Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday assured party workers that the ruling Mahayuti coalition would offer opportunities to legislators who were not included in the cabinet expansion, during this government's tenure, reported news agency PTI "We will give an opportunity to others also for two-and-a-half years," the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief said, while addressing a gathering of his party workers in Nagpur before the cabinet expansion. According to ANI, Pawar emphasised that every member of the coalition deserves a chance to serve as a minister, despite the limited number of ministerial positions available. On Sunday, the 10-day-old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti ministry alliance in Maharashtra expanded its cabinet, swearing in 39 ministers, which brings the total number to 42. The distribution of the ministerial berths reflects the coalition's structure: BJP received 19 positions, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena got 11, while Pawar's NCP secured nine. Notable legislators who were left out from the cabinet include Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil from NCP, as well as Sudhir Mungantiwar from BJP. Among the 39 ministers, 33 were appointed as cabinet ministers, while six took oaths as the ministers of state. The Maharashtra council of ministers can accommodate a maximum of 43 members, including the chief minister. In the November 20 assembly polls, the Mahayuti swept to power, winning 230 out of 288 seats in the state. BJP led with 132 seats, followed by Shiv Sena with 57 and NCP with 41. "Everyone feels like getting an opportunity to become minister. However, the ministerial berths remain limited while everyone deserves a chance," Pawar said. Reflecting on previous tenures, Pawar noted that some legislators had the chance to serve as ministers for one-and-a-half years during the previous Mahayuti government. "We have decided that during the five-year tenure of this government, we will give an opportunity to others also for two-and-a-half years, which means many will get a chance to become (cabinet) ministers and state ministers. Accordingly, many districts and regions will get representation," Pawar added. The week-long winter session of the state legislature is set to commence in Nagpur, Maharashtra's second capital, on Monday. (With inputs from PTI)
15 December,2024 08:18 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentIn a historic move, 39 ministers were sworn in at Raj Bhavan on Sunday, marking it the first such event in Maharashtra’s second capital in 33 years, news agency PTI reported. The last cabinet expansion held in Nagpur took place in 1991 under the leadership of then Chief Minister Sudhakarrao Naik, when he expanded his council of ministers by inducting Shiv Sena rebels Chhagan Bhujbal and Rajendra Gole, who had shifted allegiance to the Congress. The ministers were then administered the oath of office by Governor C Subramanium, in a ceremony where Congress' Beed legislator Jaidutt Kshirsagar was also inducted. Bhujbal, a prominent name in Maharashtra politics, was notably dropped in the Devendra Fadnavis government when the new cabinet was formed on Sunday. Naik served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra from June 1991 to February 1993, and later, under the leadership of Madhukarrao Chaudhary, the group of 12 Shiv Sena rebels, including Bhujbal and Gole, were merged with the Congress. However, both Bhujbal and Gole were defeated in the 1995 assembly elections from Mazgaon (Mumbai) and Buldhana, respectively. Meanwhile, the expansion of the new cabinet of Devendra Fadnavis comes 10 days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance government was formed. With the swearing-in of 39 new ministers, the total strength of the government now stands at 42, after including CM Fadnavis and his deputies Shinde and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar. BJP took the lion’s share of the cabinet positions with 19 ministerial berths, followed by 11 for the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and nine for NCP. Of the 39 ministers sworn in, 33 have been appointed as cabinet ministers, while six will serve as ministers of state. The swearing-in ceremony took place on the eve of the state legislature's winter session, which is scheduled to be held in Nagpur from Monday. Chief Minister Fadnavis, Shinde and Pawar were present at the event. Meanwhile, hours before the cabinet expansion, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) announced its intention to boycott the customary tea party held on the eve of the legislature's winter session. MVA leaders, comprising the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), and Congress, convened a press conference at Ravi Bhavan in Nagpur, where they targeted the BJP-led government over a range of issues, including the plight of farmers, rising prices, unemployment, and the recent murder of a sarpanch. (With PTI inputs)
15 December,2024 08:04 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentThe 'Ram Temple project' at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya has been awarded the prestigious 'Sword of Honour' by the British Safety Council, the Chairman of the Construction Committee, Nripendra Misra, announced on Sunday, according to news agency ANI. Misra stated that the award is one of the highest recognitions in safety management. The British Safety Council evaluates safety processes, practices, and on-site activities during audits, and only those receiving a five-star assessment are eligible for the 'Sword of Honour' award. "Shri Ram Mandir project in Ayodhya Dham has won the prestigious 'Sword of Honour' award given by British Safety Council. It is one of the prestigious accolades in safety management. The British Safety Council conducts the audit of the process, practices, and finally on-site activity assessments," a statement issued by Misra read. According to ANI, Larsen and Toubro, the company responsible for the temple's construction, also received a 'Golden Trophy' from the National Safety Council in the United States for its safety measures during the project. The temple's construction is being carried out under the close coordination of Larsen and Toubro and Tata Consulting Engineers, with supervision by the Construction Committee of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The statement also mentioned that the construction of the first and second floors, including the Shikhar (spire) of the temple, is in its final phase, with completion expected by June 2025, ANI reported. The temple is being built using Bansi Paharpur stone from Rajasthan, with approximately 15 lakh cubic feet of stone, along with significant marble cladding. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the rituals during the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in the sanctum sanctorum of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple of Ram Lalla. The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir is being constructed in the traditional Nagara style. Its length (east-west) is 380 feet, width 250 feet, and height 161 feet. It is supported by 392 pillars and 44 doors, with intricately sculpted depictions of Hindu deities, gods, and goddesses on the pillars and walls. In the main sanctum sanctorum on the ground floor, the childhood form of Lord Ram (the idol of Shri Ramlalla) has been placed. The main entrance of Shri Ram Mandir is situated on the eastern side, which can be accessed by ascending 32 stairs through the Singh Dwar. The Shri Ram Mandir complex has five Mandaps (halls): Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prathana Mandap, and Kirtan Mandap. A historic well (Sita koop), dating back to ancient times, is located near Shri Ram Mandir. In the southwestern part of the Mandir complex, an ancient temple of Lord Shiva has been restored, and a statue of Jatayu has been installed. The foundation of the temple has been constructed with a 14-metre-thick layer of roller-compacted concrete (RCC), giving it the appearance of artificial rock. No iron has been used in the temple's construction. To protect against ground moisture, a 21-foot-high plinth has been built using granite. The temple complex includes a sewage treatment plant, a water treatment plant, a water supply for fire safety, and an independent power station. The temple has been built using traditional and indigenous technology. (With ANI inputs)
15 December,2024 07:40 PM IST | Ayodhya | mid-day online correspondentRajasthan Minister Jogaram Patel on Sunday commended Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's Parliament speech and called it "historic", reported news agency ANI. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech was historic. It will be remembered forever. INC and its members and their leader have time and again mocked the Constitution. The kind of language used by their leader is unconstitutional," Patel told ANI. On Saturday, PM Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress during his reply to the two-day Constitution debate in Parliament and accused it of constantly disrespecting the Constitution and presented 11 pledges for India's bright future, noting that the government and people should follow their duties and the country's politics should be free of "parivarvad", stated ANI. PM Modi made repeated reference to the Nehru-Gandhi family and accused every generation of its leaders of disrespecting the Constitution, while responding to a two-day discussion in Lok Sabha on 75 years of the Constitution. Patel also said that ‘One Nation, One Election’ is the need of the hour and important for Indian democracy. "This is the need of the hour. This is very important for Indian democracy. Frequent elections create animosity, law and order problems also arise. If elections are held once, the government will get a chance to work fully for 5 years, so we believe that this is very important... Under the leadership of Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, we are also moving towards one state-one election," Patel said. On Thursday, the 'One Nation One Election' bill was approved by the Union Cabinet paving the way for its introduction in Parliament. However, before its introduction in the Parliament, the bill initiated debate between the ruling and opposition parties, stated ANI. The INDIA alliance parties view the 'One Nation, One Election' policy as undermining the federal structure of governance in India. In contrast, parties within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) have welcomed the bill. They argue that unifying elections will streamline the electoral process, save time, and facilitate a more unified approach to governance. Notably, in September this year, the Union Cabinet approved the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal, which aims to unify elections at multiple levels in India, including Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, along with urban body and panchayat polls, within a span of 100 days. The recommendations were outlined in a report by a high-level panel chaired by former President Kovind, stated ANI. (With inputs from ANI)
15 December,2024 05:05 PM IST | Jaipur (Rajasthan) | mid-day online correspondentThe Kashi Vishwanath Corridor has completed three years and witnessed a significant surge in devotees, with more than 19.13 crore visitors since 2021, according to data released on Friday. Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Kashi Vishwanath Dham, told ANI, "Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust is using the offerings received in the temple to strengthen Sanatan Dharma. Along with this, food, clothes and books are provided to all the boys and girls engaged in Sanskrit education. Similarly, food is provided in hospitals and many other places." Devotees shared their experiences of visiting Kashi Vishwanath Dham, saying that while the temple is becoming crowded, they face no issues in performing their worship. One devotee remarked, "It feels very good to come to the temple and we get a lot of happiness and peace after seeing Mahadev. Everything inside the temple is arranged in an organized manner. We want to come here again and again." The Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, has become a major centre of faith not only for Sanatanis across India but also for people around the world. The grand form of the ancient Lord Kashi Vishwanath Temple was inaugurated as Kashi Vishwanath Dham on December 13, 2021. Since then, the number of devotees has been steadily increasing. The offerings received by the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust are specifically used to promote Sanatan Dharma, support hospitals, and provide food, clothing, and books to all boys and girls engaged in Sanskrit education, ANI reported. On December 13, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, a project aimed at enhancing the religious and cultural experience of devotees visiting the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The Temple Trust also assists in organising other Sanatan events in the area. It is continually working to preserve cultural activities and strengthen art and culture, conducting creative experiments in this regard, ANI reported. "All of these topics will be promoted further as we enter our fourth year. Our fourth year is unique to us since our faith has four Vedas. Along with this, we will continue to work for the expansion of Sanatan Dharma," Mishra added. (With ANI inputs)
15 December,2024 04:59 PM IST | Kashi | mid-day online correspondentThe father of Bengaluru techie Atul Subhash, who died by suicide earlier this week, pleaded for the custody of his grandson on Sunday and said that the family will immerse the 34-year-old's ashes only after his son gets justice. According to news agency ANI, Pawan Kumar also expressed his gratitude towards the police for arresting the accused in the case and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and others to ensure the custody of his grandson. Kumar further asserted that he still has not received justice as a new case has been filed against him, demanding maintenance for his grandson, ANI reported. "We don't know where she [technie's wife] has kept our grandson. Has he been killed or is he alive? We don't know anything about him. I want my grandson to be with us...I thank the police for arresting the accused... [But] I still haven't got justice as a case has been filed against me in the name of my grandson for maintenance. We appeal to PM Modi, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) leader Tejashwi Yadav and other leaders to ensure that my grandson comes to me...For a grandfather, his grandson means more than his son...The whole society, people are standing in my support..." Kumar told ANI. Meanwhile, Bikas Kumar Modi, the techie's brother, stated that two more arrests in the case were yet to be done. Modi also echoed his father's concerns regarding the late techie's son. "Our biggest concern right now is that we don't know where my nephew is. We couldn't find him in the photograph circulated by the police. We want to know where he is. I thank the Karnataka Police for arresting these three... Two other arrests are pending. I hope they will also be arrested soon..." Bikas Kumar Modi told ANI. Three people have been arrested in connection with the death case of Atul Subhash, who committed suicide by hanging alleging harassment by his wife, Nikita Singhania, Karnataka police said, adding that she has been arrested from Haryana's Gurugram, ANI stated. The other two accused, identified as Nisha Singhania, mother of Nikita Singhania and her brother, Anurag Singhania, were arrested from Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad, police officials said. All the three accused were sent to judicial custody as per the order of the court, police said. "Accused A1 Nikita Singhania has been arrested from Gurugram, Haryana. Accused A2 Nisha Singhania and Accused A3 Anurag Singhania were arrested from Allahabad and were produced before the court and given to judicial custody," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) White Field Division, Bengaluru, Shivakumar said. Pawar Kumar called for strict punishment for those who “harassed” his son, saying that his ashes will not be immersed till justice is served, as per PTI. “All those who harassed my son should be punished so that he gets justice, and his soul rests in peace. I will not immerse the ashes of my son till we get justice,” Kumar said while also thanking the Karnataka police on Sunday. Atul Subhash, 34, was found hanging in his house at Bengaluru's Munnekolalu on Monday. He left behind lengthy videos and notes, blaming his wife and in-laws for driving him to suicide through "false" cases and "persistent torture", stated PTI. (With inputs from ANI, PTI)
15 December,2024 04:04 PM IST | Samastipur (Bihar) | mid-day online correspondentAmid the ongoing tensions in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, the district administration on Sunday launched an anti-encroachment drive to clear public spaces of illegal structures, reported news agency ANI. The anti-encroachment drive aims to address encroachments in public areas, stated Sambhal SDM Vandana Mishra. The drive has been actively implemented in Chandauli for the past two months, the SDM added. "Anti-encroachment drive is being run against encroachment on public places. This drive has also been run in Chandauli for the last two months... A drive is being run against electricity theft also in Sambhal..," she said. Earlier on Saturday morning, an anti-encroachment drive was carried out in the Shahi Jama Masjid area, stated ANI. DM Rajender Pensiya told ANI, "In the morning, we came to check whether loudspeakers are causing unnecessary noise (pollution). It was seen that electricity theft is happening here in large numbers. Electricity theft is happening in about 15 to 20 houses and religious places. When we reached a mosque, we found 59 fans, a fridge, a washing machine and about 25 to 30 light points and the meter was found switched off. An intensive checking campaign is going on." Meanwhile, Lord Shiva and Hanuman temple in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal which had been closed since 1978 was reopened on Sunday. The temple premises were cleaned and arrangements for electricity were made. Moreover, CCTV cameras have also been installed for security reasons, stated ANI. Vishnu Sharan Rastogi, a patron of Nagar Hindu Sabha, had claimed that the temple has been reopened after 1978. Rastogi said that the temple was closed because no priest was ready to live there, ANI stated. The temple was found while inspecting information about electricity theft in the area earlier on Saturday. "We had received information that a temple in the area was being encroached upon. When we inspected the spot, we found a temple there," Sambhal Circle Officer (SO) Anuj Kumar Chaudhary told ANI. SDM Mishra added, "We have written to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)... Police will be deployed near the temple." Police personnel were deployed outside the Lord Shiva and Hanuman temple which reopened after 1978 and a prayer ceremony (aarti) was performed on Sunday morning. (With inputs from ANI)
15 December,2024 02:33 PM IST | Sambhal (Uttar Pradesh) | mid-day online correspondentWelcome to Mid-Day's Top News at this hour! We bring you a curated selection of the most significant and compelling news from around the globe. Stay informed with the latest developments in the nation, Mumbai, entertainment, sports, and more. Let's dive into the headlines shaping our world today. India continues to hold steady despite global uncertainties: CareEdge Ratings CareEdge Ratings expects the central government to continue on the path of fiscal consolidation and projects India's GDP growth to moderate but remain healthy at 6.5 per cent in the current financial year. For the next financial year, 2025-26, it pegged India's GDP growth at 6.7 per cent, in a webinar held on Economic and Sector Outlook for 2025. LS to take up financial business first, 'ONOE' bills later The government has deferred the introduction of bills related to 'one nation one election' in the Lok Sabha till after the completion of financial business, sources said. Mumbai: Fatal accident involving BEST bus claims life of 25-year-old in Shivaji Nagar A tragic incident occurred on the night of 14th December 2024, when a fatal accident involving a BEST bus resulted in the death of a 25-year-old man. The accident took place around 23:30 hours near the Shivaji Nagar Junction Highway Bus Stop on Route 375 Sr. 33, with the bus proceeding towards Kurla Bus Station (East) from Shivaji Nagar. Varun Dhawan asks ‘Hanuman’ Amit Shah the difference between Ram and Ravan, here’s what the Home Minister said Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan, who awaits the release of his upcoming film Baby John, recently attended the ‘Agenda Aaj Tak, 2024’ summit where he interacted with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He asked Shah the difference between Ram and Ravan and also called him the Hanuman of our country. Read More IND vs AUS 3rd Test: Ton-up Head, gritty Smith flay Indians as Australia reach 234 for 3 at tea India's nemesis Travis Head (103 batting) scored his second successive century of the series while Steve Smith laboured to an unbeaten 65 as Australia took control of the second day's proceedings, reaching 234 for 3 at tea in third Test here on Sunday. Read More
15 December,2024 01:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi is set to chair the concluding day of the fourth National Conference of Chief Secretaries in New Delhi on Sunday, reported news agency ANI. This three-day conference, which commenced on Friday, focuses on evolving and implementing a common development agenda aimed at enhancing the partnership between the central and state governments. The discussions aim to leverage India’s demographic dividend by promoting entrepreneurship, enhancing skill development initiatives, and creating sustainable job opportunities in both rural and urban areas. Based on the extensive deliberations between central Ministries/departments, NITI Aayog, States/UTs and domain experts, the fourth National Conference will focus on the theme 'Promoting Entrepreneurship, Employment & Skilling - Leveraging the Demographic Dividend' covering best practices and strategies for States/UTs to follow, stated ANI. Key topics of discussion include six areas of focus; manufacturing, services, rural non-farming, urban development, renewable energy, and the circular economy have been identified for detailed discussions. Additionally, four special sessions will cover subjects such as Frontier Technology for a Developed India, Developing Cities as Economic Growth Hubs, Economic Reforms in States for Investment, and Capacity Building through Mission Karmayogi. Besides, focused deliberations over meals would be held on Atmanirbharata in Agriculture: Edible Oils and Pulses, Care Economy for the Ageing Population, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana Implementation, and Bharatiya Gyan Parampara, stated ANI. Best practices from states/ UTs under each of the themes would also be presented at the Conference to encourage cross-learning across States. Chief Secretaries and senior officials from across states and union territories, along with experts, will also be present at the Conference. The conference aims to showcase various practices from various states and union territories to help grow cross-learning across States. The Conference of Chief Secretaries is driven by the vision of the Prime Minister to strengthen cooperative federalism and ensure better coordination between the Centre and States to achieve faster growth and development. The Conference has been held annually for the last 3 years, stated ANI. This annual conference series began in June 2022 at Dharamshala with previous iterations held in January 2023 and December 2023 in New Delhi respectively. (With inputs from ANI)
15 December,2024 01:23 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Veer Savarkar in the Parliament, and asked his party's other faction Shiv Sena (UBT), whether it agrees with the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition's remarks. He highlighted former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's remarks in which she had praised Savarkar. "I only made them recall what Indira Gandhi had said about Veer Savarkar. They had no reason to be so rattled...I tweeted the letter (written by Indira Gandhi to Veer Savarkar) because it reveals the truth. They always try to demean and insult Veer Savarkar. I want to ask Shiv Sena (UBT) as well, do they agree with what Rahul Gandhi keeps saying about Veer Savarkar? I think he didn't know what his grandmother had written about Veer Savarkar," Shinde said. Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske also slammed Rahul Gandhi and said that his speech only proved his "immaturity." Shrikant Shinde highlighted the positive things that Indira Gandhi said about Veer Savarkar. Rahul Gandhi only proved and exposed his immaturity," Mhaske said. Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP. Taking a jibe, he said that whenever BJP defends the Constitution, they are 'defaming' Savarkar. "I want to ask you (BJP), do you stand by your leader's words? Do you support your leader's words? Because when you speak in Parliament about protecting the Constitution, you are ridiculing Savarkar, you are abusing Savarkar, you are defaming Savarkar," he said. The Lok Sabha, on December 13, initiated a two-day debate on the Constitution to commemorate the beginning of the 75th year of its adoption. The first session of the winter Parliament commenced on November 25, with both Houses getting adjourned fairly early due to disruptions. The winter session will go on till December 20. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2024 11:05 AM IST | New Delhi | ANISeveral members of the Muslim Shia community, carried out a candlelight march in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh against the 'atrocities' against the Hindu community in Bangladesh. The candlelight march was carried out at the Chhota Imambara in Lucknow on Saturday. Maulana Kalbe Jawad, who led the march, urged the Union government to pressure the United Nations to take stock of the atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh and also declare Pakistan a 'terrorist country.' "We are always taught to stand up against the oppressor and in favour of those being oppressed...We urge the Indian government to pressurise the United Nations and Pakistan should be declared as a terrorist country," Jawad told ANI. He also called for "strict action" against Bangladesh if the atrocities are not stopped. "If Bangladesh does not mend its ways, strict action should be taken against them also," Jawad added. During the march, protestors chanted slogans against the atrocities. They criticised Israel, and Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while affirming support for Syrians and reaffirming their stance to stand with the oppressed people and fight against the oppressors anywhere in the world. Notably, there have been multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There also have been cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples. India has repeatedly Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. Recently, Foreign Secretary Misri visited Dhaka on December 9. It was the first high-level visit from India to Bangladesh since Sheikh Hasina was deposed as Prime Minister in August this year and since the interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, assumed office. During his visit to Bangladesh, Misri told the media that India desires positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial relationships and that the relationship is people-centric. The Foreign Secretary told reporters in Dhaka that he had a frank, candid, and constructive exchange of views with his interlocutors and discussed the entire gamut of issues in the "extremely important bilateral relationship". He also raised the issue of attacks on minorities, including Hindus, with Bangladesh leaders and officials. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2024 11:04 AM IST | Lucknow | ANIADVERTISEMENT
