by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
INS Kalvari
Mumbai : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday here commissioned the country’s first indigenously-built Scorpene-class submarine INS Kalvari to the Indian Navy terming it a significant new era “to boost India’s defence and security”.
Modi formally unveiled the commissioning plaque of the INS Kalvari atop the submarine and congratulated and shook hands with the various naval officers.
This is the first conventional submarine to be inducted into the Indian Navy after more than 17 years even as the navy’s submarine arm celebrates it golden jubilee this year.
Addressing the august gathering on the momentous occasion, Modi also thanked France for its help and collaboration on developing the project.
“It signifies the further strengthening of the growing strategic ties between India and France in recent times,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister said INS Kalvari will provide a significant boost and synergise the country’s defence, economic, technical and international powers, along with people power on the global arena.
“The 21st century will belong to Asia and the Indian Ocean will play a crucial and strategic role in ensuring what I call SAGAR – Security And Growth for All in the Region,” Modi said.
The submarine, incorporating state-of-the-art features has been built by the Mazagaon Dockyard Ltd under its Project 75, with technological collaboration from DCNS, France.
Also present on the occasion were Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre, French Ambassador to India Alexandre Zeigler and Chief of Naval Staff Sunil Lanba, besides many others.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Ahmedabad : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday flew by a seaplane from the Sabarmati river here to Dharoi in Mehsana district on the last day of the election campaign in Gujarat.
The Bharatiya Janata Party said it was “the first-ever flight by a seaplane in the country”.
“Gujarat witnesses a seaplane takeoff from the Sabarmati riverfront. I will fly to Dharoi Dam via a seaplane and then pray at Ambaji,” Modi said in a tweet.
In the evening, Modi will fly back to Ahmedabad by the same plane.
The Ahmedabad administration on Monday refused permission both for Modi’s and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s roadshows in the city.
Modi drew the attention of the people towards the development work done by the BJP, which has ruled Gujarat since 1995.
He tweeted: “With air, roads and rail connectivity, our government is making efforts for harnessing waterways. All this is for 125 crore Indians.
“The transformation across Gujarat is for everyone to see. Sadly, Congress’ notion of development is making a quick buck and that is why they are unable to see any change for the better,” he added.
The BJP is seeking a fifth straight term in the state, whose second and final phase of polling for Assembly elections will be held on Thursday. The first phase took place on December 9.
The vote count is due on December 18.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
By Kushagra Dixit,
New Delhi : The Modi government has spent a whopping nearly Rs 3,755 crore in three and half years on its publicity till October this year, an RTI revealed on Friday.
The expenditure on advertisements from April 2014 to October 2017 through electronic, print media and outdoor publicity is Rs 37,54,06,23,616, according to the RTI reply by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
The application was filed by Greater Noida-based social activist Ramveer Tanwar, a copy of which is with IANS.
According to the information, the central government spent over Rs 1,656 crore on electronic media advertisements, including — community radio, digital cinema, Doordarshan, Internet, SMS and TV.
For print media, the government spent more than Rs 1,698 crore.
On outdoor advertisements, which include hoardings, posters, booklets and calendars, the central government has spent over Rs 399 crore, the RTI reveals.
The amount spent on publicity blitz is more than the yearly budget allocated to some key ministries and government’s flagship programmes. The government’s allocation for “pollution abatement” in the last three years has been only Rs 56.8 crore.
In 2016, an RTI filed by Tanwar had revealed that the Centre spent over Rs 1,100 crore between June 1, 2014 and August 31, 2016, on advertisements featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Ministry gave a break up of the expenditure according to which Rs 448 crore was spent from June 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015, and Rs 542 crore and Rs 120 crore spent from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016 and April 1, 2016 to August 31, 2016 respectively.
The expenditure was only for television, Internet and other electronic media and did not include expenditure on outdoor and print advertisements.
In 2015, another RTI had revealed that the Centre had spent nearly Rs 8.5 crore on newspaper advertisements for the Prime Minister’s monthly radio address “Mann Ki Baat” till July 2015.
The BJP and Congress had criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi for spending Rs 526 crore on advertising its achievements in 2015.
(Kushagra Dixit can be reached at kushagra.d@ians.in)
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi : Stressing that Adivasis in Gujarat were in bad condition, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi “where did Rs 55,000 crore meant for Vanbandhu scheme go?”.
This was Gandhi’s 10th question as part of a Congress strategy wherein he would put one question daily to Modi ahead of the Gujarat Assembly polls.
“Grabbed the land of the Adivasis, their right over the forest was denied. Lakhs of legal documents for land ownership are stuck (have not been issued),” Gandhi tweeted.
“Neither schools are functional, nor do they have access to hospitals. Neither homeless has been provided a house, nor youth have jobs.
“Neglect left Adivasi society in tatters, Modiji where did Rs 55,000 crore for Vanbandhu scheme go?” asked Gandhi.
The scheme was launched in 2014 by the Centre for holistic development and welfare of the tribal population in India.
Gandhi has been putting one question every day in a bid to take on the Vijay Rupani-led government in Gujarat, where polling will take place on Saturday and December 14.
He previously put posers on unemployment among youth, women safety, education, health, “undue benefit” to power selling companies, state debt and the Prime Minister’s flagship ‘Housing for All’ scheme.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi : Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “step-motherly treatment to farmers” saying that he has not waived off farm loans and not given proper market price for their produce.
This was Gandhi’s ninth question as part of a strategy wherein the Congress Vice President would put up one question daily to Modi ahead of the Gujarat Assembly polls.
In a tweet, the Congress leader said: “Neither have you waived off farm loans, nor have you given the proper price of the crops. Farmers didn’t get the crop insurance amount and nor you arranged the tubewells for water.
“The ‘Gabbar Singh’ (Goods and Services Tax reference) whammy on farming. By snatching their lands you made the farmers workless. PM saheb please tell why step motherly treatment with farmers?” the Congress leader asked.
Gandhi has been putting one question every day in a bid to take on the Vijay Rupani-led government in Gujarat, where polling will take place on Saturday and December 14.
He previously put out posers on unemployment among youths, malnutrition in children, education, women safety, “undue benefit” to power selling companies, state debt and the Prime Minister’s flagship ‘Housing for All’ scheme.
—IANS
