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Chhattisgarh: Congress, BJP try to outdo each other in MSP game

The two parties don’t want to disturb the hopes of farmers for higher MSP and loan waiver. The Congress has promised a loan waiver, the BJP has been mum on it.

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By Neeraj Mishra

The two major contesting parties, the BJP and the Congress, have announced a flurry of sops in their Chhattisgarh manifesto. The primary aim is to woo farmers, the largest chunk of voters. So, when the BJP announced they would procure paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal, the Congress upped it by stating in its manifesto that they would pay Rs 3,200. Both promise to acquire 20 quintals of paddy per acre against 15 quintals being acquired currently.

Now, therein lies a catch of the magnitude of Rs 10,000 crore. The Congress has been paying Rs 500 as “bonus” for the past five years over and above the procurement price or the Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced by the Government of India. For instance, the MSP last Kharif season was Rs 2,050. So the Bhupesh Baghel government paid Rs 2,550 but the Rs 500 bonus offered by state government is paid in four instalments. This has caused an additional cash burden of Rs 5,000 crore on the state exchequer.

The BJP, which had refused to pay bonus above the MSP in 2018, has fallen in line. It has sensed that the farmer in Chhattisgarh will now not accept anything less than Rs 2,700 per quintal while the MSP stands at Rs 2,150 this season. So gone are the days of MSP in Chhattisgarh while farmers from Bihar, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh etc continue to struggle to get even their MSP rate and cash in their accounts on time.

It will indeed be very difficult for either party to stick to their procurement price promise. It will not only mean nearly Rs 1,000 over and above the MSP, but the quantity of procurement will go up by at least 25 per cent. Chhattisgarh had procured a little over 1 lakh tonne paddy last season at 15 quintals per acre. If as promised, the state has to acquire 20 quintals per acre then the total quantity will easily surpass 1.25 lakh tonne even at the current rate of procurement.  This will add more burden on the state exchequer and it remains to be seen if the Central government is willing to shell out money for its share of extra rice. So far it has dilly-dallied over it.

As far as the farmer is concerned, he is not unhappy over getting his due share. At the same time, his expectation from the state have been raised which neither party wants to disturb. The farmer expects full procurement at higher MSP and also loan waiver. Last time, the Congress had promised a loan waiver scheme but had granted it with conditions. The primary condition was that only loans taken from cooperative banks would be waived. So while loans worth Rs 9,000 crore were waived, more than 13 lakh farmers with outstanding loans in the region of Rs 16,000 crore still suffered. This time too, smart farmers had taken loans in the expectation of waiver in an election year. The Congress has promised to waive loans but the BJP has kept mum on the subject.

Eventually will this MSP and loan waiver game make a difference? Will the farmer choose the one who deposits more in his pocket? Only time can tell but every farmer is also a Sahu or Kurmi or Yadav and eventually all things being equal, he will vote his caste. At least that’s what both parties are hoping with their MSP playbook.

India News

Seelampur murder: AAP slams BJP over law & order situation in Delhi

While reassuring the public that the assailants will be apprehended and face severe repercussions, Tiwari also called for calm, urging that police operations not be obstructed.

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The tragic stabbing of a 17-year-old boy in the Seelampur area of northeast Delhi has ignited a heated exchange between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday, April 18. Both parties are pointing fingers at each other regarding the city’s declining law and order situation. The incident occurred on Thursday, April 17, in the J-Block locality of New Seelampur.

Atishi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly and a senior AAP leader, accused the BJP-led Central Government and the Delhi Police of failing to protect citizens. “The murder of this 17-year-old in Seelampur highlights the worsening law and order in Delhi,” she stated in a post on X.

She questioned, “What is the Delhi Police doing? What is Home Minister Amit Shah’s response? What is the double-engine government up to?” referencing the BJP leadership in both the central government and the local police force. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta promised that the victim’s family would receive justice.

“I have spoken with the Commissioner of Police, and all efforts are being made. I hope the perpetrators will be caught soon, and we will ensure justice for the victim’s family,” she remarked.

In response to the Opposition’s criticism, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, representing North East Delhi, condemned the incident and stated that law enforcement is treating the matter with utmost seriousness.

“The murder of Kunal, a 17-year-old Dalit youth in Seelampur, is deeply concerning, and the residents’ anger is understandable,” he posted on X. “I’ve been in touch with senior police officials since last night. Many suspects have been identified, and a thorough investigation is currently underway,” he added.

While reassuring the public that the assailants will be apprehended and face severe repercussions, Tiwari also called for calm, urging that police operations not be obstructed.

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KL Rahul, Athiya Shetty share first pic of their baby, name her Evaarah

The couple, celebrating Rahul’s birthday, introduced their baby girl named Evaarah, a name that encapsulates their joy and love.

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KL Rahul, Athiya Shetty share first pic of their baby, name her Evaarah

KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty have shared the enchanting news of their daughter’s arrival, unveiling her name to the world for the very first time. The couple, celebrating Rahul’s birthday, introduced their baby girl named Evaarah, a name that encapsulates their joy and love.

Introducing Evaarah: A special moment for the new family

In a touching moment filled with pride and emotion, actor Athiya Shetty and cricketer KL Rahul shared the first picture of their little one. The heartfelt reveal quickly captured the affection of fans and followers, who flooded the couple with warm wishes and congratulations. Athiya, in her post, expressed her profound love, writing: “Our baby girl, our everything. 🪷 Evaarah/ इवारा ~ Gift of God.”

Earlier in March, Athiya had joyfully announced her pregnancy with a charming Instagram illustration of two swans accompanied by the message, “Blessed with a baby girl.”

The journey to parenthood

The couple exchanged vows in a private ceremony on January 23, 2023, at Suniel Shetty’s picturesque farmhouse in Khandala. A few months later, in November 2024, they marked another milestone in their lives with an adorable announcement about their impending parenthood, sharing a sweet post that read, “Our beautiful blessing is coming soon. 2025,” along with emojis of tiny feet.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DIlMd2UTkhP/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Suniel Shetty’s heartfelt reflection as a grandfather

Suniel Shetty, Athiya’s father, expressed his joy as a newly minted grandfather in a heartfelt LinkedIn post. He articulated the paradox of life, emphasising how true contentment often lies in the simplest moments. He reflected on his journey, stating, “It’s funny how life works. You spend years chasing achievements, but real happiness stems from the simplest of things.”

He shared the indescribable joy of holding his granddaughter, acknowledging how those cherished moments eclipse all worldly pursuits. His reflections on family and legacy poignantly captured the essence of life’s most rewarding experiences.

Warm wishes from the celebrities’ circle

The joyous news has evoked an outpouring of affection from fellow celebrities and friends. Anushka Sharma, a close friend of Athiya, celebrated the occasion with a heart emoji on her post, while Sobhita Dhulipala remarked, “This is everything.” Samantha Ruth Prabhu also joined in, leaving a flurry of heart emojis to shower love on the precious new addition to the Shetty-Rahul family.

As KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty embark on this beautiful journey of parenthood, they are surrounded by love and support from their family, friends, and countless admirers.

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Stalin reminds PM Modi’s statements as Gujarat CM after his crying for funds remark

During the event, Stalin inaugurated over 6,700 completed projects worth ₹1,166 crore in Tiruvallur, laid foundations for 7,300 new initiatives, and distributed welfare benefits to 2.02 lakh residents.

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a government event in Ponneri, Tiruvallur district, invoking Modi’s own words as Gujarat’s Chief Minister to counter recent remarks about Tamil Nadu’s demands for funds.

Addressing a gathering, Stalin refuted Modi’s claim from a Rameswaram visit that Tamil Nadu leaders were “crying” for central funds regardless of allocations.

“With utmost respect, I remind the Prime Minister of his own stance as Gujarat CM, when he said states aren’t beggars pleading for Union handouts,” Stalin said.

He recalled Modi’s criticism of the Centre’s partisan fund allocations and accusations of Governors running “parallel governments” in opposition-ruled states. “When Tamil Nadu seeks its rightful share, how is it ‘crying’? I’m asserting our state’s rights, not groveling. I learned this from our leader Kalaignar [Karunanidhi],” Stalin asserted.

Minister S.M. Nasar, MPs S. Jagathrakshakan and Sasikanth Senthil, legislators T.J. Govindarajan, Durai Chandrasekar, S. Chandran, V.G. Raajendran, A. Krishnaswamy, K. Ganapathy, S. Sudharsanam, Collector M. Prathap, and senior officials attended the event.

Stalin also challenged Shah’s recent Chennai statement that Tamil Nadu’s demands were “diversionary tactics.” He posed pointed questions to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, “Can you exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET? Guarantee no Hindi imposition? Ensure our representation isn’t reduced post-delimitation? Specify the funds allocated to our state?”

Stalin emphasised that Tamil Nadu’s fight is for all states’ rights, citing the DMK’s landmark Supreme Court victory against Governor R.N. Ravi’s delay in approving Bills. “This historic ruling shows we act when the Centre fails,” he said.

Highlighting national awareness of Tamil Nadu’s struggle, Stalin dismissed Shah’s accusations of diversion, urging, “If our demands are distractions, why haven’t you addressed them clearly?” He underscored the state’s resolve to protect its interests, rooted in principles of federalism and justice championed by DMK’s legacy.

During the event, Stalin inaugurated over 6,700 completed projects worth ₹1,166 crore in Tiruvallur, laid foundations for 7,300 new initiatives, and distributed welfare benefits to 2.02 lakh residents.

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