of the candidates. Though the application was rejected, the OMR sheet of the candidate appeared in the public domain. Police sources say that Veeresh, the candidate, had answered only 21 questions in paper 2 but got 100 marks. He was given 7th rank.

Current Minister for RDPR, IT and BT, Priyank Kharge had then alleged that more than 300 of the 545 candidates had paid Rs 70 to 80 lakh bribes to officials and ministers to become PSIs. The ruling BJP had then challenged him to produce evidence before the CID).

The Congress leaders, then, vehemently demanded the resignation of Home Minister Jnanendra. They also alleged corruption by Ashwath Narayan and indirectly referred to former CM B.S. Yediyurappa’s son and BJP MLA B.Y. Vijayendra’s role as well.

Former ADGP Amrit Paul was arrested and jailed in the case. The Congress leaders maintain that the investigation is stuck at this stage and the authorities have not bothered to carry forward the probe as there is involvement of powerful BJP politicians.

The investigation agency had already submitted two charge sheets to the court regarding the scam.

--IANS

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Chennai, Feb 3 (IANS) AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, on Monday paid floral tributes to former Chief Minister and iconic Dravidian leader C.N. Annadurai on his 56th death anniversary.

Palaniswami, who is also the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, urged party functionaries and cadres to resolve to follow Annadurai's noble principles and the path of righteousness shown by the late leader.

While paying his respects at the Anna Memorial in Chennai on Monday, Palaniswami hailed Annadurai as "the flame of self-respect" from Kancheepuram, who introduced the mantra of "duty, dignity, and discipline" (Kadamai, Ganniyam, and Kattuppaadu) to the world of politics.

He emphasised that Annadurai's contributions as Chief Minister propelled Tamil Nadu to the forefront of development in various sectors.

Taking to his social media X account, Palaniswami wrote, "The ideological flame of our movement, who rose to the pinnacle of intelligence, even astonishing his political enemies. On his memorial day, we should resolve to follow his noble principles and the path of righteousness shown by him."

He concluded his post with the slogan: "Long Live Anna!"

C.N. Annadurai, who passed away on February 3, 1969, was a revered Dravidian leader and the first General Secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

He was also the first leader from a Dravidian party to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Renowned for his oratory skills, Annadurai was an acclaimed writer in Tamil.

He scripted and acted in several plays, some of which were later adapted into films.

He was also the first politician from Dravidian parties to use Tamil cinema extensively for political propaganda.

Born into a middle-class family, Annadurai initially worked as a school teacher before transitioning into journalism and later joining the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), founded by Periyar E.V. Ramasamy.

A staunch follower of Periyar, he rose to prominence within the organisation.

However, ideological differences over the demand for an independent Dravida Nadu and its union with India led to Annadurai parting ways with Periyar.

He subsequently founded the DMK along with his supporters.

Initially, the DMK adhered to the same ideologies as its parent organisation, the Dravidar Kazhagam.

However, as national politics and the Indian Constitution evolved, Annadurai abandoned the demand for an independent Dravida Nadu.

His leadership saw several protests against the ruling Congress government, leading to multiple imprisonments.

The most notable was during the Anti-Hindi Agitation of 1965, which significantly boosted his popularity.

In the 1967 Tamil Nadu state elections, Annadurai led the DMK to a landslide victory, becoming Chief Minister.

His Cabinet was the youngest in India at the time.

However, his tenure was cut short when he succumbed to cancer just two years later.

Annadurai's funeral witnessed an unprecedented turnout, making it one of the most attended funerals in Tamil Nadu.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was founded on October 17, 1972, by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and matinee idol M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) as a breakaway faction from the DMK after Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi expelled him from the party.

The AIADMK adheres to the principles of socialism and secularism, based on Annadurai's ideologies, collectively coined as "Annaism" by MGR.

The name "Anna" in AIADMK is derived from Annadurai's name, symbolising his enduring influence on the party's policies and direction.

The AIADMK has won a seven-time majority in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, making it the most successful political outfit in the state's history.

--IANS

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Chennai, Feb 3 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition (LOP) Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) has called on the state government to take strict action following allegations by senior IPS officer and Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Kalpana Nayak that an attempt was made on her life.

Palaniswami expressed shock over the alleged attempt, urging the government to conduct a thorough probe into Nayak’s claims and ensure strong legal action against those responsible.

He also demanded that the ruling DMK government provide adequate security for the senior police officer.

Kalpana Nayak, who previously served as the ADGP of the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB), recently alleged that her office fire on July 29, 2024, was not an accident but a deliberate attempt to kill her.

She had exposed irregularities in TNUSRB’s recruitment process, particularly regarding the implementation of communal reservations.

According to her written complaint to Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) Shankar Jiwal, the fire completely gutted her office. Nayak claimed that had she been in her chamber at the time, she would have lost her life.

EPS criticised the ruling DMK government, stating that such incidents reflected poorly on the state’s law and order situation.

“If an official of ADGP rank can face such threats, how can ordinary citizens trust the system to address their grievances?” he questioned.

He further urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to take full responsibility for the “shameful state of affairs” in the police department.

The Tamil Nadu DGP’s office responded to Nayak’s complaint, stating that a full-fledged investigation had been initiated immediately after she filed her letter on August 14, 2024.

A forensic report cited in the statement concluded that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit in the air conditioning system, with evidence of burnt copper wires.

The DGP’s office ruled out foul play, stating that “based on the investigation conducted so far, there is no evidence of a planned threat to the life of ADGP Kalpana Nayak.”

However, EPS dismissed the report as inadequate and called for a transparent investigation to uncover the truth.

He insisted that anyone involved in the alleged attempt should be held accountable under the law.

The incident has sparked political controversy, with AIADMK leaders demanding justice for Nayak and accusing the DMK government of failing to ensure the safety of officials.

The opposition has urged the government to prioritise the safety of whistleblowers who expose corruption within state institutions.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Feb 3 (IANS) Kolkata, with its rich cultural heritage, comes alive each year to celebrate Basant Panchami, a festival that marks the arrival of spring and honours Goddess Saraswati, the embodiment of wisdom, arts, and knowledge.

This year, Syamaprasad College in South Kolkata witnessed a grand celebration, with an enthusiastic crowd of students turning out in traditional attire to participate in the vibrant festivities.

Boys sported traditional Punjabi kurta-pyjamas, while the girls dazzled in sarees, all gathered to seek the blessings of Maa Saraswati for success and wisdom in their academic and personal lives.

Speaking to IANS, First-year student Suruchi Jha shared her excitement, saying, "This is my first Basant Panchami celebration in college, and it’s been an amazing experience. I had heard about the grandeur of the puja here, and seeing it in person is even more beautiful. After the puja, we’ll enjoy the bhog and then head out to celebrate further."

Sreenivas Singh Yadav, Vice Principal of Syamaprasad College, highlighted the significance of the occasion, "The Saraswati Puja here has been a tradition since 1958. Our Student Union does an excellent job organizing it, and you can see how the entire college comes together—boys in Punjabi kurtas and girls in sarees. This is the essence of Bengal's unique cultural charm. The puja is not just about worship; it’s a time for students to bond, share, and reflect. After the ritual, we all join together for the 'Bhog'—a communal meal, sharing prasad as a symbol of unity and festivity."

Basant Panchami, also known as Saraswati Pooja holds deep spiritual and cultural significance. Beyond celebrating the arrival of spring, it honors Goddess Saraswati, whose blessings are believed to inspire wisdom and creativity. For many, this day is the ideal time to start new ventures, especially in the realm of education, as students and teachers alike seek Saraswati’s guidance to dispel ignorance and embrace enlightenment.

The festival is particularly significant for young children, as they are initiated into the world of learning through rituals like Vidya Arambha or Akshar-Abhyasam. Schools and colleges across India host Saraswati Puja ceremonies, seeking divine blessings for the academic success of their students.

In essence, Basant Panchami is not just a celebration of spring; it is a spiritual occasion that unites communities in gratitude and joy, fostering a collective spirit of knowledge, creativity, and positivity.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS) The services of Delhi Metro will begin at 4:00 a.m. on February 5 and 8 in a bid to facilitate election duty staff during the Assembly elections and counting of votes. The decision has been announced by Anuj Dayal, Principal Executive Director, Corporate Communications, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

On the day of the Assembly Election, February 5, and vote counting day on February 8, all Delhi Metro train services will start from their terminal stations at 4:00 a.m. The services will run at a frequency of 30 minutes until 6:00 a.m. and after 6:00 a.m., regular Metro services will operate for the rest of the day.

Additionally, to support polling officials and staff returning late after election duty, the last Metro services on all lines will be extended on the intervening night of February 5 and 6.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor has declared February 5, a public holiday for all government offices, local bodies, public sector undertakings, and autonomous bodies in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi. This notification was issued under the orders of the Lieutenant Governor.

Voting to pick a new 70-member Delhi Assembly will be held on February 5 and the result will be declared on February 8. In the outgoing House, the AAP has 62 candidates and the BJP has eight.

According to the data of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), 1.56 crore voters are eligible to cast their ballots across 13,766 polling stations. Among the total voters, 83.76 lakh are men, 72.36 lakh are women, and 1,267 are third-gender voters.

There are 699 candidates in the fray as compared to 672 in the 2020 poll.

--IANS

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Shimla, Feb 3 (IANS) After procuring and marketing naturally grown maize, the Himachal Pradesh government would now procure naturally produced wheat.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday launched a simplified registration form to streamline the procurement directly from farmers during a meeting to list the priorities for legislators.

He said that the form could be filled online or offline by the farmers.

The Chief Minister said that interested farmers could now connect with natural farming easily by filling out this form.

"The registration forms, which will generate specific information about the land, crops grown, breed of animals kept by the farmers and some other details regarding training in natural farming, will be distributed amongst farmers in all panchayats," he said.

CM Sukhu said this will give further impetus to natural farming in 2025-26.

He said the government has procured 398.976 metric tons of naturally grown maize from 1,508 farmers at Rs 30 per kg, the highest minimum support price (MSP) in the country. He said that a similar procedure would be adopted to procure naturally produced wheat in the coming season at an MSP of Rs 40 per kg. He said that one kg and five kg packets of the naturally produced maize flour are available under the brand name ‘Him Bhog’ and 38.225 metric tons of maize flour has been sold through 1,054 Fair Price shops and 73.52 metric tons have been sold through wholesale units of the HP State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd till February 1.

Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Chander Kumar said the department would verify the forms filled up by the farmers in the field. He said the form will be connected to the CETARA-NF (Certified Evaluation Tool of Agriculture Resources Analysis of Natural Farming) portal of PK3Y.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Feb 3 (IANS) A video went viral in West Bengal on Monday, in which a local Trinamool Congress booth president is seen threatening a government teacher for conducting the worship of the Hindu goddess during Saraswati Puja.

The incident took place in Nadia district, where every year the teachers and guardians of the school organise Saraswati Puja on the occasion of Basant Panchami.

In the video, the Trinamool local booth president Alimuddin Mondal, was seen and heard threatening a teacher with a transfer order to a remote place within 24 hours if the festival is organised this year.

Mondal was also heard using unparliamentary language. In the video, some local youths are also seen pacifying Mondal.

However, later West Bengal Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said that with the active assistance from the local people, Saraswati Puja was organised at the same place this year as well.

On Monday, Adhikari highlighted two other incidents of similar attacks on Saraswati Puja in the state.

He said that, on Monday, which is the second day of Saraswati Puja, the idol of the goddess was vandalised in the Kalinga area at Chapra in Nadia district and the Saraswati Puja was stopped at Balai Beriya School in Hooghly district due to objections from a section of the local community.

“This is a direct attack on Hindu beliefs. Worship of the goddess is part of our culture and is inextricably linked to growing up as a student,” he said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday fixed February 12 for hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the law introduced by the Parliament, which excludes the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the process of appointment of top officials of the Election Commission.

Appearing before a bench headed by Justice Surya Kant, advocate Prashant Bhushan apprehended that the pleas against the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Condition of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 are not listed high on board on Tuesday and therefore, may not come up for hearing on the scheduled date (February 4).

Bhushan said that the tenure of the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is coming to an end on February 18 and prayed that the matter should be urgently for a final hearing, or else an interim order may be passed.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the second highest law officer of the Centre, opposed the prayer for an interim order, saying that the Union government’s reply is ready and the matter should be fixed for a final hearing.

He noted that an interim stay on the implementation of the impugned law was not allowed by the top court in an earlier hearing.

Fixing the matter for hearing on February 12, the Justice Kant-led Bench said: "Better this matter is decided on merits."

In the hearing on January 8, Bhushan had said: "The incumbent CEC is retiring on the 18th of February and the new Election Commissioner will have to be appointed. Now, the question is as to whether he will be appointed in terms of the Constitution Bench judgment or in accordance with this new law. I am requesting that this matter should be heard next week."

Declining to fast-track the hearing scheduled on February 4, the Justice Kant-led Bench had remarked: "How many matters will we be able to hear urgently? We understand the importance of the matter and any good matter requires some time also. February is not far, remind us on February 3 in the morning, so we are able to take up the matter on 4th February."

In March 2023, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had held that the appointment of top officials of the Election Commission shall be done by the President on the advice of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India.

"We declare that the appointment of the CEC and the other ECs shall be made on the recommendations made by a three-member Committee comprising the Prime Minister, LoP of the Lok Sabha and in case no LoP is available, the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha in terms of numerical strength and the Chief Justice of India,” said the apex court, clarifying that its guidelines shall be in effect until Parliament makes a law in consonance with Article 324(2) of the Constitution.

After the apex court verdict, the Parliament introduced legislation providing that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the other Election Commissioners (ECs) will be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of the PM, the Leader of the Opposition (or the largest opposition party) in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the PM.

Several PILs were filed before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Condition of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.

One of the pleas filed by a Noida-based lawyer sought directions to set aside the gazette notification issued by the Union government on December 28, 2023, and to include the Chief Justice of India in the selection committee for the appointment of the CEC and ECs. Further, it sought direction to the Union of India for implementing an independent and transparent system of selection constituting a neutral and independent selection committee for appointment of the CEC and other ECs.

--IANS

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