New Delhi, July (IANS) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday took the opposition to task for claiming that agriculture had been ignored in the Union Budget 2024-25, pointing out that the allocation for the sector was five times more than what the erstwhile UPA government had earmarked in the Budget for 2013-14.

In her reply to the debate on the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha, the Finance Minister said the allocation for the agriculture sector made by the Congress-led government in 2013-14 was a mere Rs 21,934 crore, which has gone up more than five-fold to Rs 1.23 lakh crore in the Budget for 2024-25.

While the Congress was merely paying lip service to farmers during its tenure, the government led by PM Narendra Modi has extended more than Rs 3.24 lakh crore under the direct benefit transfer scheme to 11 crore farmers who have received the money directly in their accounts, FM Sitharaman said.

She also said that institutional credit to farmers has gone up more than 2.4 times and 76 per cent of small farmers are now availing loans compared to only 57 per cent in 2013-14 when the Congress was in power.

The Congress was merely shedding crocodile tears for the farmers while it did not do anything for them when it was in power, she added.

Stating that the Congress-led UPA had rejected the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendation on fixing MSP for crops at above 50 per cent of the cost of production, the Finance Minister read out the minutes of an official meeting dating back to 2007 to drive home her point in the Lok Sabha.

It is the Modi government that has raised the MSP for farmers across all crops, she added.

The Finance Minister also lashed out at the Congress for the irregularities in the implementation of loan waivers for the farmers, citing the CAG report on the issue.

–IANS

sps/arm

New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Days after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) sealed multiple coaching centres running from the basement, including one by Drishti IAS, the institute’s chief Vikas Divyakirti said on Tuesday that the safety of students is paramount.

“Extensive action by the MCD in the last few days is a welcome step,” Divyakirti wrote on X.

Drishti IAS, one of the leading coaching centres for IAS exam preparations, has come under fire for violating safety norms. It is one of the centres sealed by the MCD recently.

The crackdown on coaching centres in Delhi came on the back of a tragedy in Rajinder Nagar, in which three civil service aspirants died due to flooding in the basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle.

The Drishti IAS head on Tuesday took to social media to express condolences over the demise of three UPSC aspirants.

He said the anger among the students over the incident was justified, adding that they are cooperating with the government in this regard.

However, he added that the “problem wasn’t as simple as it appears”.

Notably, Divyakirti, an educator and former civil servant, has been at the receiving end after his coaching centre was found to be flouting safety norms.

In the social media post, the Drishti IAS head claimed that the institute is extremely cautious about the safety of the students, and its ‘fire and safety officer’ regularly conducts safety audits of each building.

He also sought to offer a solution to deal with the problem caused by the mushrooming of coaching centres running from basements.

“The permanent solution to this problem is that the government should select three-four areas in Delhi and designate them for coaching institutes. If the government itself prepares classrooms, libraries, hostels, there will be no problem of high rent or security of the provisions relating thereto,” he said.

–IANS

mr/arm

Mumbai, July 30 (IANS) The cabinet sub-committee headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on industry-approved investment proposals worth Rs 81,000 crore for 7 mega and super mega projects in Maharashtra on Tuesday.

These high technology-intensive projects, which are in the fields of electric vehicles (EVs), lithium batteries and cells and semiconductor chips, are expected to generate 20,000 jobs in Marathwada, Vidarbha and Konkan.

Shinde said Maharashtra continues to be the favoured investment destination. The investors have reaffirmed their confidence in the proposed investments. He further added that these projects will be entitled to get benefits of the various incentives announced under the package incentive scheme as per the Maharashtra Industrial Policy.

“The cabinet sub-committee on industries gave approval for manufacturing projects based on high technology lithium-ion cells/batteries, electric vehicles, semiconductor chips, solar PV modules and electrolysers, fruit pulp and juice,” the Chief Minister said.

JSW Energy PSP XI will invest in a massive lithium batteries manufacturing project in the Nagpur area with a total investment of Rs 25,000 crore. More than 5,000 jobs will be generated.

JSW Green Mobility will invest in electric and hybrid vehicle manufacturing at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with an investment of Rs 27,200 crore. It will create 5,200 jobs. The company proposes to manufacture 5 lakh electric passenger cars and 1 lakh commercial vehicles annually.

A huge fruit pulp and juice-based product manufacturing project will be established by Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages at Ratnagiri with an investment of Rs 1500 crore.

The RRP Electronic Company will set up an Integrated Project for the Manufacturing of Semiconductor Chips In Taloja/Panvel from Raigad district and also in Pune and Rest of Maharashtra.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, this is the first semiconductor manufacturing project in Maharashtra with an investment of Rs 12,000 crore during its first phase. More than 4000 jobs will be created.

In the second phase, the company proposes to invest another Rs 12,000 crore. The work of the project has started at Mahape, Navi Mumbai and will be operational by September 2024 on a pilot basis.

Further, Avaada Electro Company will set up an integrated solar PV modules and electrolyser project at Additional MIDC, Butibori in Nagpur district and in MIDC Bhokarpada, Panvel in Raigad district. The company plans to invest Rs 13,647 crore and it will create 8,000 jobs.

Pernod Richard India will set up a large liquor manufacturing project at Additional Butibori MIDC, Nagpur with an investment of Rs 1785 crore.

–IANS

sj/dan

Chandigarh, July 30 (IANS) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday expelled eight leaders, comprising Bibi Jagir Kaur and Prem Singh Chandumajra, from the primary membership of the party for indulging in anti-party activities.

It also removed seven leaders as ‘halka in-charges’ and announced that these vacancies would be filled soon after taking detailed feedback from party workers.

A decision to this effect was taken by the party’s disciplinary committee headed by senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhundur at a meeting here.

The expelled leaders were Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Sikander Singh Maluka, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Surinder Singh Thekedar and Charanjit Singh Brar.

The seven constituencies which have fallen vacant after the expulsion of their constituency are Nakodar, Bholath, Ghanuar, Sanour, Samana, Garhshankar and Rajpura.

Giving details, Bhundur said it was revealed during introspection that these eight leaders had actively colluded with the party’s “enemies to create divisions in the party and weaken it.”

“It was also felt that these leaders have willfully damaged the image of the party as part of a wider conspiracy,” he said.

He said the decision to expel the leaders had been taken after careful consideration.

“They were given ample opportunity to discuss their issues in the party forum. The working committee meeting of June 26 had also through a resolution appealed to them to discuss their misgivings in the party forum but they refused to do so.”

Bhundur said instead of showing restraint the party leaders increased the scope of their anti-party activities in a planned manner and made it clear that they did not have any faith in the party organisation.

–IANS

vg/dan

Mumbai, July 30 (IANS) The Nationalist Congress Party will commemorate the birth anniversary of Sahityaratna, Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe on August 1 across Maharashtra.

A grand event will be held at his birthplace in Wategaon, informed NCP state president and MP Sunil Tatkare.

Annabhau Sathe is a leading figure of Dalit literature and he played a crucial role in the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement.

The NCP’s move is aimed at luring the Dalit community ahead of the upcoming Assembly election especially after it voted against the MahaYuti during the general elections fearing change in the constitution and end of reservation.

Tatkare said that on August 1, at Annabhau Sathe’s birthplace in Wategaon, a Granth Dindi procession will be held from his home to the memorial.

“In this procession, the complete works of Annabhau will be honoured in a traditional parade. In the courtyard in front of Annabhau’s memorial, the Granth Dindi will be welcomed with performances of renowned powadas composed by Annabhau, and tributes will be paid to him,” said Tatkare.

Additionally, on August 2, a state-level brass band festival will be held on the premises of the Zilla Parishad School in Satara, where renowned band groups from across the state will participate. The NCP will honour these artists with mementoes and certificates of appreciation.

Annabhau Sathe’s birth anniversary will also be celebrated at village, taluka, and district levels across the state.

–IANS

sj/dan