Twin challenges for Opposition Search for new name as UPA Is Dead

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Twin challenges for Opposition

Search for new name as UPA Is Dead

Pre-poll alliance not easy

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 20

Intense parleys are on among the leaders of the Opposition parties whether to form a pre-poll alliance and give a new nomenclature to such a front.

Most parties who met at the residence of NCP leader Sharad Pawar last week,were of the view that instead of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), a new name be coined to show-case unity of the Opposition. A senior leader even suggested that the UPA be renamed as ‘People’s Progressive Alliance' (PPA). But there was no unanimity. Pawar reminded that he was the first to form the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) in Maharashtra 40 years ago.

The leaders were also receptive to TMC leader Mamata Banerjee's idea that a pre-poll alliance be formed. But a Congress leader sarcastically said that all Opposition parties should speak in one voice irrespective of the formation of a pre-poll alliance. The leaders were clearly of the view that in the absence of a pre-poll alliance, the President of India will have a leeway to use his discretion to invite leader of the single largest party in the Lok Sabha after the polls to form the government.

While the task for evolving a consensus among the parties was entrusted to NCP leader Sharad Pawar, the Congress was sounded out to prepare the Common Minimum Program (CMP) of all like-minded parties.

Mamata Banerjee has the difficult task to create unity of the Opposition parties in West bengal first where her party is biggest in the alliance. The Congress leadership felt that she was trying to rather weaken the backbone of the party in West Bengal by luring its MLAs and sitting Lok Sabha MP s to TMC. “She should herself stop poaching our MLAs and Mps”, said a senior leader.

There is a possibility that a crucial meeting of the Opposition parties may be held either on February 25-26 or after the Congress Working Committee. The CWC is meeting in Gujrat on February 28 where the draft manifesto of the Congress and CMP would be discussed. TMC has also asked rebel BJP leader and former Union minister Yashwant Sinha to draft CMP for a discussion.

The pre-poll alliance has serious problems as major parties such as SP, BSP, AAP etc won't be in it. Some regional parties would not join the front either. Even TMC is unwilling to accommodate Congress in West Bengal.

Centre rushes to quell unrest against Kashmiris outside J&K

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Centre rushes to quell unrest against Kashmiris outside J&K

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 18

The Modi government is worried over growing cases of threats, intimidation and uncontrollable anger in educational institutions across the country in the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack.

The Centre has twin problems in hand; It is to ensure the safety of students from Kashmir following a backlash against them and also punish elements in universities who are raising anti-India slogans.

While the Ministry of Human Resource Development has not directly written any advisory to the Universities or directed the UGC to do so, the Ministry of Home Affairs has cautioned states to maintain law and order in their respective territories.

The Home Ministry issued the advisory after students and other residents experienced threats and intimidation. The most serious incidents were reported from Dehradun and Ambala, both ruled by the BJP.

The CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir police has even opened a helpline and a students’ organisation set up a temporary camp in Mohali to accommodate at least 20 young men and women who had left Dehradun and Ambala after facing threats.

Several special teams have been deployed to monitor trolling on social media specifically targeting Kashmiri students and people of Kahmiri origin living outside J&K. Several state governments have also issued advisory to residents to be careful and avoid moving around.

The PMO is also worried as more than 20,000 Kashmiri students are studying outside the state. Around 8,000 students – belonging to Jammu, Leh and Kashmir regions – are part of the Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS). This scheme is meant for students from Jammu and Kashmir.

The PMSSS covers a certain number of colleges and universities that are spread across Delhi, Pune, Udaipur, Haryana and other areas.

A handful of institutions even suspended some Kashmiri students who shared objectionable comments on social media.

According to officials, while there have been no complaints from students studying at universities covered under the PMSSS so far.

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has told private satellite TV channels to broadcast content strictly in adherence to the Program and Advertising Code as prescribed in the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 and the Rules framed there under. The channels have been told not to show content which is likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national attitudes, and or (ii) contains anything affecting the integrity of the nation.

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Gadkari ministries get drubbing in funds

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

A Lokmat special report

Gadkari ministries get drubbing in funds 

Namami Gange budget cut drastically 

"Har Khet Ko Pani" gets Rs 1178 crore shocker  

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 9

Road Transport, Shipping, Water Resources and Namami Gange Minister Nitin Gadkari may have earned applause across party lines for his performance. But his wings have been clipped by none other than the Prime Minister Narendra Modi when it came to granting funds for  Namami Gange project and Irrigation.

In 2017-18 when Gadkari took charge of the ministry from Uma Bharti, the Namami Gange project was granted Rs 700 crores. Next year i.e. 2018-19, government allocated a whopping Rs 2300 crores to the ministry so that Ganga can be cleaned before the Lok Sabha polls. However, the ministry could spend only Rs 750 crores only as most BJP ruled states were lukewarm to clear sewage projects.

Even during 2019-20 Budget presented by Piyush Goyal, Namami Gange project was granted Rs 750 crores only. Interestingly, the PM's most ambitious irrigation scheme “Har Khet Ko Pani” saw a drastic cut in funds. While Rs 2018-19, the government had granted Rs 2181 crores to the Gadkari's ministry which spent it too, this year (2019-20) only Rs 903.92 crores were given.

While the government blamed Gadkari for the slow implementation of the projects, Gadkari said that most of the sewage projects fall under the BJP ruled state governments of UP, Uttrakhand, Himachal, Jharkhand, Haryana etc. The worst performer is UP itself where only 11 of the 43 projects could be completed. The pace has not picked up even after Yogi Adityanath government came to power in early 2017. In Bihar, not a single project out of 26 could be completed though Nitish Kumar is an ally. The  Arvind Kejriwal government of Delhi did not complete any of the 11 sewage projects. However, things have started moving after Gadkari personally requested him to do so.

Even as an estimated 5 crores pilgrims took a dip at the confluence of the Ganga, about 2,782 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage continues to flow into the Ganga. Of the 136 sewage projects planned across eight States to create 3,252.28 MLD sewage treatment capacity at a cost of Rs 20,623 crore, only 31 projects with a capacity of 468.19 MLD have been completed.

Of the total treatment capacity created, the share of new projects is just 0.06 MLD, while that of old projects is 468.19 MLD. About 887 MLD capacity has been created through ‘rehabilitation’ of old STPs.

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BJP may dump Citizenship Bill

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

A Lokmat Exclusive report

BJP may dump Citizenship Bill

Centre calls meeting of North-East CM s on Feb 11

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 7

The BJP leadership seem to have decided buy peace in North East and all set to dump the controversial Citizenship Bill pending for passage in the Rajya Sabha.

The U-turn came today when the Modi government decided to hold a meeting of Chief Ministers of the North Eastern states on Monday. The Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, has called the meeting of North East CM s to find if there is any meeting ground. The Citizenship Bill has not been listed in the Rajya Sabha though parliament session began on January 31. The session is ending on February 13 and no bill will be taken up on the last day. A final decision will be taken on February 11 after the CM s' meeting. It simply means that there is only day February 12 when the bill can be passed. But considering the stiff opposition to the bill by almost all North Eastern states, there is every likelihood that the bill is buried.

Until the other day, the BJP leadership including the PM and party president Amit Shah were saying that the party will go ahead with the bill. But today, a high-level meeting of party leaders including top leaders from North east met Rajnath Singh and decided that CM s be invited to take a final call.

It must be borne in mind that the Rajya Sabha is yet to discuss the President’s address, interim budget presentation and three ordinances, including one on Triple Talaq, the Companies (Amendment) Bill and the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill.

Though the Lok Sabha passed Citizenship Bill amid protests, all the seven states of North East states are up in arm against it. The BJP leadership has been told that there are 25 Lok Sabha seats which are at stake and it would be better that a reasonable assurance is given by the Centre on the issue.

The Bill seeks to give citizenship to non-Muslims from 3 countries, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Assam has been simmering over the past few days ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi floated the proposal of the bringing the Citizenship Bill at a rally in the northeast state.

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PM-Kisan big headache for Modi

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Exclusive report

PM-Kisan big headache for Modi

How to Link 12.56 crores Farmers with Banks before polls 

Maharashtra's 1.18 crores farmers to get Cash dole 

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Feb 10

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued instructions to ministries of Rural Development, Agriculture, Finance and Information Technology to link 12.56 crores land-owning farmers with banks so that Rs 2000 could be transferred in February-early March. Once first installment is gone before notification, the government can also give second installment of Rs 2000  too.

The Ministries are working day-in and day-out with 36 states and union territories to collate farmers with their bank accounts.

Interestingly, 14 states including Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal are big beneficiaries as land records of farmers are fully computerized. Of the 12.56 crores farmers, 1.18 crores farmers in Maharashtra will benefit as their land record data is 98.83% complete and most are linked to banks too. (see Table) 

Surprisingly, the Agriculture Ministry data shows that land records is very poor in Goa where only 53% are computerized and  number of farmers is only 51000.

During the past 55 months, 34 crores new Jan Dhan accounts have been opened in the country. Of these, 15 crores are in the rural areas. Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told Lokmat that of the 12 crores MANREGA beneficiaries, the data of 8 crores beneficiaries is computerized. “We are now trying to find out land owners and link them with bank accounts.”

Radha Mohan Singh, Union Agriculture Minister, also told Lokmat that a data base of 8.59 crores exist in his ministry.  Of the 2.22 crores are beneficiaries of 15 schemes and 2.07 crores are linked with bank accounts. There are 7 crores farmers who have Kisan Credit Cards (KCC). 

Now PM Modi wants states and ministries to complete the task of linking 12.56 crores land oning farmers with their bank accounts by February 25 so that money could be transferred directly in their accounts.

Modi has covered 67% of rural population of land owning community by his PM-Kisan scheme. The foot-print of this cash transfer will spread over 342 rural Lok Sabha constituencies.

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Status of computerisation of land records
State	Number	% complete
Odisha	4524000	100.00
Karnataka	6977000	99.99
Telangana	5249000	99.44
Madhya Pradesh	7560000	99.21
Jharkhand	2304000	99.12
Maharashtra	11871000	98.83
West Bengal	6969000	98.10
Andhra Pradesh	7550000	97.16
Rajasthan	4748000	96.86
Gujarat	3634000	96.41
Punjab	361000	93.63
Uttrakhand	808000	93.58
Sikkim	57000	93.29
Haryana	1117000	92.93