2030 HRS.

10^th February, 2021

THE HEADLINES:-

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi asks farmers to come to the table for talks to find a solution; Assures MSP and Mandi system to continue. 
• Prime Minister says , new world order is being shaped post COVID and it is for the people of the country to decide whether  they want to take lead in forming the new world order.
• The Prime Minister asserts, powered by spirited Public efforts, India committed to reduce carbon emission intensity set in Paris agreement.
• Chief Election Commissioner reviews poll preparedness in Chennai also to visit Puducherry tomorrow.
• In Uttrakhand massive Rescue and search operation continues in Chamoli district.

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As the nation fights the COVID-19 pandemic, we begin with a message of precaution to stay safe and protected by following these three simple steps —

• Wear a face mask.
• Maintain Do Gaz Ki Doori for social distancing.
• Focus on hand and face hygiene. 

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the public sector is essential but the role of the private sector is also vital. He said private sector’s role can be seen everywhere including telecom and pharma. In his reply in Lok Sabha to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, Prime Minister said if India is able to serve humanity, it is also due to the role of the private sector. He said agriculture sector will not be strong if investment and new technologies are not brought. He stressed that there is a need to go beyond growing only wheat and paddy. The Prime Minister said the culture of abusing the private sector is no longer acceptable and this is akin to insulting country’s youth.

He said he is surprised why people are asking what the need for the new farm laws was since farmers never asked for them. He said no one demanded law on dowry and triple talaq but laws were made as they were necessary for a progressive society. He pointed out that after the laws relating to agriculture were passed by Parliament, no Mandi has shut and MSP has also remained.

यह देश, देशवासियों के लिये है। अगर कोई निर्णय करते हैं तो किसानों के लिये है। लेकिन हम इंतजार करते हैं, अभी भी हम इंतजार करते हैं। वो अगर कोई चीज़ स्‍पेसिफिक बताते हैं और अगर वो कन्विंसिंग है तो हमें कोई संकोच नहीं है। यह ऑर्डिनेन्‍स के द्वारा  तीनों कानून लागू किये गये थे। बाद में पार्लियामेन्‍ट में भी पारित हुए हैं। कानून लागू होने के बाद ना देश में कोई मंडी बंद हुई है, ना कहीं एमएसपी बंद हुआ है, इतना ही नहीं, एमएसपी की खरीदी भी बढ़ी है और यह  नये कानून  बनने के बाद बढ़ी है।

He alleged that those who are disrupting the House are doing so as per a well-planned strategy but their lies will soon be found out by the public. He appealed to the farmers to come to the table for talks so that a solution can be found.He said Lok Sabha as well as Centre respects the farmers who are voicing their views on the farm laws and this is why topmost Ministers of the Government are constantly talking to them.

आंदोलन कर रहे सभी किसान साथियों की भावनाओं का यह सदन भी और यह सरकार भी आदर करती है और इसीलिये सरकार के वरिष्‍ठ मंत्री भी जब यह आंदोलन पंजाब में था तब भी और बाद में भी लगातार उनसे वार्ता कर रहे हैं। किसानों के प्रति सम्‍मान भाव के साथ कर रहे हैं, आदर भाव के साथ कर रहे हैं और इसलिये लगातार बातचीत होती रही है। बातचीत में किसानों की शंकायें क्‍या हैं वो ढूंढने का भी भरपूर प्रयास किया गया है। और हम मानते हैं कि अगर इसमें कोई कमी हो और सचमुच में किसान का नुकसान हो तो इसमें बदल देने में क्‍या जाता है जी।

He added  a new world order is being shaped post COVID and it is for the people of India to decide whether they want to take the lead in forming this new world order. He said India has emerged as Aatmanirbhar – self reliant, during this pandemic.

कोरोना के दर्मियान, भारत ने जिस प्रकार से अपने आप को संभाला और दुनिया को संभलने में मदद की है, एक प्रकार से टर्निंग प्‍वाईंट है। जिस भावनाओं को लेकर, जिस संस्‍कार को लेकर के वेद से विवेकानन्‍द तक हम पले–बढ़े हैं वो है – सर्वे भवन्‍तु सुखिन:, ये सर्वे भवन्‍तु सुखिन:, सर्वे सन्‍तु निरामया। ये कोरोना कालखंड में भारत ने इसको कर के दिखाया है।

He said India cannot be a mute spectator anymore, but has to emerge as a strong powerhouse. The Prime Minister said the world post-COVID is turning out to be very different and remaining isolated from the global trends in such times will be counter-productive.  He stressed that that is why India is working towards building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat, which seeks to further global good.

The Prime Minister thanked doctors, nurses, COVID and  warriors, and called them manifestations of the divine who strengthened India’s fight against the global pandemic.

The Prime Minister thanked the large number of women MPs who took part in the discussion in Lok Sabha. He said President Ram Nath Kovind’s address showcased India’s ‘Sankalp Shakti’ and his words have boosted the spirit of confidence among the people of India.

The Congress and TMC staged a walkout during the Prime Minister’s speech.

Lok Sabha has passed Motion to thank President for his address to both Houses of Parliament.

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The Rajya Sabha today took up the General Discussion on Union Budget 2021-22. BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi delivering his maiden speech in the Upper House said the Budget lays the roadmap to build a strong and self-reliant India. He hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision of a timely lockdown which he said prevented loss of lives due to Coronavirus. Mr. Modi said that it was commendable that despite a 23 per cent drop in revenue collection due to COVID-19, no new tax was imposed in the budget. Comparing India with the US, he said, even when developed countries like the United States were facing challenges to extend direct financial assistance to their people, India undertook one of the largest direct fund transfer schemes benefitting large sections of people. He said the budget is dedicated to the welfare of the poor and will boost reforms in the country.

Earlier, initiating the discussion, Kapil Sibal of Congress said that the Budget fails to talk about the issue of unemployment. He charged the government for indulging into excessive privatisation. S.R. Balasubramoniyam of the AIADMK asked the government to reconsider the decision of levying agri cess on fuel. Amar Patnaik of the BJD said the budget is a bold initiative to bridge the fiscal deficit target. Anthiyur P Selvarasi of the DMK lamented that the work for AIIMS, Madurai has not started yet.K R Suresh Reddy of the TRS said that the budget presentation was good but it needs to be seen how it will be implemented. The discussion on the budget will continue tomorrow.

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Refuting Maharashtra Government’s claims that the state has been ignored in this year’s union budget; former Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis today said that projects worth 3.5 lakh crore have received budgetary allocation. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Mr. Fadnavis listed the projects in railway, roads, water resources, agriculture and infrastructure that have been earmarked to receive funds over the next year. Mr. Fadnavis informed that the union budget has proposed to allot 1.33 lakh crore rupees for roads and infrastructure projects in the state. 

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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA has given its nod to a proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for Grant-in-aid of 100 crore  rupees to Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizers Corporation Limited (BVFCL), Namrup in Assam, to sustain operations of its urea manufacturing units. BVFCL is a Public Sector Undertaking which  is situated in North-East India. It plays an important role  in economic growth of the region.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that sustainable development can only be achieved through togetherness and innovation. Inaugurating the World Sustainable Development Summit-2021 this evening through video conferencing, Prime Minister said, the health of the people and the health of the climate are interlinked and these two will decide our future.

He said, investment in youth is the need of the hour. The Prime Minister said, the energy of the youth will lead to outstanding results. He said, India is focussed on human-centric approach. Prime Minister added, change in environment and climate affects the poor the most and India is on track to achieve the target it had set in Paris. He said, India’s intent is supported by concrete action. The Prime Minister said, powered by spirited public efforts, India is on track to exceed its commitments and targets from Paris. He said, climate justice means giving developing countries enough space to grow when the world understand their roles and duties.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar reiterated that India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the world in climate change action and the nation is fulfilling its climate commitments and targets well before time. 

The theme of the summit is ‘Redefining Our Common Future: Safe and Secure Environment for All’.

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In Uttarakhand, a team of more than 800 personal comprising various forces including marines from Navy continued rescue and search operation throughout the day at the site of  calamity in Chamoli district. Two more bodies were recovered and the death toll has reached 34 . Our Correspondent covering the calamity reports that around 170 people are still missing and some of them are feared to be trapped in the tunnal.

“Around 170 people are still missing and 25 to 35 persons are feared to be trapped in the tunnel.The herculean effort to reach to the trapped people through the slush and heavy bolders continued on fourth consecutive day at calamity site in Chamoli district. Although the team has only reached till 120 meters inside the tunnel and backflow of water is making their task more difficult. DG of ITBP SS Deswal said that It is reported that the trapped workers could be around 180 meters deep inside the tunnel. Bad weather affected the relief work for some time today as helicopters was not able to take sorties to provide relief material to the affected neighbouring villages. WITH RAGHVESH PANDEY FROM DEHRADUN THIS IS SUSHIL CHANDRA TIWARI FOR AIR NEWS, SHRINAGAR GARHWA”

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In Tamilnadu, the political representatives have appealed to Election Commission officiials  for a single phase election. Addressing  the media after meeting the officials, party representatives said that postal ballots should be available for  people above 80 years of age.

Chief Election Comisioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioners, Sushil Chandra, Rajiv Kumar and Secretary General Umesh Sinha are in the city to review the poll preparedness. Chief Election Comissioner Arora informed the journalists that he would review the situation and brief the media tomorrow. 

“Political leaders have expressed concern on conducting the elections in a perfect manner amidst Covid situation. BJP has appealed to the election commission to webcast polling at all stations, They have also suggested the polling date after the Tamil New Year day which falls on April 14. They also wanted deployment of central forces in sensitive booths. Election commissioners will meet Police officials and district electoral officials and District Superintendents of police also to review the on going preparations this afternoon. Tomorrow the election officials will be meeting with the Chief Secretary and Secretaries of other departments and senior officials after which there will be a press conference on the highlights of the review meetings. JOY, AIR NEWS, CHENNAI.”

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A eight member team from the Election Commission of India (ECI) will visit Puducherry tomorrow to review the preparedness for the assembly elections to be held in April or May this year.

“The team led by the Chief Election Commissioner Mr.Sunil Arora with the ECI officials visited Chennai today and hold discussions. After a two day visit, they will arrive Puducherry tomorrow evening. The team will hold talks with recognized political parties, DEOs, SPs, CEO, Police Nodal Officers here and on 12 th the team will hold discussion with the election related regulatary agencies, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and other Officials. The Puducherry Election Department has made all arrangements for  the discussions and invitations were sent to all recognized political parties here.

The team comprises, Election commissioners Sushil Chandra, Rajiv Kumar, Secretary General Umesh Sinha, Deputy Election Commissioner Chandra Bhushan Kumar and 3 more senior officials of the Election Commission. It may be noted that assembly election is due in 2021 in Tamilnadu, Puducherry, Kerala and West Bengal.Chandra Mohan, AIR NEWS, Puducherry”

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Ministry of Electronic and IT today said that upon the request of Twitter seeking a meeting with the Government, IT Secretary was to engage with senior management of Twitter. In a tweet, the Ministry said, in this light a blog post published by Twitter prior to this engagement is unusual. IT Ministry said, Government will share its response soon.

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NOW HERE IS A REVIEW OF PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT TODAY, FIRST FROM LOK SABHA. WRITER IS ACHINTA BORAH OF PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that his government and Parliament have great respect for the agitating farmers and made it clear that those who want to continue with the old agriculture marketing system can remain doing so. He made this observation in the Lok Sabha today while replying to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address. Mr Modi slammed the opposition Congress as a divided and confused party for its different stand in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha during the debate on farmers.

The Congress members staged a walkout from the House as Modi explained the government’s stand on the three farm laws. Members belonging to DMK and TMC also walked out of the House after the Prime Minister’s address saying they were not happy with the speech.

Mr. Modi said the condition of the Congress party which ruled the country for about six decades has now become such that its Rajya Sabha unit moves in one direction while the Lok Sabha unit moves the other way. He observed that such a “divided” and “confused” party can neither do any good for itself nor can it think of any solution to the country’s problems. He regretted that nothing can be more unfortunate than this.

The Prime Minister said the NDA government has tried everything to bring changes in the country and asserted that if the intention is good, then the results will also be good.

Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, Modi said India has managed the crisis successfully despite adverse predictions and the country has now become a ray of hope for the world.

Complimenting health care and frontline workers for their relentless work during the pandemic, the prime minister said the way India has managed the Coronavirus crisis is a turning point and the world has seen its success. The address of the President has showcased India’s ‘Sankalp Shakti’ and his words have boosted the spirit of confidence among the people of India, infused new confidence and inspired every heart. Stating that a large number of women MPs participated in the discussion, the Prime Minister said that he wanted to congratulate them for enriching the proceedings in the House with their thoughts.

Soon after Prime Minister replied to the debate, Speaker Om Birla put all amendments moved by the opposition members for vote. The amendments were rejected by a voice vote.

Initiating the discussion on the Union Budget 2021-22, Shashi Tharoor of the Congress alleged that people of the country have been left disappointed as the fuel prices are soaring and there was no relief in tax rates for the middle class.

Congress leader said in the agriculture sector, the budget did little to reassure farmers as a quarter of the budget for MSP has been cut. This budget has given no relief to the farmers as there is no fiscal support and neither there is diesel subsidy.

Participating in the debate, Meenakshi Lekhi of the BJP congratulated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for presenting an excellent budget at a time of unprecedented global pandemic and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his vision of a double digit economy. She said the first budget of this decade is a bit different because of the pandemic.

It will determine the path India will take during the next few years. The BJP leader said capitalism is needed for the economic development of the country like getting new technology such as 5G internet. She also slammed the Congress for doing nothing for the proper health of Public Sector Units.

Dayanidhi Maran of the DMK, participating in the debate, said hundreds of people lost their jobs during the Coronavirus-induced lockdown and 30 per cent of the MSMEs were closed down. He said the government should have reduced excise duty in fuel. Mr. Maran demanded a white paper on the results on the stimulus package.

The discussion on General Budget was continuing till the writing of the .

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AND NOW REVIEW OF PROCEEDINGS IN RAJYA SABHA. WRITER IS RAJESH AHUJA OF UNI

The Rajya Sabha has taken up discussion on the Union Budget 2021-22 today.  Participating in the discussion, Sushil Kumar Modi of the BJP said the economists have hailed the budget as a reformist budget. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured that a timely lockdown was enforced in the country to prevent loss of lives due to COVID-19. He said it was a budget dedicated to welfare of the poor and boost reforms.

Earlier, initiating the discussion, Kapil Sibal of the Congress questioned whether the country was moving towards self reliance as the Finance Minister had claimed. S.R. Balasubramaniyan of the AIADMK asked the government to reconsider the agriculture Cess on fuel. Amar Patnaik of the BJD, Anthiyur P Selvarasu of the DMK, K R Suresh Reddy of the TRS and Subhash Chandra Bose Pilli of YSRCP also participated in the discussion, which remained inconclusive.

Later, the House adopted the Major Port Authority Bill, 2020 in a division of voting. It seeks to provide autonomy to India’s 12 major ports and improve their efficiency and competitiveness besides creation of a Board for each major port. Moving the Bill for consideration, Minister for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya said that this Bill has been brought to make important changes in the ease of doing business in the port sector, and to encourage healthy competition between major ports and private ports. 

Initiating discussion on the Bill, Shaktisinh Gohil of Congress said it was an attempt by the government to privatise the ports. Several members including Suresh Prabhu of BJP, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray of the Trinamool Congress, Subhash Chandra Singh of Biju Janata Dal, Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav of Samajwadi Party, P. Wilson of DMK, Elamaram Kareem of CPI, Banda Prakash of the TRS, Prof. Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD, Dr. Fauzia Khan of NCP, K Ravindra Kumar of Telugu Desam Party, Anil Desai of Shiv Sena, Binoy Viswam of CPI, Narain Dass Gupta of Aam Aadmi Party, Ramji of BSP, Thambidurai of AIADMK, Jugalsinh Lokhandwala of BJP, Ramchandra Prasad of JD-U and G K Vasan of TMC-M participated in the discussion.

Replying to a discussion on the Bill, Minister for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya said that the Bill was not aimed at putting the ports in private hands. He said the government has included provisions in the bill to ensure greater autonomy to the ports. After the reply, the Minister moved the Bill for passage. However, members of the opposition demanded a division. 84 Members voted in favour of the Bill while 44 members voted against it.

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with the death of 185 birds, mostly poultry, spread across Thane, Akola and Aurangabad districts of Maharashtra in the last 24 hours; the state government is maintaining a high degree of ness to ensure containment of bird flu. According to an official statement, samples are being sent to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal and Disease Investigation Section, Pune for testing and district collectors have been ordered to start destroying poultry within one kilometer of the infected farm.

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Kausar Ali, a member of the banned terror outfit Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh, JMB, has been sentenced to 29 years of jail term in Khagragarh Blast case in West Bengal. A special NIA court in Kolkata announced this sentence today. Kausar Ali alias Bomaru Mizan, one of the main accused in the blast case, was arrested by NIA in August 2018 from Bengaluru. NIA had offered a price of  5 lakh rupees on his head. Khagragarh blast took place in Burdwan district of West Bengal on 2nd October 2014. 

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Ahead of the upcoming Assam Assembly election, the Assam Excise department has conducted a series of meetings with their counterparts from the neighbouring states of Arunachal Pradesh and  Meghalaya. Official sources said that there was  an apprehension that clandestine in-flow of liquor into the state from neighbouring states may play a role in influencing the electorate before and during the assembly election.

The Assam Excise Department has already taken initiative to keep a strict vigil to control and check the inflow of illegal liquor through Inter-State and International Border . In this connection , recently a meeting was held by the Excise Department of Assam in connection with inter-state and district co-ordination for enforcement of excise laws  at Sonitpur between the officials of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.  The issue of illegal liquor through the inter-state border specially Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border was discussed with an appeal to give special attention to these aspects. It was decided in the meeting to ensure the reporting of the entry and exit of every vehicle carrying consignments of liquor plying between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

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In the Australian Open Tennis tournament, Eight-time Australian Open winner  and defending champion Novak Djokovic today defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 in the second round. In other second round matches of Men’s Singles, U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem defeated Dominik Koepfer 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 while Denis Shapovalov, beat Australian qualifier Bernard Tomic 6-1,6-3,6-2. Third seeded Thiem will clash next with Nick Kyrgios. In women’s singles ,Serena Williams continues her quest for a record 24th Grand Slam singles title as she defeated  Nina Stojanovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-0 in the second  round today. She will now face Anastasia Potapova in the third round. In another second round match in Women’s single event today, Japanese sensation Naomi Osaka thwarted Caroline Garcia of France with an effortless 6-2, 6-3 straight sets victory, as she raced into the third round.

India endured a second successive disappointing result after Rohan Bopanna and his Japanese partner Ben McLachlan bowed out in the men’s doubles today. They lost to Korean wild card pair of Ji Sung Nam and Min-Kyu Song 4-6 6-7. Now Divij Sharan in men’s doubles and debutant Ankita Raina in women’s doubles are left in fray from India.

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Now, let us take a look at the weather forecast for tomorrow.

The National Capital is likely to have fog. The temperature will hover between nine  and 29 degree Celsius.

Mumbai will have a clear sky. The minimum temperature will be around 19 while maximum is expected to be around 37 degrees.

Chennai will witness a partly cloudy sky. The temperature will vary between 23 and 30 degree Celsius.

In Kolkata, there will be fog in the morning and partly cloudy sky later. The city will observe minimum 16 degree Celsius  and a maximum of around 30 degrees.

Srinagar will have a mainly clear sky. Temperature will hover between minus three and 13 degree Celsius.

Jammu will have a mainly clear sky . The minimum temperature will be around 10  while maximum will be around 23 .

Leh will see a partly cloudy sky. The minimum temperature will be around minus 10 degree Celsius while the maximum will be around six degree.

Gilgit will have a partly cloudy sky. The temperature will hover between minus one and 16 degree Celsius.

Muzaffarabad will have a clear sky. The temperature will hover between five and 21 degree Celsius.

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