It is a blessing PM Modi spends some time in India: Nitish Kumar

"What can be said of the Prime Minister? He goes to foreign countries. It's a blessing that he spends some time in the country also," Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of a function marking the installation of a statue of former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar here.

Kumar criticised Modi over his Bihar visit later this month, where he is expected to kick-start BJP's campaign for the coming Assembly elections.
  
"He is remembering Bihar after 14-15 months of coming to power. It is to be seen what kind of package the Prime Minister announces for the state when he comes here or just does some packaging," Kumar said.
  
The Chief Minister pointed out that he and his officials have already submitted all papers regarding the needs and demands of the state and Modi's visit would reveal whether he accepts the suggestions for the welfare of the people or just did 'packaging of schemes' that were already going on in various departments.
  
Kumar said people have made Modi the 'Malik-Mukhtar' (ruler) and his wishes would prevail till he was the Prime Minister, but the people of Bihar would not be misled again.

Source:  Hindi News  and Newspaper in Hindi

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PM Modi greets Rahul Gandhi on his birthday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended birthday greetings to Rahul, who thanked him for the wishes. After many years, Rahul will be in the national capital on his birthday and Congress workers have made elaborate arrangements to celebrate the occasion.

However, scores of Congress workers celebrated the birthday of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi with fanfare bursting crackers and raining flower petals outside his residence here.

Rahul's mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi drove to his 12, Tughalq Lane residence, outside which a large gathering of Congress workers, led by Jagdish Sharma, celebrated the occasion with cutting cake and singing in praise of Rahul's leadership.

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Information on PM's travel expenses wide and vague: PMO

An RTI-applicant based in Ahmedabad has sought the information related to the expenses incurred on Modi's visit to attend the funeral of Lee Yuan Kew, the founding Prime Minister of Singapore.

"Reference is invited to your application dated April 3, 2015 on the subject mentioned above. The matter was referred to the office for providing inputs. Office has informed that the information sought is too vague and wide," Under Secretary P K Sharma of the PMO said.

Earlier this week, Congress President Sonia Gandhi had accused the BJP dispensation of attempting to "subvert" the RTI Act. She had said citizens no longer have right to question the government as top offices like the PMO, Cabinet Secretariat besides the Supreme Court, High Courts and CAG are no longer accountable for violations under the RTI and are protected from public scrutiny.

The Central Information Commission, in an order, had directed the Cabinet Secretariat to make public expenses incurred on the travel of ministers and VVIPs because of large public interest in the matter.

"We have been noticing a lot of public interest in the visit of such high dignitaries as the President, the Vice-President and the Prime Minister of India. Quite often, one comes across RTI applications seeking similar information about these visits," Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra had said.

Following the orders of the CIC, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had started the practice of making public on the official website details of expenses incurred on his visits as well as on the visits undertaken by the Ministers.   

Complying with the mandatory provisions of suo-motu disclosure under the transparency law, the PMO has placed in public that a sum of over Rs 642 crore was incurred on his air travels abroad between 2004 and 2013.

The expenses on the visits of public authorities are maintained in records which are regularly provided under the RTI Act.

Source: Latest News

PM Modi government policies will not work: Yechury

Its policies have given the opportunity to opposition parties to get together because it has failed to fulfil the people's aspirations the BJP had generated during the Lok Sabha election campaign and its steps have further worsened the situation, he said.

Yechury, who was recently elected the CPI(M) General Secretary, took on the government on its 'Make in India' slogan and said "the slogan should be 'Make for India', that is by India and for India".

"It (policies) cannot work. I will give you the reasons. You are giving concessions to attract more foreign investments. You are also giving concessions to Indian corporates to invest more.

"The logic given by the government, even the Manmohan Singh government earlier, is that greater investments will create new job opportunities and thereby greater economic growth. But there is a serious flaw in this argument, why this can't work," he said.

Even if this investment comes in, it would be "meaningful only if it comes into productive sector and not to loot our resources and expand their profits, without creating productive capacities in India."

"If they produce goods, these need to be sold. But where will you sell them? There is global stagnation, our exports have declined by 26 per cent last year. You can't sell these goods abroad, you can't sell them in India because the people's purchasing power is declining as a result of these policies and growing unemployment.

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India ridicules US report on minorities, says it's based on limited understanding

External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, "Our attention has been drawn to a report of the USCIRF which has passed judgement on religious freedom in India.

The report appears to be based on limited understanding of India, its Constitution and its society."
He further said, "We take no cognisance of the report."

In its 2015 annual report, USCIRF (US Commission on International Religious Freedom) said, "Since the election, religious minority communities have been subject to derogatory comments by politicians linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and numerous violent attacks and forced conversions by Hindu nationalist groups, such as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP)."
The report further said, "In advance of  the programme, the Hindu groups sought to raise money for their campaign, noting that it cost nearly 200,000 rupees per Christian and 500,000 rupees per Muslim. After both domestic and international criticism, the day was 'postponed' according to Mohan Bhagwat, an RSS leader."

The panel said Hindu groups also reportedly give monetary incentives to Hindus to convert Christians and Muslims to Hinduism. In early December, hundreds of Muslims reportedly were forcibly "reconverted" to Hinduism in a mass ceremony in Agra.

"Members of the RSS allegedly tricked dozens of Muslims families into attending a meeting by telling them they would be provided financial help, but instead a Hindu religious leader performed a Hindu conversion ceremony; an investigation is underway," it said.

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Rahul Gandhi takes jibe at PM Modi's foreign tours; triggers uproar in Lok Sabha

"Again his (PM's) tour is on the cards. He has come here for sometime. He should visit Punjab and he will know first hand what is happening to farmers," the Congress Vice President said, triggering uproar as BJP members protested.

Raising the issue of farmers during Zero Hour a day after his visit to mandis in Punjab, Gandhi said he wanted to apprise the House of the pain and problems of the state's farmers whose produce is lying in mandis and is not being procured by the government.

   
The refrain of Gandhi was that the NDA government had left the farmer to fend for himself.

Amid protests by BJP members, Gandhi took a swipe at the Prime Minister's 'Make in India' initiative, questioning whether farmers are not contributing to 'Make in India' by providing food to the entire country.
   
"When there was hailstorm, the government did not help. State governments used to give bonus, farmers tolerated its non-payment. Farmers were lathicharged when they asked for fertiliser. Now their produce is not being lifted from mandis," he said.

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Land Bill in focus on second day of BJP national executive meet

The party, in its strategy meet on Saturday, will adopt a political resolution that is likely to mention the Land Bill.

A power point presentation on the bill is also scheduled for the day, sources said.

The resolution will also make a comment on the 10 months of the working of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

Also on Friday, BJP had said it will launch a mass contact programme to dispel "myths and propaganda" spread by the Opposition and engage farmers in dialogue even as it insisted that it remains open to changes suggested by rival parties and farmers.

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Ex AIIMS CVO levels serious allegations over working of ACC

The officer has filed an affidavit in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) in his ongoing case of cadre change from Haryana to Uttarakhand.
  
In this case, after obtaining consent of both the State governments, the Ministry of Environment and Forest had recommended to the ACC for his cadre change on the ground of extreme hardship in July 2014.

However, on January 28 this year, ACC asked for seeking fresh consent from both the state governments. This order of ACC was challenged by the officer in the CAT which granted stay on ACC order on February 18 and asked the Central government to file reply.
  
The Central government in his reply took the plea that fresh consents were sought in view of change of State governments. However, in his affidavit filed on March 23 and 30, the officer has contested these claims saying that while in Uttarakhand the government is still same which had earlier given the consent, in case of Haryana, already ACC has given approval to a number of similar cases without seeking the consent from new government.

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Modi for competing with China in steel production

"India has surpassed America in steel production. But, we are still behind China and when I talk about Make in India, we would not accept to stay behind any one. We have to increase our production," said Modi after inaugurating the modernized and expanded steel unit of Rourkela Steel Plant at Rourkela in Odisha.

The Rs. 12,000-crore project has more than doubled the plant's capacity to 4.5 million tonnes per annum from 2 mtpa. The prime minister said India can grow with its youth power, which accounts for about 65 percent of the total population.

He said if the youth get employment and proper skill development, the country would prosper and move fast in the coming 10 years.

The prime minister said mineral resources should be properly utilized for development of the people and industries. He said trading of mineral resources to other countries may help the economy, but it would not build the future of India.

Stating that minerals should have value addition and generate employment, he said the whole world is now interested to invest in the country which was not the case in the last decade.

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Make India energy sufficient, cut imports: PM Modi

Speaking at the first 'Urja Sangam' conference, he said plans are afoot to provide piped gas connection to 1 crore households in the next four years from 27 lakh presently.   

Modi said if imports, which account for a staggering 77 percent of the demand, are cut by 10 percent by 2022, the country to look to halving it by 2030. India spent Rs 189,238 crore on import of crude oil in 2013-14.

He also said that Rs 100 crore in subsidy has been saved by 2.8 lakh people giving up the use of below market price LPG. "This money could be used for schools and providing medical facilities. I appeal to those who can buy LPG at market price, to please do not take subsidised LPG."

Since the government started the new scheme of direct benefit transfer (DBT) for cooking gas, many more people have opted out of the subsidy scheme.

Modi said that 12 crore bank accounts opened under the Jan Dhan scheme are being used for transferring subsidies directly to the consumers which has helped in plugging the leakages and effectively fighting corruption.

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Nitish Kumar meets PM Modi, raises fund issues

The special status issue has been a long standing demand from the ruling JD(U). This is the first time that the two met after Modi became Prime Minister and Nitish came back as Bihar Chief Minister.

The two leaders missed no opportunity to attack each other and Modi's elevation in the BJP had prompted Kumar to pull JD(U) out of NDA in June, 2013 after being part of the alliance for 17 years.

Moreover, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirti Azad also said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cannot do anything without the support of ruling party at the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that the JD (U) leader should rethink on his party's alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

The BJP leader from Bihar also welcomed Nitish's move to meet Prime Minister Modi.

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Jat reservation: Delegation to meet PM Modi today

"We will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Amit Shah tomorrow," the Rural Development Minister told reporters here.

Asked what could be the next step in view of the Apex Court order, he said, "While we respect the court's verdict, but we will explore other options that include filing a review petition..."

Singh, a prominent leader of the BJP from Haryana who also belongs to the Jat community, also said that it is high time that all outstanding issues between Haryana and Punjab, including water, are resolved.

He said BJP government is ruling both at the Centre and in Haryana and is in coalition in Punjab. "Therefore, this is the right time to resolve the issues between both states which would ensure betterment of both states," he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the state government is sensitive towards the interests of Jat community and assured full support and cooperation on the issue of reservation within the framework of law, a Haryana government release said here.

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PM Modi wishes people on various festivals

Modi took to Twitter and wished the people on the "Vikram Samvat" - the beginning of the Hindu New Year which falls on March 21 this year.

Modi also wished people on the occasion of the nine-day "Navratri" festival beginning on Saturday. Greetings to everyone on the day of "Navratri", he tweeted.

He wished the Sindhi community on the auspicious occasion of "Cheti Chand". "Greetings to the Sindhi Community on the auspicious occasion of 'Cheti Chand'. May Lord Jhulelal bless us and bring peace and joy in our lives."

"Wishing my friends in Maharashtra on 'Gudi Padwa'. May you have a blessed and joyful year ahead," he added."

'Ugadi' Greetings to everyone. I pray for a year full of prosperity, good health and happiness," his another tweet added. "Gudi padwa" and "Ugadi" are New Year's Day for the people of the Deccan region of India."

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PM Modi expresses concern over nun gangrape, church vandalisation

"PM is deeply concerned about the incidents in Hisar, Haryana and Nadia, West Bengal," the PMO tweeted. "PMO has asked for immediate report on facts & action taken regarding the incidents in Haryana & West Bengal," it said in another tweet.
  
A 71-year-old nun was allegedly gangraped by dacoits at Gangnapur in Nadia district in the early hours on Saturday after which a CID probe was ordered into the incident.

In another incident, an under-construction church in Kaimri village near Hisar, Haryana, was vandalised by a group and the cross replaced with an idol of Hanuman, triggering tension in the area in Haryana.

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PM Modi lauds Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's leadership

"I wish to join my other colleagues and congratulate President Dilma Rousseff on her re-election as the President of Brazil," Modi said in his opening remarks at the BRICS Leaders' meet here on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

BRICS is the acronym for an association of five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

"From Brazil to Brisbane, it has been most successful journey under your leadership. Our group will continue to benefit from your visionary leadership," he said.

Rousseff hosted Saturday's meeting of BRICS nations, who are also members of the G20.

Brazil also hosted the Sixth BRICS Summit in Fortazela in July. The leaders reached a landmark agreement on establishing the BRICS Development Bank and reserve currency pool.

66-year-old Rousseff, the first woman president of the world's seventh-largest economy, had a narrow margin of victory with 51.6 percent of the vote to 48.4 per cent of business favourite Aecio Neves in the run-off election last month.

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Rahul Gandhi takes potshots at PM Modi, downplays 'Clean Indian Campaign'

While both the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi did not take the name of Modi, the reference was obvious when they spoke at a party function on the eve of the 125th birth anniversary of Nehru here.
  
Rahul Gandhi said that "angry" people are nowadays running the country and had a dig at Modi over the "Swachchta Abhiyan" saying "photo opportunities" are galore.
  
"These days, the foundation of love and brotherhood is being demolished. On one hand houses are being painted and roads are being cleaned. Photo opportunities are happening. Snaps are being taken. On the other hand, poison is being spread. The very foundations are being weakened," Gandhi said.
  
In her speech made in the presence of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit, Sonia Gandhi asked party men to be united and strengthen the organisations and connect and fight those forces out to demolish Nehru's vision of a liberal India.

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Modi is akin to Indira Gandhi, Rahul is no leader: Book

The book, "2014 The Election That Changed India" (Penguin/Viking), also says that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has failed to show any quality as a leader and is hardly respected by his own party colleagues.

"Modi is perhaps closest to Indira Gandhi in his personality driven leadership style, an imperious attitude that ensures that institutions remain subservient to the individual," the riveting 372-page book says.

"Much like Indira, Modi in power is in no mood to reach out to the opposition," says Sardesai, referring to the Bharatiya Janata Party's refusal to recognize the Congress as the leader of the opposition in parliament.

Modi, the book says, is determined to exercise tight control over the cabinet system.

"There is a certain fear factor that Modi has instilled in his cabinet colleagues," the author says, adding how a minister in the Modi government told him (Sardesai) to enter his house from the back entrance.

The unnamed minister also insisted that they do not speak in his main hall but in the garden behind the residence.

"You never know which room is bugged nowadays!" the minister is quoted as saying.
According to the book, the original list of cabinet and other ministers in Modi's government was prepared by Modi confidants Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah and then vetted by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).

"The final touches, including portfolio distribution, were done by the prime minister himself,” the book said.

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