Mumbai, July 3 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday that he has directed the district collectors to take strong action against officials found demanding money from women submitting applications seeking benefits under the Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahin Yojana.

He said the government would not tolerate such malpractices and the staff will face disciplinary action and suspension as it is committed to the implementation of the scheme to help eligible women across the state. These women will get Rs 1,500 per month which comes to Rs 18,000 annually.

Shinde’s warning came in the wake of complaints by legislators, especially from the opposition.

‘’I have already directed the district collectors that the scheme should be implemented in a hassle-free manner. The administration should take due steps for its effective implementation and the women should not face any inconvenience and harassment. The government will take stern action against the staff for negligence and demanding money,’’ he said.

The issue also came up for discussion in the Assembly when excise minister Shambhuraj Desai said that the CM has already announced that the government will take stern action against those demanding money from the women getting enrolled under the scheme. He told the House that in one case an official has already been suspended.

The CM’s announcement came after the government’s announcement to extend the deadline for submission of applications by eligible women under the Mukhyamantri Ladli Bahin Yojana upto August 31 following a large number of women turning up in district offices. The government has announced an increase in the age limit for eligible women to 65 years from 60 years.

–IANS

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Shillong, July 3 (IANS) The two-week-long India-Mongolia joint military exercise ‘Nomadic Elephant’ commenced on Wednesday in Meghalaya’s Umroi to boost the military capabilities of both sides to undertake counter-insurgency operations in a sub-conventional scenario under the United Nations mandate.

Defence spokesman Lt Col Mahendra Rawat said that in the 16th edition of the joint military exercise, the 45-member Indian contingent is being represented by a Sikkim Scouts Battalion along with personnel from other services.

The Mongolian contingent is being represented by personnel from the 150 Quick Reaction Force Battalion of the Mongolian Army.

‘Nomadic Elephant’, which is being held at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, is an annual training event conducted alternatively in India and Mongolia. The last edition was conducted in Mongolia in July 2023.

The opening ceremony of the joint exercise was attended by the Mongolian Ambassador to India, Dambajavyn Ganbold, and Major General Prasanna Joshi, General Officer Commanding, 51 Sub Area of the Indian Army.

The defence PRO said the joint exercise aims to enhance the military capabilities of both sides to undertake counter-insurgency operations in a sub-conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate.

The joint exercise, which will conclude on July 16, is focused on operations in the semi-urban and mountainous terrains.

According to Lt Col Rawat, tactical drills during the exercise include response to terrorist action, the establishment of a joint command post, an intelligence and surveillance centre, securing of a helipad/ landing site, small team insertion and extraction, special heliborne operations, cordon and search operations, besides employment of drones and counter-drone systems, among others.

Major General Gyanbyamba Sunrev, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Mongolia, is scheduled to attend the closing ceremony on July 16 along with Lieutenant General Zubin A Minwalla, General Officer Commanding, 33 Corps of the Indian Army.

‘Nomadic Elephant’ aims to enable both sides to share their best practices in tactics, techniques, and procedures for conducting joint operations.

The exercise would also facilitate developing interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between the two armies which would enhance the level of defence cooperation, further augmenting the bilateral relations between the two friendly nations, the defence spokesman added.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, July 3 (IANS) Reacting to the BJP’s resignation demand over his alleged involvement in the irregularities in the tribal welfare Board and Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah maintained on Wednesday that he would not quit as he had no role in it.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday, CM Siddaramaiah stated, “Did the BJP government hand over even one case to the CBI when we demanded it? Why are they seeking CBI investigation in every case? Why should we hand over the investigation to the CBI?”

CM Siddaramaiah added, “The earlier BJP government framed the rules that those who lost land should be compensated with 50 per cent of sites. The BJP is now claiming that the rule has been misused. To find out whether the provision has been misused or not, we are conducting an enquiry.”

“Second, all sites that were allotted by the MUDA have been kept under suspension, so where is the loss to the government?” CM Siddaramaiah asked.

“The officers who distributed these sites got transferred over time and an enquiry is being conducted through senior IAS officers. After getting the report we will initiate action,” CM Siddaramaiah said.

“Why should I resign and what is my role in those scams? Will Leader of Opposition, R Ashoka resign as soon as charges are levelled against him? He had secured bail following charges in the Akrama-Sakrama Scheme and he had also appealed for quashing the matter against him. Will he resign from his post in this backdrop?” CM Siddaramaiah stated.

The CM added that the tribal welfare Board case had been handed over to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Karnataka government had taken the resignation of Minister B Nagendra even though his name was not mentioned in the suicide note of an officer of the Board alleging political pressure.

“The CBI and ED are looking into matters connected with banking in the tribal welfare Board scam. What further action needs to be taken? The BJP is protesting without any issue.

“Without any SIT report against Minister for Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil and tribal welfare Board Chairman, Basavaraja Daddal, how can action be initiated against them,” he questioned.

Karnataka BJP leaders, including state President BY Vijayendra and R Ashoka, were detained by Karnataka Police on Wednesday morning while preparing to march to the CM’s residence.

–IANS

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Panaji, July 3 (IANS) South Goa Congress Member of Parliament Capt Viriato Fernandes, on Wednesday, met Union Minister for Road Transport & Highway Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi and sought his intervention to protect Bhoma village from getting destroyed due to the proposed expansion of NH 4A.

Bhoma village has three temples and other religious structures.

With the support of all Opposition parties in Goa, hundreds of people from village Bhoma of Priol constituency are up in arms against the expansion of the national highway to save the temples and houses.

People of Bhoma are against the expansion of National Highway 4A, claiming that many houses will be demolished, along with temples, if the project becomes a reality.

“Today met Nitin Gadkari and apprised him of the issues faced by villagers with regard to highway expansion work at Bhoma village and other locations. Also highlighted the anxiety and concern of farmers with respect to the construction of the proposed Borim bridge that will destroy the ‘Khazans’ and agricultural land,” Fernades said.

“Discussed the possible solutions to the above issues and requested for taking the main stakeholders, farmers and villagers into confidence and addressing their concern,” he said further.

Earlier, villagers of Bhoma in North Goa had written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu seeking her intervention to save their village.

For the last one year, villagers of Bhoma have protested more than 10 times and addressed many meetings, to which opposition political parties, including Congress, Goa Forward and the Revolutionary Goans Party have supported.

They have demanded that the Public Works Department not destroy their village, instead should think of constructing a bypass.

According to locals of Bhoma village, there are three temples and two other religious structures, which will be affected if the expansion of the national highway is done.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, slammed the Opposition for politicising the Manipur issue, saying that the state “will soon reject them.”

PM Modi urged everyone to look beyond politics and work together to ensure stability in the region. He warned those trying to exacerbate the situation, saying, “Those adding fuel to the fire, I warn them Manipur will reject them soon.”

PM Modi also highlighted the reduction in violent incidents in the region over the past few months.

“We are continuously trying to maintain peace and stability in Manipur. More than 11,000 FIRs have been registered, and more than 500 people have been arrested in Manipur, which is a very small state. Now, the incidents of violence are coming down. This means peace is possible,” he said.

He pointed out that schools, colleges, and offices in Manipur are operating like in any other state in the country, and all examinations were held as scheduled.

“Both Central and state governments are actively working to resolve regional issues with patience and peace. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Manipur and stayed for weeks there, engaging with relevant stakeholders,” said the Prime Minister, adding that besides political leaders, various government officials also visited the state to assess and address the situation.

Reflecting on the history of the state, he said that Manipur has had a history of disharmony and hostility among certain sections and also cited a 1993 incident.

He pointed out that the Congress party should remember that President’s Rule was imposed in the state ten times during their tenure and also recalled the spate of violence in 1993 that lasted for about five years.

PM Modi added that those who are questioning the situation in the northeastern states must know that the BJP has worked to make this region a powerful engine of growth.

He said that numerous efforts have been made to maintain peace in the North-East, yielding “hopeful” results. He noted that inter-border rifts between states have historically sparked conflicts since Independence, but the current government has been working to end these rifts by working for agreements between states, achieving significant success.

–IANS

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