India News
100 Days of Yogi Adityanath government: a mixed bag
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Murders, rapes and robberies every day, serious caste clashes taking place, goons taking to vigilantism, farmers continuing to get notices from banks and committing suicide while the promised loan waiver yet to come – amid all this Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath Yogi laid out a list of achievements of his government as it completed a lack-lustre 100 days in office.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Yogi expressed satisfaction with the work done by his government and claimed that they are working for all without any discrimination. Adityanath also unveiled a booklet highlighting his government’s achievements in 100 days.
“We are satisfied with the work we have done in the first 100 days of our government, but 100 days is little for change or development in any state. We want to assure people that the government has started initiatives to take Uttar Pradesh forward on the path of development,” Adityanath said.
Many of his claims were not entirely true. Adityanath reiterated his party’s all inclusive growth policy, ‘’sabka sath sabka vikas’’ while placing the blame on previous governments of indulging in ‘jativaad’ (casteism) and ‘pariwarwad’ (nepotism). “In the last 14-15 years, UP has gone backward on development parameters, caught in the web of caste based discrimination and nepotism,” Adityanath said.
However, under Yogi government, caste conflicts have intensified, and two major communities feeling marginalised are the Muslims and the Dalits, which forms 40% of the state’s population. Saharanpur, which saw serious Dalit-Rajput clashes, continues to simmer and communal tension persists in Muzaffarnagar, apart from sporadic incidents reported now and then from other parts as well.
The Chief Minister stressed mostly on initiatives taken for farmers’ welfare which included farm loan waiver and payment of arrears to the sugarcane farmers. “The loan waiver did not have any impact on the development works (in UP) but has benefitted 86 lakh farmers,” he said.
The loan waiver, though, is still to see the light of the day. It has the finance department burning the proverbial midnight oil as it tries to offload the sudden fiscal burden of nearly Rs 36,369 crore. This, coupled with Rs 34,000 crore for the implementation of the seventh pay commission recommendations, has put an additional burden of Rs 70,000 crore on the state’s coffers, said a Financial Express report, quoting an official .
Adityanath also highlighted the steps taken towards ensuring safety of women saying that initiatives like anti-Romeo squad and 181 helpline number have made women feel safer in the state. However, crimes against women continue apace and law and order remains a serious problem. The anti-Romeo squads made news more for harassment of ordinary, consenting couples than for checking harassment of women.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
India News
Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti 2023: History, Date and Significance
Shastri was a freedom fighter and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He played an important role in India’s independence movement.
On 2nd October 2023, India also celebrates the birth anniversary of another great leader, Lal Bahadur Shastri. The day holds special significance as India remembers the legacy and life of the man who served as India’s second Prime Minister. Lal bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904 in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh. He is a symbol of dedication and selfless service to the nation.
Shastri was a freedom fighter and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He played an important role in India’s independence movement. He was sent to the prison several times by the British government. After India got its independence in the year 1947 he served in many important ministerial positions in the government of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born into a lower middle class family. His father’s name was Sharda Prasad Srivastava who was also a teacher. Ram Dulari Devi was a house wife. He was born with the name Lal Bahadur Srivastava. He earned the title Shastri due to his academic excellence. He was commited to education during his entire life. He went on to become not only a leader but also an academic and an activist.
Lal Bahadur Shastri showed unwavering dedication to the Indian National Congress political party. He served as the second Prime Minister of India from 1964 until his death in 1966. His tenure as Prime Minister marked a significant progress and change in India.
He held many important positions which included Minister of External Affairs and Railways. His tenure had many notable achievements which included signing of the Tashkent Agreement. The Tashkent aimed to ease tensions between India and Pakistan.
This diplomatic respect earned him respect on the global arena. Lal Bahadur Shastri gave the slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kisan which means hail the soldier and hail the Farmer. The slogan means emphasizes on the vital contributions of farmers and soldiers to the country’s prosperity.
India News
Rahul Gandhi visits Amritsar, offers sewa at Golden Temple
Rahul Gandhi went to Amritsar for personal and spiritual visit, as per Punjab Congress leader.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited to the Punjab’s Golden Temple today. Rahul Gandhi participated in kar sewa after making prayers at the Golden Temple. He was observed washing dishes alongside other party members and volunteers from the Gurudwara.
He will stay the night in the city, according to a representative of Congress.
Let’s respect his privacy because this is a personal and spiritual visit from him. Request that none of the party’s employees show up in person for this visit. Amarinder Singh Raja Waring, the head of the Punjab Congress, wrote earlier in the day on X, formerly known as Twitter. He also added, you all can express your support in spirit and see him the next time.
The arrest of MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has caused a rift between the Congress and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is why Rahul Gandhi is in Amritsar.
Sukhpal Singh Khaira, a Congress leader, was detained by the Punjab police last week on suspicion of taking part in money laundering and narcotics trafficking.
The Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the AAP have both been called thirsty for blood by the Congress leader. He said, he won’t be shocked if he gets me physically eliminated as well.
According to the AAP government, Khaira was arrested as a result of fresh evidence in a 2015 case.
The national leadership of the AAP and the Congress may support the INDIA alliance, but Khaira’s arrest has exposed regional rivalries that may make it challenging for the two to cooperate.
The release of the video coincides with Rahul Gandhi expanding his network of supporters in advance of the Lok Sabha elections. The Congress leader was recently spotted performing the part of a farmer and engaging in crop transplantation. Later, he tried the coolie and even tried his hand at carrying passengers baggage on his head. Most recently, he even gave carpentry a try as well.
India News
Bihar government releases caste survey report, 27% backward classes, 36% extremely backward classes
Union Minister Giriraj Singh mentioned that the caste census will do nothing more than spreading confusion among the poor and public of the state.
Nitish Kumar led Bihar government released a caste-based survey report on Monday. The report indicated that 36 per cent of the state’s population are from Extremely Backward Classes, 27.1 percent are from Backward Classes, 19.7 per cent are from Scheduled Castes and 1.7 per cent are from Scheduled Tribes. The general population accounts for 15.5 per cent.
Among the OBCs, Yadavs comprise 14.26% of the surveyed population, Kushwaha 4.27% and Kurmi 2.87%. The release of the caste based survey data comes at a time when the Supreme Court continues to hear petitions challenging a Patna High Court’s judgement that paved the way for this controversial caste-based headcount.
Speaking about the caste survey report, Union Minister Giriraj Singh mentioned that the caste census will do nothing more than spreading confusion among the poor and public of the state. He added that the Bihar government should have given a report card that Nitish Kumar ruled the state fr 18 years and Lalu Yadav ruled the state for 15 years but they did not develop the state.
Earlier today Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he plans to call all nine parties that are part of the ruling coalition, including Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, to discuss next steps, which could include dealing with decisions to increase OBC quotas at 27 per cent.
Reports said that around 2.64 lakh enumerators fanned out across the state, documenting the details of 29 million registered households on 17 socio-economic criteria, ranging from employment, education, marital status, land holding and property ownership and caste. Enumerators will have to choose between 214 pre-registered castes that have been allotted to individual codes.
