Cong flays Centre over DA freeze for CPSUs’ staff

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Cong flays Centre over DA freeze for CPSUs’ staff

The Congress on Friday flayed the Centre over the decision to freeze the additional Dearness Allowance of central public sector undertakings’ employees and said it is “yet another sign of a sinking economy”.

“Food inflation rises to 11.1 percent. But the Modi government is freezing DA instead of increasing it for central PSU employees. While the condition of government employees is poor, the capitalist ‘friends’ are happy,” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Addressing a press conference here, party leader Supriya Shrine said: “The economy is spinning out of control and everyone is in trouble. It is not just the unorganized sector, but even the government employees are bearing the brunt of incompetent handling of the Indian economy.”

The Congress maintained that there was a complete collapse of the Indian economy not just during the coronavirus pandemic but even before that, due to the Modi government’s “economic mismanagement”. “Now, it is taking steps that will further destroy demand and dent consumption.”

“Skyrocketing prices make matter worse. An increase in inflation to a six-year high of 7.61%, especially alarmingly high food inflation at 11.6%, is troublesome. So, simply put, a freeze on DA along with high prices amounts to salary cuts for central government employees, PSU staff, pensioners, and the armed forces,” Shrinate said.

“Why does the Modi government not shelve discretionary and vanity expenditure like the Rs 20,000-crore Central Vista project, the Rs 1.10 lakh crore bullet train project, or cut 30 percent of the wasteful expenditure of the government, which will come to close to Rs 2.5 lakh crore?” the Congress spokesperson asked.

As per a circular dated November 19, the government froze additional DA installments (due from October 1, 2020) for employees of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) till June 30, 2021. The additional DA from January 1, 2021, to April 1, 2021, will not be paid, the Department of Public Enterprises said. This decision impacts over 14.5 lakh employees across 339 central PSUs.

It follows a retrospective cut in DA and Dearness Pay for 113 lakh central government employees and pensioners, including armed forces, in April 2020.

Congress alleged that the DA freeze was a cue for the private sector to withhold salary hikes or appraisals. “Many state governments have already frozen DA and Dearness pay of their employees. They will perhaps now move to do so for state PSUs as well.”

Telangana BJP chief’s Charminar temple visit sparks tension

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Telangana BJP chief’s Charminar temple visit sparks tension

BJP’s Telangana unit President Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Friday visited Bhagyalakshmi temple abutting the historic Charminar here to swear in god’s name that he had not written to the EC to stop financial aid among floods victims, leading to tension amid rumors his temple visit was thwarted by police.

A day earlier, he had challenged Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao also to come to the temple to swear on the authenticity of a letter allegedly written by Kumar to the Election Commission to seek a stop on payment of ex gratia of Rs 10,000 to the flood-affected.

After Sanjay and some other BJP leaders reached Charminar in a convoy of vehicles from the party office in Nampally, his visit sparked some tension in the communally sensitive area. Police beefed up security to avoid any untoward incident.

Security personnel, including Rapid Action Force (RAF), were already deployed in the area in view of the Friday prayers at nearby historic Mecca Masjid and December 1 elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

Rumors started doing the rounds that police had stopped the BJP leader from visiting the temple, following which City Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar took to Twitter to deny it.

“Some people are trying to spread incorrect and false news on social media and electronic media. They are warned that action will be taken against them. Hyderabad Police is not stopping any person from going to any place of worship. Keep away from such propaganda and rumors,” he said.

After ‘darshan’ at the temple, Sanjay told reporters that his signature was “forged” on the letter, adding that he had lodged a police complaint.

Sanjay, a member of Parliament from Karimnagar, alleged that the forged letter was produced at the Chief Minister’s direction. He said that ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was “maligning him and the BJP for electoral gains in GHMC polls”.

He reiterated that if the BJP wins the GHMC polls, every flood-affected family will be paid Rs 25,000 as ex gratia. He promised that the party will get funds from the Centre to rebuild damaged houses, furniture and give money to buy new two-wheelers and cars.

‘Nefarious plot’: PM names Pakistan-based terrorist group

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‘Nefarious plot’: PM names Pakistan-based terrorist group

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the ‘bravery and professionalism’ of Indian security forces while stressing that the terror organization that was planning a terror plot that resulted in Thursday’s Nagrota encounter, was ‘Pakistan-based ‘.

“Neutralising of 4 terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed and the presence of large cache of weapons and explosives with them indicates that their efforts to wreak major havoc and destruction have once again been thwarted,” PM Modi tweeted.

Heaping praise on the security forces, he added, “Our security forces have once again displayed utmost bravery and professionalism. Thanks to their alertness, they have defeated a nefarious plot to target grassroots level democratic exercises in Jammu and Kashmir.”

Four terrorists traveling in a truck were killed on Thursday morning during an ongoing encounter near Nagrota in J&K’ Jammu district. The encounter broke out at Ban Toll Plaza Jammu with Police, CRPF, and Army.

Earlier speaking to IANS, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said a group of four JeM terrorists had infiltrated into India through the International Border in Samba on Wednesday night. They were traveling in a truck on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which was intercepted by the police at a toll plaza near Nagrota.

After they were intercepted the heavily armed terrorists threw grenades at the police party. During the gun battle, the truck caught fire.

This planned attack, which was thwarted, comes in the backdrop of the impending local body elections in Jammu and Kashmir and ahead of the 26/11 Mumbai attack anniversary.

Manmohan to head Cong panels on economy, security, foreign affairs

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Manmohan to head Cong panels on economy, security, foreign affairs

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has constituted three key committees of the party to formulate its strategy on issues related to economy, national security, and foreign affairs — all headed by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Economic Affairs Committee will have P Chidambaram, Digvijaya Singh, Mallikarjun Kharge as members, and Jairam Ramesh as convenor.

The Foreign Affairs Committee will have Salman Khurshid as convenor and Anand Sharma, Shashi Tharoor, and Saptgiri Ulaka as members.

The National Security Committee will have Vincent Pala as convenor and Ghulam Nabi Azad, Veerappa Moily, and V Vaithilingam as members.

The appointments to the new panels come amid differences within the Congress on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and People’s Alliance on Gupkar Declaration issues.

Amit Shah to visit Chennai on Nov 21, to meet TN BJP leaders

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Amit Shah to visit Chennai on Nov 21, to meet TN BJP leaders

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit the state capital Chennai on Saturday to lay foundation stones of a slew of government projects and to meet BJP state leaders.

Police have since beefed up security in the city. It is not yet clear if Shah will meet superstar Rajinikanth, who had earlier said that he would take the plunge in electoral politics.

Shah will dedicate to the people the new water reservoir that will cater to the needs of Chennai residents as well as lay the foundation stones of several other projects, the Tamil Nadu government said. The new reservoir built at an outlay of Rs 380 crore will be dedicated at a function at Kalaivanar Arangam here, chaired by Chief Minister K Palaniswami.

Shah will also lay the foundation stones of Phase II of Chennai Metro Rail with an outlay of Rs 61,843 crore, Rs 1,620 crore elevated expressway project in Coimbatore, expansion of Chennai Trade Centre (Rs 309 crore), Indian Oil Corporation’s petroleum terminal at Vallur (Rs 900 crore), Rs 1,400 crore lube plant, Rs 900 crore terminal at Kamarajar Port, and Rs 406 crore check dam with sluice gates across the Cauvery river in Karur district.

Shah will meet Tamil Nadu BJP office-bearers and cadres to galvanize them ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls. His visit comes close on the heels of NDA’s electoral victory in Bihar Assembly elections. The BJP workers plan to accord Shah a grand welcome at the airport here.

Tamil Nadu BJP unit chief L Murugan had earlier claimed that Shah’s visit will put fear in the minds of opposition parties.

Envoys of 4 countries present credentials to Prez Kovind

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Envoys of 4 countries present credentials to Prez Kovind

New envoys to India from Hungary, Maldives, Chad, and Tajikistan on Friday presented their credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind during a virtual ceremony here.

Those who presented their credentials were Hungarian Ambassador Andras Laszlo Kiraly, High Commissioner of Maldives Hussain Niyaz, Ambassador of Chad Soungui Ahmed, and Ambassador of Tajikistan Luqman Bobakalonzoda.

Speaking on the occasion, the President conveyed his good wishes to the envoys on their appointments.

He noted that India enjoys warm and friendly relations with all four countries and that “our ties were deeply rooted in a common vision of peace and prosperity”.

Kovind also thanked their governments for supporting India’s candidature for the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council for the 2021-22 term.

He said that “the Covid-19 pandemic necessitates enhanced global cooperation to ensure collective health and economic well-being of humankind”.

He further expressed his optimism that the international community was very close to finding a solution to the pandemic and will emerge stronger and more resilient from the crisis.

Jagan directs officials to take effective steps to contain Covid

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Jagan directs officials to take effective steps to contain Covid

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials to take effective steps in containing the Covid pandemic as a presumed second wave of infection is manifesting in Delhi and other countries.

“Though the positivity rate has come down and the number of tests has gone up, the district administration should be more alert as educational institutions are being opened,” said Reddy.

He said awareness should be created about 104 emergency number, which needs to be further developed as a single point of contact, where a patient can be admitted within 30 minutes after making a phone call.

The CM said AP has conducted 91.5 lakh Covid tests, out of which 8.54 samples turned positive with a positivity rate of 9.33 percent. On average, 1.71 lakh tests were done for every 10 lakh population.

Reddy stressed the importance of setting up help desks and closed-circuit cameras in all hospitals, including government and private hospitals by December 10. He said aarogya mitras should be appointed to run the help desks.

“Cctvs should be arranged at the help desks to monitor their functioning and aarogya mitras. Special training will be initiated to aarogya mitras about their role and the purpose of the post,” he said.

Reddy directed officials to prepare a standard operating procedure to educate Caroga mitras. Until now, 5,797 aarogya Mitra posts have been filled while the balance number of the total 9,800 posts is yet to be filled.

By Wednesday, active Covid cases in the southern state have plummeted to 16,516 as recoveries continue to outnumber infections every day.

AP credits Rs 510cr to farmers as part of zero interest scheme

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AP credits Rs 510cr to farmers as part of zero interest scheme

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy credited Rs 510 crore into the unencumbered bank accounts of 14.5 lakh eligible farmers as part of ‘YSR Sunna Vaddi Panta Runalu’ (zero interest crop loans scheme) on Tuesday.

The move is aimed at reducing input costs and thereby decreasing the financial burden of farmers.

“Fulfilling the promise made in the manifesto that interest-free crop loans will be provided as a subsidy to bank accounts of the farmers who have repaid 2019 Kharif crop loans within the stipulated period of one year,” said Agriculture Minister Kurasala Kannababu.

Besides Rs 510 crore, the government is also disbursing an additional amount of Rs 132 crore which will be credited to farmers who suffered crop loss during the recent heavy rains.

“Earlier, the government had credited a total amount of Rs 135 crore into the bank accounts of around 1.66 lakh farmers towards compensation for crop loss incurred due to heavy rains and floods from June to September this year,” said an official statement.

The CM said AP is a pro-farmer state, and the government will ensure to give maximum support and answer the farmer’s distress.

“The Government will assist every farmer starting from seeds to the purchase of crops,” said Reddy.

He further said that budget allocations were also made to provide zero percent interest loans to tenant farmers as well under the Rythu Bharosa scheme among others.

Greater Hyderabad MC polls on Dec 1; woman to be Mayor

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Greater Hyderabad MC polls on Dec 1; woman to be Mayor

Elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will be held on December 1, the Telangana State Election Commission said on Tuesday.

State Election Commissioner C Parthasarathi said that polling for the 150-member body will be held through ballot papers in view of complaints about the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines.

He told a news conference here that the counting of votes will be taken up on December 4.

He also announced that the post of Mayor has been reserved for a woman candidate from the general category. The elections are being held as per the reservation quota of the 2016 elections.

The SEC issued a poll notification on Monday while nominations will be received from Tuesday onwards. The process of filing nominations will continue till November 20.

Scrutiny will be done on November 21 while November 22 will be the last date for withdrawal of nominations. The list of contesting candidates will be published on November 22.

The polling will be held on December 1 from 7 am to 6 pm. The SEC said polling hours have been extended by one hour in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Repolling, wherever necessary, will be held on December 3.

The SEC said that the poll process will be conducted as per COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India. Wearing masks and maintaining social distance will be compulsory.

As per the draft voters’ lists, the te GHMC has over 74 lakh voters. The final lists of voters at the polling station level will be declared on November 21.

There are over 9,000 polling stations but the exact number will be announced later. In view of the COVID situation, the SEC has reduced the number of polling personnel at each police polling station to four from five earlier.

He said 50,000 to 55,000 polling personnel will be on duty. Employees from various departments and from other districts will be drafted for the poll duties. Parthasarathi said 25,000 to 30, 000 police personnel will also be deployed.

The term of the present GHMC body will end in February 2021. In the last MC elections in 2016, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had scored a landslide victory by winning 99 seats.

It had swept away the main opposition Congress and the Telugu Desam Party-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP-TDP) alliance.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) however withstood the TRS wave in its stronghold of the old city to emerge as the second-largest party in the MC with 44 seats. However, the massive mandate for TRS deprived the AIMIM a kingmaker’s role, which it historically enjoyed in the municipal body.

Andhra govt cancels lease of Vizag restaurant, owner close to TDP

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Andhra govt cancels lease of Vizag restaurant, owner close to TDP

Officials of the Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) have canceled the lease of a food and beverage outlet, Fusion Foods, for violating lease rules.

“The drive was carried out by VMRDA against Fusion Foods,” an official confirmed with IANS. Incidentally, the outlet is promoted by T. Harshavardhan Prasad, who is touted to be close to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Prasad is also the owner of the restaurant in the city’s airport where his employee, Srinivas, had attacked the opposition leader and current Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy with a knife. Prasad got a lease in 2004 for 10 years, on whose expiry he applied for an extension but the erstwhile authority, VUDA, declined. However, he went to court and managed to get an extension till 2024.

The VMRDA identified that the lease rules were violative in nature as they could only be given for three years. According to officials, Prasad is also paying quite a low rent, depriving revenues of VMRDA. On these grounds, VMRDA officials acted against Fusion Foods.

Visakhapatnam continues to see a lot of encroachments being busted by the government. Recently, alleged encroachments in the possession of senior TDP leader Ganta Srinivasa Rao were taken back.

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