Terming Islamabad-sponsored terrorism as the biggest hurdle to normalizing relations between the two nations, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday said Pakistan Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, should back his rhetoric on peace with India with solid action.
Bajwa should first control his ISI, and then talk about stability in Indo-Pak relations, said the Chief Minister, adding that India cannot afford to go soft with Pakistan till they walk the talk and prove their sincerity with concrete actions.
“Infiltration into India from across the border is still happening, Indian soldiers are being killed at the borders every day. They (Pakistan) are dropping arms and heroin into Punjab via drones every other day. Efforts to create trouble in my state continue to take place. All this should stop first, only then we can talk peace,” said Captain Amarinder.
For India to trust Pakistan, the latter will have to do much more than offer an olive branch, said the Chief Minister, citing his own experience of 1964 as ADC to GOC-in-C, Western Command. “We used to receive daily reports then of firing and trouble from the western border, as we continue to do now,” he said.
It is important for not just Bajwa but the entire Pakistan military apparatus to be on board with the idea of burying the past and paving the way for peace with India, said Captain Amarinder, adding that it is not New Delhi but Islamabad which has obstructed the path of peace between the two countries.
“Are they all of the same view as shared by General Bajwa? Are they withdrawing all support to terror groups immediately? Have they asked ISI to back off and leave India alone?” These, said the Chief Ministers, are questions that need to be answered before India can start believing in, and responding to, Pakistan’s overtures of peace.
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], March 20 (ANI): The vision of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for huge employment generation through port-led industrial growth in Odisha is turning to reality with Dhamra and Gopalpur Ports making headway as large deep ports on the east coast. Reviewing the progress made so far during a high-level review meeting, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra directed the Bhadrak Collector to protect the land adjoining the ports for the development of industrial hub and townships. Sanjay Singh, IDCO Chairman and Managing Director who present in the meeting, was advised to acquire the land and develop the sites for industrial use in coming years. Mahapatra said, “With quantitative and qualitative growth of Dhamra port, railway and road connectivity and coming in of the LNG Tank near the port, the area is rapidly heading towards a port town. Master planning of the area and protection of the available land would provide further fillip to the port-led industrial development in the area”. The Chief Secretary also directed to demarcate the high tide line through ground level resurvey of the coastal regulation zone for the protection of the eco-system while planning for the development. Manoj Kumar Mishra, Secretary Electronics and IT and Special Secretary Commerce and Transport, apprised that Dhamra port was notified by East Coast Railway in 2011 as a “full rake handling point for both inward and outward traffic”. Dhamra Port Company Ltd (DPCL) has developed three new berths taking the total berths to five. DPCL has also constructed 62.5 kms of rail connectivity from Dhamra to Bhadrak connecting the main Howrah-Chennai railway line. Subrat Tripathy, Chief Executive officer of DPCL, apprised that there has been a manifold increase in cargo handling from Dhamra port within the last eleven years. Mahapatra also reviewed the progress of Gopalpur port on the east coast. The port has resumed its operation from 2015 after necessary repairs and renovation. The port was severely affected by the cyclone Hudhud in the year 2014. The issues relating to the widening of road existing road connectivity, additional land required for port expansion, construction airstrip at Dhamra, development of the industrial park, development of economic corridor were discussed and resolved in the meeting. Sources say these two ports are now providing daily employment to around 4300 people in port operations apart from their regular employees. The Odisha Chief Secretary directed the concerned departments and district administrations to provide all facilitating for rapid growth and expansion of the ports. (ANI)
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], March 20 (ANI): The possible rebel menace, the Congress faced in Kerala Assembly polls was snubbed by the intervention of party leader Oommen Chandy, but the state leadership was taken off guard as a rebel candidate Niyaz Bharati filed nomination against Ramesh Chennithala from Haripad Assembly constituency. Bharati, a former state vice-president of the Youth Congress and an executive member of the KPCC has filed his candidature, hours before the deadline ends for filing nomination papers. He said that his contest was against injustice and inequality in the Congress candidates list. Chennithala is contesting from Haripad where he is facing LDF’s R Sajilal (CPI) and former BJP district president K Soman. Meanwhile, Chandy after taking into confidence a possible rebel candidate in Pathanamthitta met Congress dissenters in Irikkur in Kannur on Friday. Though no rebel Congress candidates have filed nominations in both constituencies, efforts are on to pacify those who are against the official candidate. After reaching Irikkur, Chandy who held a discussion with Congress leaders who resigned said, “I came here to have a discussion with a section of Congress workers who opposed and protested (against official Congress candidate). I met them and I will convey their feelings to the Congress leadership. I will hold a discussion with K Sudhakaran and I will be meeting Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran tomorrow (Saturday),” he said. Chandy’s visit to Irikkur gains prominence as 23 district Congress committee office bearers, seven-block Congress presidents, and Mahila Congress office leaders resigned against the candidature of Sajeev Joseph, which also includes KPCC General Secretary Sonny Sebastian, whose name according to reports was suggested instead of Joseph by leaders from the district. In Pathanamthitta, former district Congress committee president Mohan Raj who was at loggerheads with the party regarding candidates selection was wooed back to the fold after Chandy convinced him to put an end to possible rebel candidates on the last day of filing nomination. The election for 140-member Kerala Assembly will be held on April 6. The counting of votes will take place on May 2. (ANI)
TDP Politburo member Varla Ramaiah welcomed the stay order issued by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh on the CID probe into the case relating to alleged irregularities committed by former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and former minister P. Narayana.
Mr. Ramaiah asserted that the court stayed the CID probe just because the ‘concocted case’ was filed against Mr. Naidu without having any prima facie evidence. It was pathetic that the additional advocate general had no convincing answers when the judge asked whether the CID found any strong evidence in preliminary investigation or whether the assignment farmers suffered any losses under the Amaravati land pooling.
Addressing a press conference here, the TDP leader said that the court’s stay order once again clarified how the Jagan regime was bent on filing motivated cases in order to take revenge against Mr. Chandababu Naidu. Even the judge asked how the case was booked when no assignment farmer had filed any complain and not even the CRDA. Moreover, the farmers were paid compensation under the land pooling agreement.
Mr. Ramaiah advised the YCP ministers not to make funny statements like why Chandrababu Naidu has got court stay instead of facing the CID probe to come clean on the allegations. If that was the ruling YCP stand, then CM Jagan Reddy should have stayed back in the Chanchalguda jail without taking bail in the Rs. 43,000 Cr illegal assets cases probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.
The TDP leader wondered how the Jagan regime could foolishly file such cheap and meaningless cases against Mr. Chandrababu Naidu who had served as CM for over 14 years and against P. Narayana who had served as Minister for five years.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 20 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday night took suspended police officer Sachin Waze to the place near businessman Mukesh Ambani’s residence where explosives were recovered from a car last month. The agency recreated the crime scene as part of the ongoing investigation. Waze arrested in connection with the investigation into the recovery of explosives from a car parked near Mukesh Ambani’s house in Mumbai on February 25. Waze, Assistant Police Inspector in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU), who was transferred to the Citizen Facilitation Centre at Mumbai Police Headquarters after his name came up in Mansukh Hiren death case, has been sent to NIA custody till March 25, in connection with his alleged role and involvement in placing an explosives-laden vehicle. After the NIA, now the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) will be seeking custody of Sachin Waze, in connection with the investigation into the Mansukh Hiren death case, top sources of ATS confirmed. Waze had moved Thane Sessions court seeking anticipatory bail. The court will hear his plea on March 30. Hiren, the owner of the vehicle that was found containing explosives outside the house of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, was found dead in a creek on March 5 in Thane. (ANI)
Srinagar: Sitting MP from Srinagar and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has appealed to India and Pakistan to move forward on the path of amity and friendship and take more steps so that people on both sides of the border get relief from the hostile atmosphere. Farooq said that it was high time that they promote peace and start a new chapter of friendship for the betterment of South Asia and Central Asia.
Earlier Pakistani Army Chief has said that both the countries should bury the past and work together for the betterment of the people. After the recent ceasefire agreement between the DGMO’s of India and Pakistan, there has been a lot of talk about the agreement reached between India and Pakistan to move forward for the composite dialogue.
All the mainstream political leaders of Jammu and Kashmir have welcomed the latest bonhomie between India and Pakistan and have appealed to both the countries to move on the path of friendship and dialogue.
Border people in Jammu and Kashmir have already expressed their gratitude to the government for entering into a ceasefire agreement with Pakistan and have said that it has given them a much needed relief from the cross border firing.
Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar said that keeping in view the sudden surge in COVID-19 cases, like last year, the number of procurement centres is likely to be increased so as to ensure hassle free procurement that is commencing from April 1, 2021. During this year’s procurement process, the State Government has decided to ensure 100 per cent transfer of direct online payments in the accounts of the farmers. Last year, the state had transferred more than 50 per cent of the payments directly to the accounts of the farmers and the rest of the payments were made through Arhtiyas, shared the Chief Minister.
He said that the officers concerned should hold timely talks with the Arhtiyas regarding the same. The Chief Minister said this while presiding over a review meeting regarding COVID-19, vaccination, procurement and other issues with Administrative Secretaries, Deputy Commissioners, Senior Superintendent of Police, Municipal Commissioners, Senior and Chief Medical Officers, District and State Chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) through video conferencing here today. Health Minister, Sh. Anil Vij also attended the meeting from Ambala.
The Chief Minister while directing the officers concerned said that as the harvesting season is also nearing therefore adequate arrangements should be made to ensure hassle free procurement. “In view of the increasing COVID-19 cases, health safety arrangements as earlier should be made to minimize health risk to those engaged in procurement operations. The Deputy Commissioners should ensure that COVID-19 safety protocols are strictly followed at each procurement centre,” directed Sh. Manohar Lal.
The Chief Minister also directed the officers to strengthen the Mandi system along with making timely arrangements for the availability of labourers, ensure adequate number of weighing scales, gunny bags, sewing machines, etc. in the Mandis. The Chief Minister further directed the Deputy Commissioners to issue advance directions regarding timely lifting of the crop, smooth functioning of the procurement process and to ensure that no Arhtiya or farmer faces any problem.“Suitable transportation arrangements should be made for lifting of the crops from the Mandis on time and if any transporter fails to lift the crops within 48 hours, then the Deputy Commissioners should remain ready with any alternative transport arrangements, directed Sh. Manohar Lal. The Chief Minister further directed that every Deputy Commissioner should ensure 100 percent crop registration including the registration of vacant agricultural land on “Meri Fasal Mera Byora”.
