CBI, ED summon six Bengal top officers, TMC cries foul | India News – Times of India

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


KOLKATA: Two central agencies on Friday called six Bengal government officials for questioning as part of their ongoing probes in three separate cases, prompting the Trinamool Congress to call it an example of “brazen misuse of power” by the central government.
The officials called for questioning next week, by the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation, are state security advisor Surajit Kar Purakayastha (Saradha case); principal secretary in chief minister’s office Gautam Sanyal and state additional chief secretary BP Gopalika (Metro Dairy share transfer and disinvestment case); GST special commissioner (Durgapur) Arun Prasad, Kolkata Police additional commissioner Laxmi Narayan Meena and West Bengal Police officer Partha Ghosh (illegal coal-mining case).
The fresh notices to these six officials came on Friday, when the ED questioned Trinamool Congress candidates Vivek Gupta (Jorasanko) and Madan Mitra (Kamarhati) in the Saradha case. Another central agency, the National Investigation Agency, questioned another Trinamool candidate, Imani Biswas (Suti), in connection with the February Nimtita railway station blast case.
The Trinamool Congress saw political vendetta in the renewed activity of central government agencies in poll-bound Bengal. “The BJP is so brazen about all this now. They don’t even bother to make a pretence of fair play. This is classic Modi-Shah tactic,” Trinamool Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien said. Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, too, had urged the Election Commission to probe “the role of central agencies in Bengal” while releasing her party’s manifesto; it followed an ED notice to state home secretary HK Dwivedi to appear before it in connection with the Metro Dairy case.
A state official admitted the notices had come. “It seems to be part of a political carpet-bombing to keep the state administration under pressure,” he said. Another official close to the developments said there was no question of not cooperating with the agencies. “All things known will be shared. The reference points for the central agencies are, anyway, mostly out in the public domain,” he said.
Kamarhati Trinamool candidate Mitra on Friday said he had already submitted all necessary documents to the ED and there was nothing more to provide.
“I have come because they have asked me to do that. I have always cooperated with the agency,” he said.
The CBI and the ED are probing the Saradha Ponzi scam, which broke in 2013 and in which thousands of investors were alleged to have lost about Rs 2,400 crore. The ED is probing the Metro Dairy case, in which there have been allegations that the Bengal government sold its 47% stake in the firm at a lower-than-market value. The CBI is probing the illegal coal-mining case; it has accused several central government officials and Bengal residents of colluding to “cheat” central government agencies in coal auctions. Prime accused Anup Majhi has moved the Supreme Court, raising jurisdiction issues.

[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

GoAir successfully trials Srinagar-Delhi night flight | India News – Times of India

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


SRINAGAR: With GoAir successfully conducting its first trial night operation from Srinagar International Airport to Delhi on Friday, SIA authorities are hopeful that all airlines will operate night flights from the airport after final approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) next week.
SIA director Santosh Dhoke said: “Today (Friday) GoAir started its trial night flight at 8.30pm from Srinagar airport to Delhi, and it was a successful one. IndiGo is likely to do the same tomorrow (Saturday).”
Dhoke said the air-safety teams of GoAir and IndiGo had on Thursday requested DGCA for operating trial night flights from Srinagar, before sending their reports to the aviation regulator. “DGCA is expected to give its final approval for night flight operations from Srinagar airport next week,” he added.

[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Fight against farm laws will continue in entire country: Rakesh Tikait | India News – Times of India

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


BHUBANESWAR: Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Friday attended a ‘Chasi Mahapanchayat’ at Chandikhole in Jajpur district and said the fight against farm laws will continue in the entire country.
He said Panchayats and Mahapanchayats are being conducted in different states and it will be held across the country. “The Centre will definitely face the heat of our movement. The government has to come up with a law to guarantee the minimum support price (MSP) of agricultural produces. It has to withdraw the three farm laws,” he added.
While referring to the BJP-led government at the Centre, Tikait said it is the government of looters and it has to go. “If the government comes up with a law on MSP, nobody can purchase the agricultural produces below the MSP. Farmers of Odisha will get benefit out of this. Paddy farmers in Odisha are getting less price compared to their MSP, but it will not happen after the law for MSP comes,” he added.

Tikait said he attended the farmer meeting in Odisha to put pressure on the Centre. “I will come again if our organisation holds another meeting in Odisha. This fight will continue till our demands are met,” he added.
Thousands of farmers had attended the Chasi Mahapanchayat organised by Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS), a member of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha. Farmer leaders including Balbir Singh Rajewal, Gurnam Singh Chaduni, Yudhvir Singh and others addressed the farmers in the meeting.
The leaders said they are uniting the farmers of the country to fight against the Centre. “MSP is not the issue of a few states, but it is the issue of all farmers of the country. We are uniting the farmers on this issue. Recommendation of the Swaminathan Committee report on agriculture should be implemented in letter and spirit,” said the farmer leaders.
Akshaya Kumar, national convener of NKS, said the fight against farm laws will continue in the country. “We will hold meetings in villages to sensitize farmers about the harmful impact of the farm laws. We will unite the farmers to fight against the draconian law,” he added.

[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

‘Strictly enforce Covid norms’: MHA writes to states amid rising cases | India News – Times of India

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


NEW DELHI: The ministry of home affairs (MHA) on Friday wrote a letter to all states and union territories asking them to take all necessary measures to promote Covid-19 appropriate behaviour amid rising cases across the country.
The home ministry noted that the sudden rise in cases is due to laxity in Covid-19 behaviour.
“After the steady decline in Covid-19 cases for about 5 months, for the last few weeks, the number of Covid-19 cases are showing an increasing trend in several parts of the country. It has been observed that it is largely due to laxity in the observance of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour by the people, especially in crowded places,” Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla said in his letter to states.

The Centre further urged states to enforce strict Covid guidelines such as wearing masks, hand hygiene and social distancing ahead of upcoming festivals.
“Take necessary measures to create awareness among people to follow Covid appropriate behaviour and simultaneously take necessary action for its strict enforcement, so as to fully overcome the pandemic,” MHA told states.
Over the past five days, India has seen the sharpest surge in Covid-19 infections in at least the last 10 months, with the seven-day rolling average of daily cases rising by as much as 39% during this period.
The count of daily cases almost touched 40,000 on Thursday, with 39,670 fresh infections recorded in the past 24 hours. This was the highest single-day tally of cases since November 28 last year.
Maharashtra logged its highest-ever daily case count of 25,833, while 15 other states/Union territories reported their highest single-day tallies since January or earlier.

[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

China says will ‘study’ mandatory Covid-19 vaccine rule to Indian students | India News – Times of India

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


BEIJING: China on Friday said it will “study” the applicability of its new rule of mandating vaccination by Chinese Covid-19 jabs to thousands of Indian students who were unable to re-join their universities in the country due to travel restrictions.
In a notice on the Chinese embassy website in India on March 15, China has made it mandatory for people coming from India and 19 other nations to get Chinese-made Covid-19 vaccines if they want to travel to the country.
“For the purpose of resuming people-to-people exchanges in an orderly manner, starting from March 15, 2021, the Chinese embassies and consulates in India will provide the persons having taken Chinese-made Covid-19 vaccine and holding the Certificates of Vaccination,” a notice posted on the Chinese embassy website said.
It mentioned that the rule is applicable to persons and their family members who want to travel to China to resume work and foreigners who are the family members of Chinese citizens or holders of Chinese Permanent Resident’s Permit.
However, it was silent about thousands of Indian students who were stranded in India for over a year.
The new rule created confusion as the Chinese Covid-19 vaccines are not available in India.
Over 23,000 Indian students, mostly studying medicine, have been enrolled in Chinese universities and most of them could not return to China due to travel restrictions.
Asked whether the new rule of the Chinese vaccination is applicable to the Indian students, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a media briefing here “the Chinese government attaches high importance to protecting the rights and interests of foreign students in China.”
“On the precondition of observing containment protocols, the Chinese authorities will study this matter in a coordinated manner and keep in communication with relevant parties,” he said.
He termed “not accurate” a report quoting Chinese embassy in New Delhi that China would make Chinese vaccines available in India for Indian travellers if the Indian government grants permission.
“The report you mentioned is not accurate,” Zhao said in response to a question.
“With regard to the visa facilitation measure, China provides visa facilitation to incoming foreigners who have received Chinese vaccines and hold a vaccination certificate with a view to resuming international travel in an orderly fashion. As to the specific measures and the eligibility, I would refer you to notices on the website of the Chinese embassy in India,” Zhao added.

[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Himanta Biswa Sarma files nomination, skirts queries on BJP’s CM face in Assam | India News – Times of India

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


NEW DELHI: Leading a massive rally, Assam finance minister and BJP heavyweight Himanta Biswa Sarma filed nomination from his traditional constituency of Jalukbari on Friday. The North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor submitted his papers amid speculations of he likely being the next chief minister of the state if the BJP-led alliance retains power as the party has not projected any face for the upcoming elections.
Usually, the incumbent chief minister of a state is also projected as the chief ministerial candidate for next assembly election. However, in a rare case, the BJP has not named Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal as its face for the forthcoming state polls.
This has given rise to speculations that Sonowal may not continue as the CM. He may be brought to the Centre while he may be replaced with Sarma in the state.
Sarma filed his nomination in the backdrop of uncertainty over the CM’s name.
Asked about the chief ministerial face after he filed his nomination, Sarma skirted all questions over the issue.
Sarma is contesting from Jalukbari for the fifth consecutive term. He had won the seat in 2016 by a margin of over 85,000 votes.
The NEDA convenor led a massive rally from Sonaram Field in Guwahati to the office of Kamrup metropolitan deputy commissioner Biswajit Pegu, where he submitted his papers in the presence of chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and senior party leaders.
Accompanied by entrepreneur wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma and son Nandil, the political heavyweight, during the roadshow, waved at his supporters, who played traditional musical instruments to greet him.
Women, in colourful attire, were seen performing Bihu dance on the two-kilometre stretch that the rally covered in a span of three hours.
Earlier in the day, Sarma and his wife had offered prayers at the Kamakhya temple here.
The state finance minister, after filing his nomination, told reporters that the election results would determine the course of Assam’s development and its future.
Seeking people’s blessings, he exuded confidence that the BJP-AGP-UPPL combine will win the assembly polls.
Asked about his thoughts on opposition mahajoth (grand alliance), the minister, refusing to say much, wished them well.
(With agency inputs)

[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Congress will not implement CAA in Assam, says Rahul Gandhi | India News – Times of India

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


LAHOWAL: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Friday assured that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will not be implemented in Assam if the party is voted to power in the state in the coming Assembly poll.
It will be ensured in the state assembly that the CAA is not implemented in Assam, Gandhi told students of Lahowal College in Dibrugarh district.
“In the other states, we will stop it (CAA implementation) after we (Congress) come to power at the national level,” he said.
Asked to comment on whether BJP is mixing religion and politics, he said that the saffron party does not use religion but hatred to create divisions among different sections of the society.
“No religion has asked to use hatred. Where is it written in Hinduism that there should be ‘nafrat’ (hatred)? It is BJP that spreads hatred to divide society and wherever they do it Congress goes there to promote love, brotherhood and harmony,” he said.
In an apparent reference to the RSS, the senior Congress leader said that there is a force in Nagpur that is trying to control the entire country. But the youth of today should resist it with love and confidence as they are the future of democracy.
Twenty years ago Assam was hit by violence but after Congress came to power it ensured peace and development.
“BJP ka kaam hain todna, hamaara kaam hain jodna (BJP’s work is to divide but our job is to unite people), he said.
Gandhi said there is a direct relation between hatred and unemployment. “If hatred increases, unemployment will increase and vice versa. Can two sections of the society fighting against each other do business together? For business and employment oppurtunities to thrive, there should be harmony and brotherhood”.
He also accused the saffron party of selling off Assam’s resources to outsiders like the tea companies in the state, the Guwahati airport to the Adanis and the tea companies.
The senior Congress leader said that at present the country has a ‘Hum do, Hamare do ka Sarkar’ (a government of two with two others)- one in Parliament (apparently Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah) and two outside (Adani and Ambani likely).
“Assam’s resources and wealth must go into the pockets of the Assamese. The state must be managed in the interest of the people here”, the Congress leader said.
The erstwhile Congress government, he said, had laid the foundation for the country’s future growth, employment and development by initiating several schemes, including MGNREGA and Food Security.
“Can you name the schemes started by BJP? We had promised in Chattisgarh to waive off farm loans and we did it. We have a record of not making promises in the air. We give guarantees”, he asserted.
In Assam Congress has given ‘5 guarantees’. They are five lakh government jobs to youths in five years, upto 200 units of free electricity per household, Rs 365 daily wage to tea workers and Rs 2000 per month to housewives besides the assurance not to implement the CAA in the state, he said.
Asked by students about rising unemployment and Congress’ plans to tackle it, Gandhi said that the priority of the party if voted to power will be to first fill up vacant posts and focus on sectors like health and education for creating new jobs.
When a student questioned him about privatisation of education, Gandhi said that it is a “big problem” created by BJP. “Education should not be commercialised as it is a fundamental right. We are against the commercialisation of education”.
He said, “There are certain places for privatisation, but not in education and health where public sector has a role. We are fighting against BJP on this”, he said.
The biggest sale is taking place in the agricultural sector and its privatisation is being done through the three farm laws, he claimed.
To another question on why protesting students are being sent to jail, Gandhi said “The rulers are scared of the confidence of the youth. They are scared that if more become confident they cannot control. So the youth are sent to jail”.
When another student pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not visit Assam during floods but only during elections, the Congress leader quipped, “What can you give him during floods? So why will he visit you? But now you can give him votes, so he is visiting you.
“You can ensure that he does not come at all and stays at home by your vote. You have to save India’s democracy as you are the future of democracy. More youths should enter politics and actively participate in fighting against the wrongs”, he added.
Gandhi is on a two-day visit to the poll-bound north eastern state from Friday. He will campaign in upper Assam and will release the party’s manifesto in Guwahati on Saturday, Congress sources said.

[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Lockdown an option going ahead, says CM Uddhav as Maharashtra tightens Covid curbs | India News – Times of India

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


NEW DELHI: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said that lockdown could be an option to control the spread of coronavirus as the state continues to witness a worrying surge in cases.
Thackeray’s statement comes a day after Maharashtra registered its highest-ever single-day spike of 25,833 Covid-19 cases on Thursday.
Speaking about the alarming rise in cases, Thackeray said that the Covid-19 situation in the state has become grimmer as the number of new cases on Thursday breached the previous high which was recorded in September last year.
“I see lockdown as an option going ahead. But I trust people of the state to cooperate (and follow the Covid-19 norms voluntarily) like the last time,” he said.
However, the chief minister said that unlike the previous wave, now we have vaccines to fight the virus.
“When the pandemic began last year, there was nothing to fight the virus with. But now at least we have vaccines as a shield,” he said.
Thackeray said the priority now is to ensure that everyone is vaccinated and urged people to come forward to get inoculated without fear.
“There have been a few instances where a person caught infection after vaccination, but such cases are not life- threatening,” the chief minister said.
Fresh curbs in Maharashtra
Meanwhile, the state government has also announced fresh restrictions to curb the rise in infections.
According to the new guidelines, all drama theatres and auditoriums in the state will operate on 50% capacity till March 31 and no entry will be allowed without proper wearing of masks.
Theatres and auditoriums will not be used for cultural and political events, the order said.
All private offices have been asked to function at 50% capacity.
If found violating the norms, the premises will be shut down till the time Covid-19 stays notified as a disaster by the Centre, it said.
Earlier, the government had ordered cinema halls, hotels and restaurants to operate at 50 per cent capacity till March 31.

[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Govt departments under scanner as CBI conducts surprise checks at 100 locations | India News – Times of India

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


NEW DELHI: The CBI on Friday carried out preventive surprise checks at around 100 locations in over 15 states to identify central government offices where corrupt practices could be taking place, officials said.
The operation is going on at the offices of railways and income tax department among others in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and other places, they said.
The agency has coordinated with the vigilance teams of various departments to carry out the checks, they said.

[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

World sleep day: Now, sleepcation in hotels a rage | India News – Times of India

[ad_1]

Read More/Less


HYDERABAD: With the pandemic increasing stress levels among people, the hotel industry is now offering something called a ‘sleepcation’ for employees to rejuvenate and recoup from their daily routine lives.
On the occasion of World Sleep Day, the ITC Hotels in association with the scientists of ITC LSTC took up a sleep study which concluded that the sleep enhancement packages improve the quality of sleep significantly. Hotels like ITC are offering rest and rejuvenate packages, a specially crafted sleep menu, sleep music, spa therapies to enhance the sleep experience of their consumers.
“We believe that a significant factor in hospitality is the quality of sleep and rest a guest experiences in the room for which there is really no substitute. Be it a business or leisure traveler, a good night’s sleep is panacea for the body and soul,” said Zubin Songadwala, area manager – ITC Hotels South, adding that sleep staycations are only set to pick up pace, especially in these pandemic-induced stressful times.
Many consumers are turning towards such sleepcation as they believe that it drastically improves their overall engagement and productivity. “I have been to one of such sleepcation where right from dedicated spa treatments to special culinary offerings were part of the package to improve sleep. It really helped me to introspect my week resulting in improvement in overall productivity at work,” said Vineetha Jonalagadda, an IT employee.
Regards,

[ad_2]

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

1 2 3 4 12