New Delhi, July 1 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party MP Bansuri Swaraj, speaking on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in the Lok Sabha on Monday, listed many achievements of the BJP-led NDA government in the past 10 years and also mentioned how the nation is poised for the golden times of ‘Viksit Bharat’.

Bansuri Swaraj said that the welfare schemes of the Narendra Modi government and `his vision of Viksit Bharat have earned the public’s trust, resulting in a clear mandate for the NDA government for the third consecutive time.

She said that the Modi government fulfils every promise it makes and cited the examples of Article 370 abrogation, the Ram Temple consecration, Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), One Rank, One Pension, and Make in India.

Highlighting the robust economic growth under the NDA government, she said, “In the last ten years, India has risen to the fifth largest economy in the world from the 11th rank, all in the times of global instability. Now, it is on its way to becoming the third largest economy in the world.”

Stressing on the vision of Viksit Bharat, she said, “PM Modi has taken the resolution of Viksit Bharat 2047, with focus on four main pillars — youth, women, farmers and the poor.”

The New Delhi MP also highlighted the Standup India and Startup India program of the Centre and said that this has made Indian youth a “job creator, instead of job seeker, “and now, the youth is moving towards “wealth creation,” leading India to become the third-largest Startup ecosystem in the world.

She hailed the new initiatives of the Central government benefitting the youth, including the Mudra Yojana, Digital India, the chip manufacturing and semiconductor industry, Make in India, and Startup India for encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit of the youth.

She spoke about several programs for women’s emancipation and empowerment, including the Ujjwala Yojana and Jan Dhan Yojana, the Lakhpati Didi program, and the Namo Drone Didi scheme.

“Over 50 crore bank accounts were opened under the Jan Dhan Yojana initiative, out of which 56 per cent were of women. Our Prime Minister also ensured that women also have financial support for their businesses under the Mudra Yojana, under which 59 per cent of the loans were sanctioned to women. Similarly, under Standup India, 89 per cent of the loans were sanctioned to women,” she said.

Swaraj mentioned that PM Modi’s Garib Kalyan Yojana has been recognised as the largest welfare development scheme in the world, recounting the government’s focus on the development of the poor. She also mentioned the free ration scheme, claiming that the government is allocating free ration to more than 81 crore people to ensure food and nutrient security.

The BJP MP emphasised the achievements of the PM Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and PM Swarn Nidhi program, adding that this has extensively benefitted the poor.

She also praised the new criminal laws, stating that they replaced the colonial-era “suppressive” laws and focused solely on “justice,” unlike foreign governance, which aimed to suppress people. She argued that these transformative initiatives are why India has voted for the NDA again.

Drawing parallels with the Mahabharata, she said that Lord Krishna will always support those who perform ‘Karma’ (deeds), referring to PM Modi, and slammed the opposition for imposing an Emergency and trying to destroy the Constitution and democracy.

She accused the AAP of deliberately creating a “constitutional crisis” in the national capital, where people are yearning for water.

–IANS

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Shimla, July 1 (IANS) Lt Gen Devendra Sharma on Monday took over as the 25th General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Army Training Command (ARTRAC) in Shimla.

An alumnus of the Mayo College in Ajmer, the National Defence Academy (NDA), and the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Lt Gen Sharma is the recipient of the coveted ‘Sword of Honour’. He was also commissioned into ‘The Scinde Horse’ on December 19, 1987.

In an illustrious career spanning almost four decades, the General has tenanted important command appointments in varied sensitive operational sectors, counter-terrorism environments, and high-altitude terrains.

He has commanded ‘The Scinde Horse’, an armoured brigade as part of Strike Corps, an Infantry Division and a Corps on the Western Front. Lt Gen Sharma was also the Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Western Command, before taking over as the GO of ARTRAC.

His staff experience includes challenging assignments both in operational and administrative domains.

Lt Gen Sharma has been an instructor at the prestigious National Defence Academy, a Staff Officer Operations in the Indian Military Training Team, Bhutan, and the Chief Military Personnel Officer of the United Nations Mission in Congo.

ARTRAC has been a strategic location of the Indian Army for almost 150 years, It was the headquarters of the Indian Army during British rule from 1864 to 1939.

After Independence, the headquarters of the Western Command was located in Shimla during the India-Pakistan wars in 1948, 1965 and 1971, as well as during the India-China war of 1962.

The Western Command was shifted to Chandimandir in 1985.

–IANS

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Ballary, (Karnataka) July 1 (IANS) The tussle within the Karnataka Congress over the Chief Minister’s post is escalating.

Congress MLA Shivaganga Basavaraj stated on Monday that Deputy CM and State Congress President, DK Shivakumar should become the Chief Minister.

Speaking to reporters in Kottur, Ballary District, MLA Basavaraj said, “Shivakumar built the party from scratch, and he should become the Chief Minister. He is the reason for the Congress party’s victory and winning nine seats in the General Election from just one seat in 2019. It’s certain that Shivakumar will be the CM. Once he becomes CM, a dozen Dy CMs can be appointed.”

Basavaraj added that it’s a Congress tradition for the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to become the CM, however, after the Assembly elections the high command made Siddaramaiah the CM for some reason.

He said that Shivakumar, as KPCC President, has strengthened the party from the ground level.

When asked about Minister KN Rajanna’s demands for more Dy CM posts, Basavaraj said those interested should discuss it with the high command.

“Senior leaders like Rajanna should be role models for junior leaders like us. Despite Shivakumar’s warning, he continues to make statements,” he said.

Regarding the Vokkaliga pontiff’s appeal to CM Siddaramaiah to vacate the seat, Basavaraj said it reflects the people’s and devotees’ sentiments.

“The BJP is carrying out a propaganda to come to power from the backdoor. The BJP should stop daydreaming about attaining power, the Congress is going to complete its five-year term,” he stated.

Reacting to questions about the CM’s post and additional Dy CM posts, CM Siddaramaiah stated in Bengaluru, “It’s not a matter for public discussion. We will follow the high command’s decision.”

–IANS

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Mumbai, July 1 (IANS) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday announced that the state government will take a decision within three months regarding the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for teachers.

During the Question Hour, Ajit Pawar said the teaching and non-teaching staff working in semi-government and aided institutions of Maharashtra who joined service after the notification was issued would be provided relief.

Pawar responded to questions raised by BJP members Sanjay Kelkar, Ashish Shelar, and Congress member Balasaheb Thorat.

As per the government’s decision, those opting for OPS will have to contribute 10 per cent while 14 per cent will be added by the state.

Pawar said that the government recently decided to give an option of the OPS to government employees whose posts were advertised before November 1, 2005 but who joined service after that.

In this decision, the option has been given to apply for the provisions of the Maharashtra Civil Services Retirement Rules 1982, Maharashtra Civil Services Retirement Pension Scheme 1984, and General Provident Fund Rules for managing retirement funds, exclusively to government officials and employees under the jurisdiction of the Central government.

He told the House that the decision was not implemented in respect of teachers and non-teaching staff working in semi-government and aided institutions as the case was sub judice.

Ajit Pawar said that considering the economic situation of the country and states, the Central government decided to discontinue the OPS and start a new one.

Subsequently, various state government officials and employees demanded the implementation of the OPS, to which the Central government has responded positively.

State governments have also sought information from the Central government regarding this matter.

Ajit Pawar also said the state government had formed a committee of retired officials to understand their demands.

“Discussions have been held with the associations of government officials and employees in this regard. A request was made in the Nagpur winter session regarding the state government’s stance on implementing the old pension.

“Some states have also sought information regarding decisions taken in this regard. The current government is pro-employee, so they will not be left in the lurch. Proper justice will be given in this matter,” Pawar assured.

–IANS

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Hyderabad, July 1 (IANS) Hyderabad Police on Monday arrested BRS MLA P. Rajeshwar Reddy and other leaders when they reached Gandhi Hospital to meet a student leader, who is on a hunger strike demanding the state government to fulfil its assurances to the unemployed over job recruitments.

Tension prevailed at Gandhi Hospital as BRS leaders and members of various student groups reached there to meet Motilal Naik, the leader of Osmania University Joint Action Committee (JAC) who has been on hunger strike for the last eight days.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Rajeshwar Reddy, A. Rakesh Reddy and other leaders were arrested by the police. They were shifted to various police stations.

Rajeshwar Reddy was talking to media persons when police forcibly took him, Rakesh Reddy and others into custody and whisked them away in police vehicles.

The BRS leaders took strong exception to the police action and asked if this was the people’s rule of the Congress government. The protestors raised slogans against the government and the police.

Meanwhile, a group of student leaders tried to barge into the hospital but were stopped and arrested by the police.

Unemployed youth and job aspirants have been gathering at the hospital for the last couple of days in solidarity with Naik.

Leaders of BRS and BJP have also met Naik during the last couple of days to support his demands.

BRS leader and former minister T. Harish Rao had called on Naik on Sunday and appealed to him to end the strike.

The BRS leader reminded the Congress party of its promise to provide two lakh jobs in the first year after coming to power and asked why it failed to issue even one notification for recruitment even after seven months.

Meanwhile, students also held protests at Osmania University in support of Motilal Naik. They staged a sit-in at Arts College.

They alleged that the government betrayed them after making several promises including increasing Group – II and III posts during the Assembly elections.

They demanded the Congress government to immediately fulfil its poll promises including selection of candidates for Group – I Main exam in 1:100 ratio and increasing Group -I and II posts.

They want the government to keep the promise of adding 2,000 jobs to Group-2 and 3,000 jobs to Group-3 and ensure a two-month gap between exams.

The unemployed and students are demanding the identification of vacant posts and the release of a job calendar regularly.

They also wanted the state government to issue a mega DSC notification to appoint 25,000 teachers.

–IANS

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