National
India's 'Infra Man' Gadkari, 'trouble shooter' Goyal, woman sarpanch among Maha's ministers in Modi 3.0
Mumbai, June 10 (IANS) BJP heavyweights Nitin Gadkari, widely regarded as the brain behind the country’s infrastructure push, and Piyush Goyal, credited with expanding India’s commercial interests and heft, lead the six ministers from Maharashtra in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third successive government.
A Vikas Purush: Niti Gadkari (BJP)
A staunch RSS activist and a leader having friends in every political party, Nitin Gadkari scored a hat-trick from his home turf Nagpur.
Gadkari is known as the ‘Vikas Purush’, because of his ministerial performance in the field of surface transport and shipping. Interestingly, Shiv Sena founder late Balasaheb Thackeray had to call him “Pulkari”, especially after the construction of a record 55 flyovers in Mumbai during his tenure as the Public Works Minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP government between 1995 and 1999. During his same tenure, the much-discussed Mumbai-Pune Expressway was also constructed.
Known for his outspokenness in politics, Gadkari rose to the present position after starting his political journey as an ordinary activist. Later, he became a member of the Legislative Council, Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council, State President of BJP, National President of BJP and was elected for the first time from Nagpur to Lok Sabha in 2014 elections and later again in 2019 and 2024.
Gadkari became the second Marathi leader to be elected as the BJP’s National President in 2009. He has also done various work in the social and industrial sectors. Gadkari’s bid for re-election suffered a setback after the Income Tax department conducted searches at the offices of companies linked to him which he described as “calculated, mischievous and politically motivated”.
As MP, Gadkari in his constituency carried out many activities for the senior citizens and made a record contribution to the welfare and development of the differently-abled persons. He had made special arrangements for the supply of oxygen in Nagpur during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He provided medical equipment to various hospitals through the social welfare fund.
A Trouble Shooter: Piyush Goyal (BJP)
A chartered accountant and an investment banker-turned-politician, Piyush Goyal was elected from Mumbai North during his maiden foray in the Lok Sabha elections.
Goyal, who hails from the Agarwal community, was associated with the BJP right from his childhood as his father Ved Prakash Goyal was BJP’s national treasurer and his mother Chandrakanta Goyal was an MLA. Goyal has emerged as a troubleshooter not only for the party but also for the government.
Goyal, who is celebrating his 60th birthday on June 13, was elected to the Rajya Sabha for the first time in 2010 and for the second time in 2016. Goyal has held various departments such as Coal, Power, Railways, Commerce, and Corporate Affairs till now. He has also served on various parliamentary committees on Finance and Defence.
Goyal succeeded Suresh Prabhu in charge of the Ministry of Railways in 2017 when India’s first semi-high-speed Vande Bharat train was launched between Delhi and Varanasi.
During the then Minister Arun Jaitley’s medical absence, Goyal also handled the Finance Ministry as an additional charge and presented an interim Union Budget in February 2019 ahead of the general elections.
Goyal is quite close to party leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Amit Shah, among others.
Goyal, who has been serving in the BJP for the last 35 years in various positions and the party’s national executive, has also held the post of party’s national treasurer. He has held the post of House Leader of Rajya Sabha.
From Sarpanch to MoS: Raksha Khadse (BJP)
BJP nominee from Raver, Raksha Khadse, who is the daughter-in-law of veteran leader Eknath Khadse, has risen to this position from a Sarpanch of the Kotwali village in the Jalgaon district in north Maharashtra. Although his father-in-law Eknath Khadse left the BJP in October 2020 and joined the Nationalist Congress Party, Raksha remained loyal to the BJP. Her decision to stick to BJP has now turned out to be a big positive to get a ministerial berth.
Raksha, who is a computer science graduate and fluent in four languages — Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati and English, has been active in politics since 2010.
Raksha had been a member of Jalgaon Zilla Parishad before she was elected to the Lok Sabha riding the PM Modi wave in 2014 and later again in 2019 and 2024.
Raksha’s induction comes when her father-in-law Eknath Khadse is set to do a ‘ghar wapsi’ after his recent meeting with Amit Shah. Her elevation as the Minister of State is also a strong signal to the party heavyweight and state Cabinet Minister Girish Mahajan in the run-up to the state Assembly elections.
Hardcore Shiv Sainik to now MoS Independent Rank: Prataprao Jadhav
A hardcore Shiv Sainik, Prataprao Jadhav started his political career as the sarpanch and rose to become MoS (Independent Charge) in the Modi 3.0 government.
Jadhav deserted his former boss Uddhav Thackeray and joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena after the latter staged a rebellion in June 2022. He set a record of winning the Lok Sabha elections for the fourth successive term from the Buldhana constituency in the Vidarbha region.
Jadhav was elected to the state Assembly in 1995, 1999 and 2004 from Mehkar constituency. He had worked as the Minister of State for Sports and Irrigation in the Shiv Sena-BJP government during 1995 and 1999.
In 2009, after the Mehkar Assembly constituency was reserved, he contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Buldhana seat and became a “giant killer” after he defeated veteran NCP leader Rajendra Shingane.
A leader from the BR Ambedkar movement: Ramdas Athawale (RPI)
Despite not a single Lok Sabha MP, Ramdas Athawale, who is the National President of the Republican Party of India (RPI), took the oath as Minister of State. Inspired by B.R. Ambedkar, Athawale remained associated with the empowerment of the Dalit community. After the split in the Dalit Panther movement in 1974, he joined Arun Kamble and Gangadhar Gade. He was later associated with the Congress.
Athawale became a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council in 1990 and 1996 and was inducted as a Cabinet minister for Social Justice in the Sharad Pawar-led ministry in 1990. He was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time in 1998 from Mumbai North Central and later from 1999 to 2009 from Pandharpur constituency. He joined hands with the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in 2011 and contested the BMC elections.
Since 2014, Athawale has been the Minister of State in the Narendra Modi-led government. Known for his political satire and poetry, Athawale hogged the limelight after in a video he chanted in March 2020, “Go Corona” at a rally.
From Mayor to MoS: Murlidhar Mohol (BJP)
A former Pune Mayor to Lok Sabha MP, Murlidhar Mohol hit the jackpot as he has been made a Minister of State in the Narendra Modi-led government.
Mohol, who hails from the politically influential Maratha community, is a close confidant of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who played a major role in getting him the party nomination. A staunch RSS activist, Mohol was elected to Pune Municipal Corporation in the 2002, 2007 and 2017 elections.
Mohol completed his education till class 10 in Pune and later reached Kolhapur for college and wrestling. He is a known wrestler who has hogged headlines in the past.
Mohol entered active politics around 1993 and held various posts, including the Secretary, Vice-President, City BJP General Secretary, Education Board Member and State General Secretary.
–IANS
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National
PM Modi to give certificates to 11 lakh Lakhpati Didis; roll out Rs 2,500 crore fund
New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will give certificates to 11 lakh new ‘Lakhpati Didis’ at a special function to be held at Jalgaon in Maharashtra on August 25 (Sunday).
The programme will have nationwide participation through the virtual mode.
The Prime Minister will release a revolving Community Investment Fund of Rs 2,500 crore, which will benefit about 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh women Self Help Groups (SHGs), Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
PM Modi will also release a bank loan of Rs 5,000 crore, which will benefit 25.8 lakh members of 2,35,400 Self Help Groups (SHGs).
Shivraj Singh Chouhan also said that people from about 30,000 places across 34 states and union territories including state capitals and district headquarters will join this program through the virtual route.
He said that Lakhpati Didis are women who earn Rs 1 lakh or more per annum. These Lakhpati Didis have not only pulled their families out of poverty but are also becoming role models for the rest of society, the Union Minister said.
“The Rural Development Ministry has already created 1 crore Lakhpati Didis. Now our target is to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis in the next 3 years. It is heartening to note that one of these community resource persons has created 95 Lakhpati Didis,” Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
He further explained that the Ministry has adopted a structured process to enable the SHG families to earn an annual income of Rs 1 lakh or more.
This includes capacitating National Resource Persons and developing Master Trainers in each state.
These Master Trainers further train the Community Resource Persons on business planning, financing and convergence process.
The cadre of 3 lakh Community Resource Persons, who have been specially trained in business planning and the skilling of SHG members, are doing a great service in this regard, the minister added.
Some of these community resource persons will also be facilitated.
As of now, the Ministry of Rural Development has formed 15 lakh Lakhpati Didis during the first 100 days which has succeeded the 11 lakh target for the period, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
–IANS
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National
Tripura flood death toll rises to 12, more NDRF teams deployed (Lead)
Agartala, Aug 22 (IANS) The flood situation in Tripura, which has been lashed by heavy rains for the last four days, remained grim on Thursday and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) retained its ‘Red alert’ for all eight districts, officials said.
They added that more National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed as the rains and floods continue to play havoc.
Till Thursday, 12 deaths, including that of a 12-year-old girl and a woman were reported from South Tripura, Gomati, and Khowai districts and two persons were also said to be missing.
A Disaster Management Department official said that two more fresh casualties due to the floods were reported from south Tripura and Gomati districts, while around 65,500 people are taking shelter in 450 relief camps in all eight districts.
He said that 17 lakh people were affected in the entire state, which witnessed the monsoon flood in such a catastrophic manner for the first time in several decades.
Chief Minister Manik Saha, who is supervising the disaster management work, spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the second day on Thursday and apprised him of the prevailing scenario.
Home Minister Shah said in a post on X, “Spoke with CM Tripura, Dr Manik Saha, and took stock of the flood situation in the state. The Centre is rushing teams of NDRF, apart from boats and helicopters, to the state to assist the local government in relief and rescue operations. Assured of all possible assistance from the Centre as and when required. The Modi government firmly stands with our sisters and brothers in Tripura during this hour of crisis.”
Later, the Chief Minister while expressing gratitude to the Home Minister said that HM Shah informed him that 11 NDRF teams would be sent to Tripura from different locations in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
He said arrangements would also be made for choppers to airlift stranded people in the flood-affected areas.
“More number of boats would also be sent along with the NDRF teams. The entire state government machinery has been working round the clock to tackle the unprecedented natural calamity. I thank public representatives, social workers and the people at large for cooperating with the state government in this hour of crisis,” CM Saha said.
The central government has provided two helicopters for airlifting stranded people in Gomati and South Tripura districts.
Following the directions of the state government, due to the heavy rain and flooding, all educational institutions remained closed.
An India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said that though a ‘heavy’ to ‘very heavy’ rainfall alert has been continued and a ‘Red alert’ has been sounded in all eight districts, the rain is likely to reduce slightly from Thursday evening.
“The low pressure area over north Bangladesh and neighbourhood persisted over the same region on Thursday. The associated cyclonic circulation now extends up to 9.4 km above mean sea level. It is likely to move nearly westwards across West Bengal during the next 48 hours. Additionally, a cyclonic circulation is likely to form over North Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood on August 24,” the official said.
The IMD recorded 233 mm rainfall in Agartala from 8.30 A.M. on August 21 to till 8.30 A.M. on Thursday.
According to Disaster Management Department officials over 1,055 houses were damaged either fully or partially and hundreds of trees were uprooted blocking many important highways.
Landslides occurred in 2,032 places across the state, out of which 1,789 locations were cleared by Thursday evening.
As per preliminary estimates, around 5,000 hectares of vegetable farms and 1.20 lakh hectares of other crop lands are still submerged.
Water Resource Department officials said that most of the prominent rivers in Tripura were either flowing above ‘critical’ or ‘danger’ levels while the state’s main river Gomati has crossed the ‘extreme danger’ level in many places of Gomati and Sepahijala districts, as rainfall has continued.
The Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) has cancelled 10 local trains in Tripura.
An NFR spokesman said that due to heavy rain railway tracks were damaged in Gomati district, forcing the authorities to cancel these trains.
A Defence spokesman said that following the requisition from state administrations, four columns of Assam Rifles were deployed in different districts and they were working in close coordination with the civil administration to rescue civilians stranded due to floods.
First aid and essential items have been distributed by the Assam Rifles to hundreds of stranded people and those in relief camps.
–IANS
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National
Waqf Amendment Bill is unconstitutional, undemocratic & unfair: Maulana Madani
New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) The Muslim organisation on Thursday criticised the Union government over the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, calling it unconstitutional, undemocratic and unfair as it goes against the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution.
“Amendment bill being brought to Waqf is unconstitutional, undemocratic and unfair. The proposed amendments to the Waqf Act are also against the freedom of religion provided by the Constitution and also violates articles 14-15 and 25 of the Constitution,” said Jamiat-i-Ulama Hind, President, Maulana Arshad Madani while addressing a joint press conference of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and Muslim Personal Law Board at the Constitution Club in New Delhi.
He added that the amendment bill is also the government’s interference in religious matters which Muslims will not accept.
“Under the guise of the amending bill, an attempt is being made to deprive the Muslims of this great country and of its heritage which our forefathers have left in the form of Waqf for the betterment of the poor, destitute and needy people of the country,” said Maulana Arshad Madani.
He said that amendments have been made in the bill without consulting the Muslim religious figures and taking the Muslims into confidence while Waqf is a purely religious and Shariah matter because once the Waqf is applied.
“The donor does not remain the owner of the property rather that property is transferred to the ownership of Allah,” he explained.
Maulana Madani said that while presenting the Amendment Bill in the parliament, it was claimed that it would bring transparency to the work and would benefit the weak and needy people of the Muslim society.
“This bill is proof of the malicious intent of the government and its dangerous plans. If this bill is passed not only the protection of Waqf properties across the country may be in danger but also a door of new conflicts will be opened and the status of those mosques, tombs, buildings, imam badas and lands which are Waqf properties or which are located on Waqf land will be made doubtful,” Maulana Madani said.
He added that instead of the Waqf Tribunal and Waqf Commissioners, all powers under this bill will be transferred to District Collectors.
“By increasing the number of members of the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards, their status is also being changed and the door is being opened to appoint non-Muslims in it as well. This bill will also remove the requirement of being Muslim for officers and members,” he said.
Maulana Madani said that this is not a Hindu-Muslim issue but a constitutional problem and this bill is also against Muslim religious freedom.
He said that the Shrine Board, which was formed for the maintenance and protection of Hindu religious places, had a clear explanation that Jains, Sikhs or Buddhists would not be its members.
He questioned that if Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists cannot be members of the Shrine Board, how can the nomination and appointment of non-Muslims be justified in the Waqf Board?
“While Jainism and Buddhism are not considered separate from Hinduism, they are considered a separate sect. If they cannot participate in the shrine board even if they are Hindus on the basis of being a sect, then why is the nomination and appointment of non-Muslims in the Waqf boards made mandatory?” Maulana Madani asked.
He said that there are laws in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh etc. that those who manage the affairs of the Hindu religion’s property must be Hindus.
“Just as no other religious group can interfere in the religious affairs of Hindus, Sikhs and Christians in the same way, the management of Waqf properties should also be done only by Muslims. We do not accept any such proposal in the endowment system,” he added.
He said that it is clear that the intention of the government is not pure and through this bill, its purpose is not to bring transparency in the work and to benefit the Muslim community but to deprive Muslims of their Waqf properties and to weaken the claim of Muslims from the Waqf properties.
Maulana Madani said that an endless series of new conflicts can start in this way and taking advantage of the weak legal status of Muslims in the amendment bill may make it easier to occupy Waqf properties.
He added that we are not talking about one or two amendments but most of the amendments in the bill are unconstitutional and dangerous and destructive for the Waqf.
“This bill is also an attack on the constitutional powers given to Muslims. If the Constitution has given religious freedom and equal rights to every citizen then some special powers have also been given to the minorities living in the country. And the amendment bill negates all these powers completely,” he said.
Maulana Madani added that under the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, it has been suggested that Section 40 of the current Act should be removed while the 2006 Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf and Justice Sachar Committee reported that a large number of Waqf properties are illegally occupied while the incumbent government is also referring to the same Sachar Committee report.
“Despite this, it has been suggested in the 2024 bill that the State Waqf Board shall not be empowered to identify properties which are illegally occupied and to try to recover them. This proposal of the government is very harmful to the existence of endowments,” he said.
He added that during the last ten years, the minorities of the country, especially the Muslims, were put on the margins, and to make them believe that now, as citizens, they have no rights and powers, many laws have been forcibly brought and implemented.
“This Waqf Amendment Bill is also one of them by passing it in any way there is a conspiracy to forcefully apply it on Muslims, which we cannot accept,” he said.
–IANS
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National
Calcutta HC questions Bengal govt's 'late realisation' to probe financial irregularities at RG Kar
Kolkata, Aug 22 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court on Thursday questioned the decision of the West Bengal government to set up a special investigation team to probe the alleged financial irregularities at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata when the controversial former principal Sandip Ghosh was in charge of the institution, even as the state health department was informed about the irregularities last year.
A single-judge bench of Justice Rajarshi Bhardwaj made this observation while hearing a petition by the whistle-blower in the matter — former deputy medical superintendent of RG Kar — Akhtar Ali, who had sought the High Court’s intervention to seek protection in anticipation of security threat for being vocal against Sandip Ghosh.
On Wednesday, Ali also filed a public interest litigation seeking a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar.
During the hearing, Justice Bhardwaj observed that “from the inclusion of senior police officers in the special investigation team, it is evident that the matter is serious, and wondered why the team was constituted a year after the matter was brought to the notice of the state government”.
The state government counsel argued that the petition has been deliberately filed at this moment amid the recent incident of the rape and murder of a woman doctor in the R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital.
The state government counsel also questioned why the petitioner remained silent for one year after the complaint was not acted upon as claimed by him.
The Calcutta High Court also directed the state government counsel to present a detailed argument on the formation of SIT on Friday.
The West Bengal government earlier this week announced the formation of a special investigation team comprising four senior IPS officers and headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police to prove the allegation of financial irregularities at RG Kar since 2021, when Sandip Ghosh was the principal there.
Opposition parties have already claimed that the formation of SIT by the state government was nothing but an eyewash, and it had been created not with the intention of revealing the truth behind the financial irregularities, but rather with the motive of destroying evidence in the matter.
–IANS
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National
Odisha: RDC-level probe to be launched soon into spurious liquor deaths
Bhubaneswar, Aug 22 (IANS) Amid the furore over two deaths caused by the consumption of spurious liquor in Ganjam district, Odisha Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan announced on Thursday that a probe by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner into the hooch tragedy will be initiated soon.
At least 23 persons from Moundpur, Jenapur, and Karabalua in Chikiti block had consumed country liquor from an unlicensed shop on Monday evening. They later fell ill and were admitted to a nearby hospital, where two of them died during treatment on Wednesday, prompting Harichandan to direct the officials to take all necessary steps to stop the illegal trade of liquor in the state.
Speaking to mediapersons, Harichandan said, “An RDC-level probe will be launched in this matter within the next couple of days. Action will be taken based on its report which will be submitted within two months. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will soon take the decision in this regard.”
He also vowed that the network of illegal liquor trade in the state will be completely destroyed within a year.
“As many as 217 illegal liquor manufacturing units have been identified in the state which will be demolished soon. Instructions have already been issued in this regard. Around 117 persons have so far been arrested following raids in different districts,” Harichandan.
He also assured the people that no illegal liquor unit will remain in existence in the state.
The Minister said the Excise Superintendent in Berhampur, Pradip Panigrahi, has been transferred for negligence in duty on Wednesday, while the government has also suspended Excise Inspector Ramesh Chandara Mohanty and Sub-inspector Prasanna Kumar Jali for similar lapses.
The deceased have been identified as Jura Behera and Lokanath Behera from Jenapur village, who died at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.
The opposition BJD has also the issue in the state Assembly on Thursday, demanding resignation of the Excise Minister.
–IANS
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