New Delhi, Sep 17: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin on Thursday donated blood at a programme organised at the party’s central office in the capital, under the party’s ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ and extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, which began on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, will continue until October 7 and is being organised to mark PM Modi’s 25 years of public service.

Nitin Nabin said that PM Modi’s tenure as the head of the state has brought about a significant “transformation in people’s lives and thinking” and also highlighted the changes witnessed across the country during his years in public life.

“Today, people across the country will light ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ and pray for the long and successful life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Nabin said.

“Today is the day to offer prayers and pay obeisance to Lord Vishwakarma. Along with the divine architect, today also marks the birth anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the architect of modern India,” the BJP chief said.

“I first extended greetings to the Pradhan Sevak of the country on his birthday and wish him a long and successful life,” Nabin said.

Speaking about the blood donation initiative being undertaken as part of the month-long campaign, Nabin said BJP workers across the country were participating in the programme with the message of ‘Raktadaan Mahadaan’.

The BJP National President said, “Today, thousands of BJP karyakartas across the country are initiating this entire campaign through blood donation in the spirit of ‘Raktadaan Mahadaan’ (Blood Donation, Great Donation). It is a matter of great privilege for everyone to be participating in this blood donation programme today.”

Nabin said that the campaign would seek to highlight the changes that people across the country have experienced during Prime Minister Modi’s years in public life.

Across the country, he said, there are “thousands and lakhs of people whose lives have witnessed a transformation through the dedication and perseverance” of Prime Minister Modi during his 12 years as Prime Minister and 25 years as Head of State.

“Not only have their lives changed, but the thinking of millions and crores of Indians has also undergone a transformation. Today, every Indian is coming forward and working with the spirit of ‘Nation First’,” Nabin said.

He said that the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ initiative would also be observed across the country on the Prime Minister’s birthday, with people reflecting on the changes they have witnessed in society and in their own lives.

“Today, on the birth anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all Indians will come together to light the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’, reflecting the changes that have taken place in society, the transformation visible in people’s minds, and the changes witnessed in their lives, and will pray for the success and long life of the Prime Minister,” he said.

Nabin also spoke about India’s development trajectory and its growing position on the global stage, attributing the progress to the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

“Today, India is moving ahead prominently on the path of development and, advancing towards becoming a Viksit Bharat, is establishing a distinct position on the global stage. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is taking the country towards the dream of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, we are all associated with this campaign and pray for his long and successful life,” Nabin added.

New Delhi, Sep 17: Representatives of the All India Petroleum Dealers Association (AIPDA) met senior officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Thursday to discuss their demand for exemption from the merchant discount rate (MDR) on UPI transactions on fuel sales at petrol pumps.

The dealers’ body said in a statement that the issue was discussed with senior officials of the Petroleum Ministry as the additional MDR cost could put pressure on dealer margins, as retail fuel sales are made on prescribed commissions.

The new UPI framework levies an MDR of Rs 5 per transaction on petrol and diesel purchases above Rs 2,000. Such transactions account for around 30-40 per cent of total purchases across retail outlets in the country, according to dealers.

Petroleum Ministry officials sought to explain the rationale behind introducing MDR, which was required to support the development of the next layer of India’s UPI digital infrastructure.

“Petroleum dealers have been at the forefront of adopting digital payments and have worked closely with the government to promote their use across the country,” the AIPDA said.

The association said it expects to continue the dialogue with the government.

“We look forward to continuing the dialogue towards a mutually beneficial solution for consumers, petroleum dealers, and all stakeholders in India’s UPI ecosystem,” the statement said.

Dealers have raised concerns as digital payments have become an important mode of payment at petrol pumps, particularly for higher-value purchases.

Petroleum dealers have sought a complete exemption for fuel retail transactions, citing the nature of their business and the impact of MDR-related costs on their margins.

The Finance Ministry clarified that MDR is neither a tax nor a charge collected by the government or NPCI. It is distributed among payment ecosystem participants, including banks and payment application providers, to support the operation and continued expansion of the UPI ecosystem.

Transactions above Rs 2,000 in essential and thin-margin sectors, including railways, telecommunications, insurance, fuel and agricultural inputs, will attract a flat MDR of Rs 5 per transaction. The flat charge will provide cost certainty for critical public services and businesses operating on narrow margins.

Hyderabad, Sep 17: Telangana’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested two police officers for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh to do an official favour, officials said on Thursday.

In an operation conducted around midnight, the ACB sleuths caught Dyapa Gnanender Reddy, Sub-Inspector of Police, Keesara Police Station, Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate, red-handed when he was accepting a Rs 5 lakh bribe.

The anti-graft agency said the Sub-Inspector was accepting the bribe on the instruction of Arkapally Anjaneyulu, Inspector of Police/SHO, Keesara Police Station.

The ACB said in a release on Thursday that the accused officers demanded and accepted the bribe from the complainant for granting station bail and not harassing the complainant and his friend in the case already registered at Keesara Police Station.

Both the Inspector and Sub-Inspector have been arrested. They will be produced before the Principal Special Judge for SPE & ACB cases, Nampally, for judicial remand. The case is under investigation, the ACB said.

The complainant had approached the ACB after the officials were allegedly harassing him and demanding money. There were also allegations that the complainant was repeatedly asked to bring biryani and cold drinks over the past few days.

The officials had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 10 lakh. A deal was struck for Rs 5 lakh. The Inspector/SHO had given the responsibility of accepting the bribe amount to the Sub-Inspector.

The anti-graft agency laid a trap and caught Sub-Inspector Gnanender Reddy when he was accepting the bribe amount in a car near Keesara lake while he was on Ganesh immersion duty. On seeing the ACB officials, the SI tried to flee but was apprehended.

Following the trap, ACB officials conducted searches at Keesara Police Station and officials’ residences. The operation was conducted by ACB City Range-I under the supervision of DSP Majid Ali Khan.

The ACB has said that in case of a demand for a bribe by any public servant, they can contact the ACB toll-free number 1064 to take action as per law. The name and details of the victim/complainant will be kept secret.