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President lauds Govt’s welfare schemes, vaccination drive

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President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday lauded the government’s performance in the last three years, specially during the corona pandemic.

Addressing the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament at the start of the Budget session, the President said: “We are in the third year of the pandemic caused by coronavirus. In these years, the people have displayed profound faith in the democratic values, discipline and sense of responsibility.”

Hailing the government’s efforts during the pandemic, he said that the example of India’s capability in the fight against Covid-19 is evident in the ongoing Covid vaccination programme. India has surpassed the record of administering more than 150 crore vaccine doses in less than a year.

While more than 90 per cent adult citizens of the country have received the first dose of the vaccine, more than 70 per cent have been administered both the doses, President Kovind said. The government is also reaching out to the rest of the population through the “Har Ghar Dastak” campaign. Adolescents in the age group of 15 to 18 years have also been included in the vaccination programme from this month.

Highlighting the government’s efforts for the poor during the pandemic, President Kovind said that the government is providing free ration to every poor household every month under the “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.” This is the world’s largest food distribution programme with an outlay of Rs two lakh sixty thousand crore reaching out to 80 crore beneficiaries for 19 months and now this scheme has been extended till March 2022.

More than two crore pucca houses have been provided to the poor under the “Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana” as a result of the efforts made in the last few years. Under the “Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin,” 1 crore 17 lakh houses have been approved at a cost of about Rupees one and a half lakh crore in the last three years.

Launched with the aim of “Har Ghar Jal”, the Jal Jeevan Mission has brought about a huge difference in the lives of the people and nearly six crore rural households have been provided tap water connections despite the constraints imposed by the pandemic, he said on empowering the poor and enhancing their dignity.

To empower the farmers and the rural economy of the country, despite the pandemic, the government made record procurement to match the record production. The farmers produced more than 30 crore tonnes of foodgrains and 33 crore tonnes of horticulture produce in 2020-21.

It procured 433 lakh metric tonnes of wheat during the Rabi season benefitting about 50 lakh farmers. A record quantity of about 900 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was procured during the Kharif season, benefiting 1 crore 30 lakh farmers.

The government has endeavoured to open new avenues of prosperity for the farmers by launching “Kisan Rail Seva,” the President said. During the Corona period, Indian Railways operated over 1,900 Kisan Rails on more than 150 routes to transport perishable food items like vegetables, fruits and milk, thereby transporting about 6 lakh metric tonnes of agricultural produce. Under the “PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi,” Rupees 1 lakh 80 thousand crore have been provided to more than 11 crore farmer families.

Giving an impetus to the rural economy, the banks have extended financial help to the tune of Rs 65,000 crore to more than 28 lakh Self-Help Groups in 2021-22. This is four times the amount extended in 2014-15. The government has also provided training to thousands of members of the women self-help groups and made them partners as “Banking Sakhi”.

“A provision has also been made for the Gender Inclusion Fund in the National Education Policy to promote learning capability among our daughters. It is a matter of happiness that all the existing 33 Sainik Schools have started admitting girl students,” Kovind said, adding that the government has also approved the admission of women cadets in the National Defence Academy.

The first batch of women cadets will enter the NDA in June 2022. With the policy decisions and encouragement of my government, the number of women personnel in various police forces has more than doubled as compared to 2014.

On implementation of a new National Education Policy across the country, Kovind said it was part of the government’ endeavour to give shape to the resolve and potential of “Atmanirbhar Bharat.” Local languages are also being promoted through the National Education Policy.

Emphasis is being laid on conducting important entrance examinations for undergraduate courses in Indian languages as well. This year, 19 engineering colleges in 10 states will start teaching in six Indian languages, he added.

“We saw the capability of India’s youth power in the Tokyo Olympics. Giving its best-ever performance, India won seven medals. In Tokyo Paralympics too, India won 19 medals and set a record.”

With a firm belief in global brotherhood, India extended a helping hand when people in neighbouring Afghanistan were in distress due to political instability and launched ‘Operation Devi Shakti’ to airlift the Indian citizens in Afghanistan and minorities there in danger, including Afghan Hindus, Sikhs and others.

Even in such situations, “our government respected the religious emotions of our Sikh community” and successfully brought back the two copies of holy Guru Granth Sahib. Now India has been supplying corona vaccines, life saving drugs and grains to Afghanistan on a humanitarian basis, the President stated.

Noting that India has again emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, he said that the GST collection has consistently remained above Rupees one lakh crore during the last several months. Inflow of 48 billion dollars in the first seven months of the current financial year is a testimony to the belief the global investor community has in India’s growth story. India’s foreign exchange reserves today exceed 630 billion dollars. During April to December 2021, goods exports stood at 300 billion dollars or more than Rupees 22 lakh crore, which is one-and-a-half times more than the corresponding period of 2020.

In order to protect MSMEs from crisis and ensure adequate availability of credit during the Corona period, the government started a scheme for guaranteed Collateral Free Loans of Rupees 3 lakh crore. It is evident from the recent studies that this scheme has given a fresh lease of life to 13 lakh 50 thousand MSME units and also secured 1 crore 50 lakh jobs.

In June 2021, the government enhanced credit guarantee from Rs 3 lakh crore to Rs 4.5 lakh crore, Kovind stated.

As against 90,000 kilometres of national highways in March 2014, today India have more than 1 lakh 40 thousand kilometres of national highways. Under the Bharatmala Project, construction of more than 20,000 kilometres of highways is in progress with an outlay of about Rs 6 lakh crore, including 23 green expressways and green-field corridors.

The government is committed to sustainable development of all the states of the North East – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. In these states, basic amenities and economic opportunities are being developed at every level. Rail and air connectivity are no longer a dream for the people of the North East, they are now able to experience them in reality.

A new airport is being set up at Hollongi, Itanagar. A modern new terminal has recently been opened at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Tripura. This development of North East will prove to be a golden chapter in India’s growth story. Efforts of the government to establish peace in the North East have attained historic success. Just a few months ago, a settlement was reached between the Central Government, the state government of Assam and the Karbi groups to end the decades-old conflict in Karbi Anglong.

Crime

Delhi Police crack down on illicit liquor, ganja; two arrested in separate operations

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New Delhi, Sep 6: The Delhi Police have arrested two persons, including a woman, in separate operations in Sonia Vihar and Uttam Nagar for allegedly possessing and dealing in illicit liquor and illegal ganja, officials said.

In the first incident, a man was apprehended after police recovered 90 quarter bottles of illicit liquor from his possession in the Sonia Vihar area during the early hours of Saturday.

According to police, on Saturday at around 1:50 AM, constable Madan, while conducting area patrolling, received secret information regarding the alleged illegal sale of liquor at B-Block, Gali No. 29, Circular Road, 2nd Pusta, Sonia Vihar, Delhi.

Acting swiftly on the information, the constable reached the location and apprehended a person identified as Sonu Kumar (37), a resident of 2nd Pusta, Sonia Vihar.

During checking, police recovered 90 quarter bottles of illicit liquor from a white plastic sack that was lying near him.

Following the recovery, a case was registered at Police Station Sonia Vihar vide FIR No. 201/26, dated September 5, 2026, and investigation was initiated.

Thereafter, police also checked the residential premises of the accused. During the search, an additional 196 quarter bottles of illicit liquor were recovered from his residence, along with cash amounting to Rs 25,300.

In a separate operation, the Delhi Police arrested a 40-year-old woman for allegedly possessing and trafficking narcotic substances and recovered 1.157 kg of illegal ganja from her possession in the Uttam Nagar area of Dwarka district.

The action was carried out as part of the Delhi Police’s sustained campaign against drug abuse and the illegal trafficking and circulation of narcotic substances across Dwarka district.

According to the police, on August 13, at around 10:30 p.m., HC Jitender and Constable Aswir were conducting patrolling duty in the area of D-Block of JJ Colony in Uttam Nagar’s Shiv Vihar when they received specific information regarding the alleged illegal trafficking of narcotic substances.

Acting promptly on the information, the police personnel immediately proceeded towards the location indicated in the input. Upon reaching near JJ Colony, they noticed a woman carrying a plastic bag and became suspicious of her activities.

Police said that on seeing the personnel, the woman appeared nervous and attempted to avoid attracting attention. Sensing suspicious circumstances, the police staff immediately intercepted her and conducted an enquiry.

The woman was identified as Sunita (40), a resident of Shiv Vihar. HC Jitender immediately informed senior officers regarding the apprehension of the woman and the suspected presence of narcotic substances.

Following receipt of the information, a police team reached the spot and, complying with the provisions of Section 50 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the officials conducted a personal search of the woman.

During the search, police recovered a white polythene containing a substance suspected to be ganja from her possession.

Following the recovery of the suspected narcotic substance, Sunita was apprehended, and 1.157 kg of ganja was seized in accordance with the prescribed legal provisions under the NDPS Act.

On the basis of the recovery and the circumstances of the case, police registered an FIR under Sections 8/20 of the NDPS Act at Police Station Uttam Nagar.

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Hyderabad police foil attempt by BJP to take out rally to Charminar

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Hyderabad, Sep 6: Police in Hyderabad foiled the attempts by the BJP to take out a rally from Balapur to Bhagyalakshmi Temple at Charminar on Sunday, ahead of Telangana Liberation Day, drawing angry protests from the party.

BJP in-charge for Maheswaram constituency, Andela Sriramulu Yadav and other party leaders were detained when they tried to take out ‘Vimochana Jaitrayatra’.

The BJP condemned the denial of permission for the rally.

“The fact that the Congress government denied permission for a rally from Balapur to the Charminar Bhagyalakshmi Temple on the occasion of Telangana Liberation Day clearly demonstrates how much it fears democracy and the spirit of patriotism. Having imposed restrictions on ‘Vande Mataram,’ the Congress party is now obstructing even the celebrations meant to honour the spirit of independence,” reads a social media post by the party’s Telangana unit.

Meanwhile, Telangana BJP President N. Ramchander Rao asked if celebrating Telangana Liberation Day is a crime in Congress-ruled Telangana.

“Having sunk to deep depths of appeasement, Congress Party has once again crushed democracy by “stopping the Vimochana Jaitrayatra from Balapur to Charminar and arresting Maheshwaram BJP in-charge,” he said.

“Why is Congress so afraid of celebrating Telangana Liberation Day? We may have moved far beyond 1948, but Congress mindset is still Razakar and Nizam DNA. In its rampant vote-bank politics and appeasement, Congress has forgotten that India is a democracy. BJP leaders are stopped, detained and arrested for everything, from dharnas and protests to even celebrating Telangana Liberation Day. Shame!,” Ramchander Rao posted on ‘X’.

The BJP is gearing up to celebrate Telangana Liberation Day on September 17. It was on this day in 1948 that the then Hyderabad State was annexed into the Indian Union.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Centre is organising Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad.

Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan will be the chief guest at this year’s event. He will hoist the National Flag and review the parade by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).

Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and others will attend the event.

The Central and State governments will be celebrating the day with different themes.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy will unfurl the National Flag at the main event to be held at the Public Garden in Hyderabad. For the third year in a row, the state government is celebrating it as ‘Telangana Praja Palana Dinotsavam’ (people’s governance day).

State ministers, government advisors, and key representatives will hoist the National Flag and take the salute at the official celebrations in all 32 district headquarters.

The National Flag will also be unfurled at all government offices, urban local bodies, and gram panchayats.

While the earlier Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government celebrated September 17 as ‘National Integration Day’ in 2022 and 2023, the Congress, which came to power in December 2023, decided to celebrate the occasion as ‘Praja Palana Dinotsvam’.

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Delhi building collapse: 2 rescued, many feared trapped; RK Puram legislator monitors rescue operation

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New Delhi, Sep 6: Following the collapse of a multi-storied building in Delhi Satya Niketan area, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) RK Puram MLA Anil Kumar Sharma said that several students who were residing in a Paying Guest accommodation within the structure, are trapped under the debris and that some of them are calling for help by making phone calls from beneath the rubble.

Delhi Police confirmed that two people have been rescued so far while maintaining that rescue operation is currently underway at the site.

Speaking to reporters at the site, BJP MLA Anil Kumar Sharma called it an “extremely tragic incident”.

“Nothing could be more heartbreaking than this. Children who came from various regions to study here and were residing in a PG accommodation…the building has collapsed,” he said.

Maintaining that exact figures of those trapped cannot be revealed at the moment, Sharma said: “Students are trapped underneath the debris, that is clear.”

“Just now, two children were pulled out, and teams from the disaster management forces, MCD, and the police department have rushed them to the hospital. Other children remain trapped inside,” he added.

The BJP leader further said, “Some of the children are even making phone calls from beneath the rubble. Several children are still trapped. Continuous rescue efforts are underway, and we are praying for their safety.”

Anil Sharma said that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has dispatched the full emergency response team to the spot and that Delhi BJP chief and MP Harsh Malhotra, is in constant contact over the phone.

“The entire administration is deeply concerned and closely monitoring the situation. Our foremost and immediate priority is to rescue the children by all possible means,” he said.

Meanwhile, a local who rushed to site following the tragedy, said: “There was a PG inside the building. Four floors were constructed which collapsed. There are several students trapped inside, including women.”

Another local added: “We have learned that around 20 to 30 students are trapped inside. This happened around 11:30 to 11:45 AM.”

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