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Prime Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi has said that the people of West Bengal have made up their mind for Poriborton i.e. (change). Addressing a public meeting at Sahagunje in Hooghly district today, he said that from the response of the gathering, it was clearly evident.
He said that not only a change of government, but real change is required in West Bengal to take the state ahead in the path of development. He said, development of Bengal will not be possible as long as Syndicate Raj and cut-money culture is there.
Accusing the ruling government of the state, Mr Modi said that poor people and farmers of West Bengal are being denied the benefits of Central schemes like PM Kisan Nidhi and Ayushman Bharat. He said that 1,700 crore rupees had been allocated to the state for the Central scheme Jal Jeevan Mission but the state government has utilized only 609 crore.
"आज मैं बंगाल के लोगों को ये विश्वास दिलाता हूं। जब बंगाल में भाजपा की सरकार बनेगी। तो हर बंगालवासी अपनी संस्कृति का गौरवगान पूरी ताकत और हिम्मत से कर सकेगा। कोई आपको दबा नहीं पाएगा। भाजपा उस सोनार बांग्ला के लिए काम करेगी। जिसमें यहां का इतिहास, यहां की संस्कृति दिनों-दिन और मजबूत होगी। ऐसा बंगाल जहां आस्था, अध्यात्म और उद्यम सबका सम्मान होगा।"
He said that connectivity plays an important role in development. The Central Government has prioritized Investment in Railway infrastructure, in the area.
Later in the evening, the Prime Minister flagged off the extended service of the Kolkata Metro Rail between Noapara and Dakshineshwar. The 4.1-kilometre long stretch of Metro Rail has been constructed at a cost of four hundred and sixty four crore rupees. The much-awaited extension links the two world famous Kali temples at Kalighat and Dakshineswar. The Prime Minister also inaugurated and dedicated to the nation new lines of Eastern and South Eastern Railways. Mr Modi said, common people including students will benefit from the extension of the Metro.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed that the private sector can play an instrumental role in research, innovation, design and manufacturing of indigenous defence products to make the country self reliant in the defence sector. The Prime Minister was speaking at the webinar for effective implementation of the Union Budget 2021 provisions for the Defence Sector today.
Highlighting the need for reducing import dependence for defence equipment, Mr. Modi said, the country must move forward to become an exporter of defence equipment from net importer.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the Centre and the Assam government are working together to develop infrastructure in the state. The Prime Minister was speaking after dedicating to the Nation key projects of the Oil and Gas sector at Silapathar in Dhemaji district of Assam. The Prime Minister said despite the state having great potential, former governments have overlooked development in various sectors. This is the Prime Minister's third visit to Assam this year. The Prime Minister digitally dedicated to the nation the INDMAX Unit at Indian Oil’s Bongaigaon Refinery, Oil India Limited's Secondary Tank Farm at Madhuban in Dibrugarh and a Gas Compressor Station at Hebeda Village, Makum, Tinsukia. He also inaugurated the Dhemaji Engineering College and laid the foundation stone for Sualkuchi Engineering College.
The Prime minister in his address said that these projects will generate employment opportunities for the youth of Assam. He said with the Ujjala scheme in Assam being successful, the tea, tourism, handloom and handicraft sector of Assam will make Atma Nirbhar Assam a success.
Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy today tendered his resignation to Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan after his government lost majority in the Union Territory. Minutes after the Assembly met for a special one-day session this morning, Mr Narayanasamy moved the motion seeking the confidence vote. However, Speaker V.P. Sivakolunthu declared that V. Narayanasamy government has failed to win the trust motion. Speaking in the assembly, Mr. Narayanasamy blamed the Central government for not cooperating with him to run the government.
Meanwhile, the BJP today took a dig at senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following the collapse of V. Narayanasamy Government in Puducherry. In a tweet, senior party leader and Union Minister Piyush Goyal, while taunting Mr. Gandhi's recent visit to the UT, said the former Congress President's Puducherry visit to strengthen his party has gone well. He said, Congress lost power in Puducherry, reducing its presence to just three states, along with a trivial existence in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. He said, a few years from now, the Congress will only exist in the books of history.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 66th Convocation of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in West Bengal tomorrow through video conferencing. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Institute of Medical Science and Research at IIT, Kharagpur.
The super speciality hospital and medical college has been set up by the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur with support from the Union Ministry of Education. It will focus on robust biomedical, clinical and translational research, development of remote diagnosis, telemedicine, teleradiology along with research in drug and delivery. The MBBS programme is expected to start from the academic year 2021-22 in addition to post-graduate and doctoral programmes.
The convocation will take place at the Netaji Auditorium of the prestigious institute. Due to COVID Pandemic situation, only 75 students to be awarded with medals are scheduled to be present at the auditorium. More than two thousand and five hundred students are supposed to join the convocation virtually.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today inaugurated Skill Development Centre (SDC) for Fire Safety Training in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Pilkhuwa in Uttar Pradesh through virtual mode. The facility, created by Delhi- based DRDO Laboratory Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety is aimed at developing trained human resources, fire safety technology and products to save precious human lives and valued assets.
Our correspondent reports that spread over 24 acres in Pilkhuwa, the DRDO facility would be utilised for imparting fire prevention and fire-fighting training to the Fire Service personnel of the Indian Armed Forces, DRDO, Ordnance Factories, Coast Guard and defence undertakings. In addition, trainees from Bhutan, Sri Lanka and other neighbouring countries would also be imparted training at the Centre.
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The first-ever National Toy Fair will be organized from 27th of February to 2nd of March through a virtual medium. It aims to boost toy manufacturing in the country and improve its global market share in line with the theme of Atmanirbhar Bharat. Our correspondent has filed this report --
Home Minister Amit Shah today held a high level review meeting on the progress of the COVID-19 vaccination drive. Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, NITI Aayog Member Dr V. K. Paul, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Dr P. K. Mishra and Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla were present in the meeting. The meeting came in the wake of the sudden spike in number of COVID-19 cases in a few states.
The Union Government has said that a total of one crore 14 lakh 24 thousand and 94 doses have been administered till 6 p.m. today. Addressing media in New Delhi, Additional Secretary in the Health Ministry, Manohar Agnani said, vaccination for health care workers is 75 lakh 40 thousand 602, including 1st dose to over 64 lakh and second dose to over 11 lakh.
Meanwhile, the country's COVID-19 recovery rate reached 97.22 per cent with the total recovery of more than nine thousand patients in the last 24 hours.
In order to control rising Corona cases, various strict measures are being implemented in Maharashtra. Mask, Social distancing and sanitisation drives are being conducted strictly at various places. Number of tests for suspected Corona patients have also increased. More from our correspondent --
"In the wake of rising corona situation in Maharashtra, few more local administrations have announced lockdown and night curfew. Complete Lockdown is announced in Akola, Murtijapur and Akot town till 1st march. Curfew is imposed in Pandharpur town and nearby villages due to Magh Wari. Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal corporation, Satara and Jalgaon district administration have announced night curfew till month-end. All school, colleges and educational institutions will remain closed till 7th March in Nagpur. BJP has put on holds its Jail Bharo Andolan scheduled on Wednesday. Mumbai Congress has also cancelled all its programmes scheduled in the next 10 days. NCP has already called off its Janata darbar. JEEVAN BHAWASAR, AIR NEWS, MUMBAI"
The Uttar Pradesh Government today presented the biggest ever budget to the tune of around five lakh 50 thousand 270 lakh crores rupees to make Atmanirbhar or self-relient Uttar Pradesh.
"Atmanirbhar Krishak Samanvit Vikas Yojna has been launched for the welfare of the farmers of state. Seven hundred crores have been allocated for free irrigation to the farmers. Loan to the farmers will be given on reduced rates with a fund of 400 crore rupees. The State Government, in 2021-22, also proposes to set up 15,000 solar pumps. A sum of rupees 100 crore has been set aside for ensuring proper nutrition to girls and rupees 32 crore for setting up Mahila Shakti Kendras. To improve the tourism in Ayodhya city, 101 crore rupees have been allocated in the budget for development of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram Airport. Yogi Adityanath Government has also announced to provide financial help to destitute women under Mahila Samarthya Yojna till they get alimony from Court. State Government will provide free tablet to the eligible students under Abhyudaya Scheme. Fooding and lodging will now be free for those students who are learning Sanskrit language on Gurukul pattern. Speaking in a press conference after the budget UP CM Yogi AdityaNath said that this budget will become medium to fulfill the aspirations according to the potential of the state. SUSHIL CHANDRA TIWARI, AIR NEWS, LUCKNOW ."
"Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan moved a proposal in the House to elect Girish Gautam as the Assembly's Speaker. The opposition Congress earlier said it had decided to extend support for an unopposed election to the speaker's post. Mr Gautam is a four-term MLA from Deotalab constituency in Rewa district. On the occasion, Mr Gautam said that he will remain unbiased in conducting proceedings of the House. The session begun with address by Governor Anandiben Patel. Praising the efforts of the state government she said that the government took over the charge in challenging circumstances of Covid yet performed well in all sectors. The budget session will continue till March 26. Pooja P. Vardhan AIR News Bhopal"
In Bihar, Deputy Chief Minister Tarkishore Prasad, who holds the finance portfolio, presented annual budget for 2021-22 in the State Assembly today. The state budget worth two lakh 18 thousand 303 crore rupees lays special emphasis on education, rural development and social welfare.
Presenting the budget with a revenue surplus of over 11,789 crore rupees, Mr Prasad said, the proposed allocations made for 2021-22 have increased by 6,541 crore rupees as compared to that of current fiscal year.
In Odisha, Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari today presented the state budget for 2021-22 in the Odisha Assembly. The budget, with an outlay of 1,70,000 crore rupees, is about 26 per cent more than the revised estimate for 2020-2021. More in this report
"The state budget has put a thrust on realising the aspiration for New Odisha- Empowered Odisha, with an agenda that would transform different sectors from health and agriculture to infrastructure and industries, while still safeguarding the interests of the vulnerable sections of the society. A couple of ambitious budget proposals include converting the SCB Medical College, Cuttack into an AIIMS plus Institute to provide world-class healthcare facilities, a mega plan to transform the holy city of Puri into a world heritage city and a new world class hockey stadium in Rourkela. Girish Chandra Dash, AIR News, Bhubaneswar"
President Ram Nath Kovind will embark on a two-day visit to Gujarat from tomorrow. The President will grace the Third Convocation of the Central University of Gujarat at Gandhinagar tomorrow. He will inaugurate the Motera Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad on 24th of this month in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah.
The Supreme Court today allowed Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, who is facing criminal cases that are being probed by the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation, to travel abroad. A bench, headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan, asked Chidambaram to deposit two crore rupees with the registry and submit details of the places to be visited and the place where he would stay.
Delhi Police has arrested a person who allegedly climbed one of the tombs of the Red Fort during the violence in the farmers' tractor rally on 26th of January. The arrested person is a resident of northwest Delhi. Earlier, another person was also arrested who was seen waving swords on the rampart. Several protesters had clashed with the police during the protest against the farm laws. They had also reached the Red Fort on that day deviating from the route for the tractor rally set by the Delhi Police.
Chief of Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhaduaria arrived in Dhaka today on a three-day visit on the invitation of his Bangladeshi counterpart Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat. He is accompanied by a two-member delegation.
During the meeting, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary, who joined the meeting through video conference, informed that based on the physical assessment of the artificial lake made on site by multiple scientific agencies and satellite data, there is no imminent danger as the volume of water is less than expected and is flowing through a natural channel which has been widened. Secretary DRDO and the State Administration have been asked to keep a continued watch on the situation in coordination with Central and State agencies. The Home Secretary also assured continued help and assistance from Central agencies to the State Government.
In Boxing, Arundhati Choudhary in the 69 kilogram category and Naorem Babyrojisana Chanu in the 51 kilogram category won gold medals as India’s women contingent ended the 30th Adriatic Pearl tournament in Budva, Montenegro, with five gold, three silver and two bronze medals in addition to three male boxers winning bronze. India’s women’s contingent thus finished top of the podium at the tournament and took home the trophy. Babyrosijana beat Sabina Bobokulova of Uzbekistan while Arundhati beat Ukraine’s Marina Stoiko in their final bouts yesterday.
Chennai is expected to have generally cloudy sky with light rain. The temperature will vary between 23 and 30 degrees Celsius.