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Wednesday,14-May-2025
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State not drowning due to not holding caste census: Bihar minister

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Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav is actively demanding a caste based census in Bihar, but the BJP, the biggest constituent in the Nitish Kumar-led coalition government, has a major difference of opinion.

Agriculture Minister and BJP leader Amrendra Pratap Singh said that there is no urgent need of caste-based census in Bihar.

“Caste-based census is not an issue on which Bihar is drowning or the earth is shaking here. The Bihar government cannot run on the direction of the Leader of Opposition. He has a right to raise the issue of caste-based census but there is no requirement of it in Bihar,” he said.

Singh asked why the RJD did not raise this issue when Manmohan Singh-led Congress government was ruling the country.

“Why is this issue being raised today? Centre has already clarified its stand on this issue. It is not possible for the Centre to conduct a caste-based census in the state. CM Nitish Kumar understands the ploy of the RJD. The state government will not run on the direction of Tejashwi Yadav. It will be run in the direction of the common people of Bihar,” he said.

Meanwhile, the details of the closed-door meeting between Tejashwi Yadav and the Chief Minister on Wednesday have not come in public domain but the former has revealed a letter which he had written on May 11 (Wednesday) pressing for his demand.

Maharashtra

Drones and aerial activities banned in Mumbai, action taken against city’s red zone: DCP Akbar Pathan

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Mumbai: After the Indo-Pak border dispute, drone paragliding, paramotors, remote-controlled microlights, aircraft, high-altitude balloons and other flying activities have been banned in Mumbai city. This order has been issued by Mumbai Police. The above order has been issued by Mumbai Police DCP Operations Akbar Pathan with his signature and seal. Compliance with it is mandatory, if anyone violates it, action will be taken against him. The Director General of Civil Aviation DGCA has declared drones and all such aerial activities in Mumbai city as a red zone, hence a complete ban has been imposed on flying drones in Mumbai. Last night, a drone was flown illegally within the limits of Powai police station. On this basis, the police have taken action against a 23-year-old youth and appealed to the public to comply with this order. If anyone violates it, action will be taken against him. Therefore, the public has also been requested to cooperate and if any drone or aerial activity is seen within the limits of the police station, then inform the police or contact the control room. This information was given here today by DCP Akbar Pathan.

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Business

Top traders’ body urges Indians to boycott travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan

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New Delhi, May 14: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), the apex body representing traders across the country, on Wednesday called upon Indian traders and citizens to completely boycott travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan in response to their open support for Pakistan.

Turkey received around 62.2 million foreign tourists in 2024, with approximately 300,000 tourists arriving from India alone. This marked a 20.7 per cent increase in Indian tourists compared to 2023.

Turkey’s total tourism revenue stood at $61.1 billion last year, with each Indian tourist spending an average of $972, amounting to a total estimated Indian expenditure of $291.6 million, according to data shared by CAIT.

The traders’ body said it has long been running a nationwide campaign to boycott Chinese products, which has had a considerable impact, and it now intends to extend this movement to Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The organisation will coordinate with travel and tour operators and other relevant stakeholders to intensify this campaign.

CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal emphasised a travel boycott by Indian citizens to Turkey and Azerbaijan, in protest against their support for Pakistan, could significantly affect the economies of these countries, particularly their tourism sector.

He stated that if Indian tourists boycott Turkey, the country could suffer a direct loss of approximately $291.6 million.

In addition to this, the cancellation of Indian weddings, corporate events and other cultural programmes would cause even further indirect economic losses, Khandelwal added.

Azerbaijan received about 2.6 million foreign tourists in 2024, of which around 250,000 were Indians. The average spending by an Indian tourist was 2,170 Azerbaijani Manat (AZN), which is approximately $1,276, leading to a total Indian contribution of roughly $308.6 million.

A boycott by Indian tourists could, therefore, result in a direct loss of this magnitude.

As Indians mainly visit Azerbaijan for leisure, weddings, entertainment and adventure activities, a large-scale decline could cause a noticeable economic slowdown in these sectors, said CAIT in its statement.

Thousands across the country have already cancelled their travel plans to these two countries while ticket booking platforms and travel operators have stopped bookings to these countries.

The Department of Tourism, Ankara, has urged Indian travellers to visit the country. “The vast majority of the local population is unaware of the conflict taking place between India and Pakistan, and it has no bearing on daily life or the tourism environment here,” it said in a statement.

According to Khandelwal, the economic pressure could force both Turkey and Azerbaijan to reconsider their policies towards India.

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Maharashtra

Why is there a ceasefire at the behest of the US? asks SP leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi said that America’s arrogance is unbearable. A ceasefire at the behest of America and a war at its behest are not right. He said that Pakistan had carried out terrorist and destructive acts in the country before, why did the Modi government not respond to it at that time? He said that after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the country stood with the government like a lead wall, but a ceasefire was declared at the behest of America. He said that our country will decide whether to have relations with Pakistan or not. Who gave America the authority to do so? He said that they were brought to their knees at the behest of America.

Abu Asim Azmi said that when there were terrorist attacks earlier, where was America? Why didn’t it mediate? Once, it happened that Narendra Modi suddenly went on a visit to Pakistan for no reason. There is anger against Pakistan in the country and the people are adamant about continuing the war until the end of Pakistan. Narendra Modi says that negotiations and terrorism cannot go together, blood and water will not flow together, so why has no concrete step been taken against terrorism so far? Relations with Pakistan have been maintained repeatedly, now why was a ceasefire declared at the behest of America and the US President is also announcing it? Azmi said that if a war is fought across the border, then why was the war left incomplete?

Modi’s statement that blood and terrorism and water and blood will not flow together is just a dialogue. If there was to be a ceasefire, then there should have been mediation and intervention in this matter already. Why was it done now? He said that terrorism has not ended even after the abrogation of Article 370 and demonetization. Modi ji had said that if terrorism is not ended in 50 days, then the punishment given to me will be acceptable. Abu Asim Azmi said that India is the biggest power but America will teach us a lesson that when to go to war and when not, India will decide. He said that communalism is on the rise in the country and a burqa-clad woman was forced to chant the slogan of Jai Shri Ram and was mistreated. Muslims are being targeted. This is completely wrong. This kind of communalism should also end. The government also needs to put a stop to this.

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