Modi praises Nitish, targets Lalu and Congress in poll-bound Bihar

July 25, 2015

Patna, Jul 25: In a clear bid to divide the anti-BJP opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar but targeted his allies RJD leader Lalu Prasad and the Congress on the issue of Bihar's development.

Bihar poll1 Modi, who arrived here earlier in the day, referred to Nitish Kumar seven times in his speech here, praising him for his various requests and suggestions related to the development of Bihar.

Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United, Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party have formed a grand alliance to defeat the BJP-led coalition in the upcoming Bihar assembly election.

Modi, who shared the stage with Nitish Kumar at the Veterinary College ground, admitted that he agreed with the chief minister that railway projects for Bihar started when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister were delayed after the Congress took power in 2004.

But Modi made no effort to spare Lalu Prasad and the earlier Congress-led UPA government - the RJD leader was its railway minister - for allegedly blocking and delaying some projects meant for Bihar.

Modi did not take Lalu Prasad's name but made references to the railway minister then. But he attacked the Congress by name.

Modi made the comments after flagging off the Daniyawa-Biharsharif railway line and the Patna-Mumbai railway line here.

Modi also blamed the Congress-led UPA government for failing to complete the Barauni fertilizer factory and other projects in Bihar.

Modi was seen regularly interacting with Nitish Kumar during the inauguration and launch of different projects here and at the foundation day function of the ICAR here.

At another venue, Modi said development was the answer to all the plaguing the country ills including poverty, illiteracy and unemployment.

"There is no alternative to development. Development is the answer for all problems," Modi said.

On a day-long visit to Bihar, Modi was received by Governor K.N. Tripathi and Nitish Kumar when he flew in here.

The prime minister said his government's agenda was to develop eastern India including Bihar. "Unless Bihar is developed, the country cannot be developed.

"I will announce a special package for Bihar at the right time, not now," he added.

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Munnar landslide death toll reaches 26; around 40 still missing

Agencies

August 8,2020

Idukki, Aug 8: Nine more bodies have been recovered from the landslide ravaged Pettimudi near Munnar in Idukki on Saturday. With this the death toll in the tragedy reached 26. Around 40 are feared to be still trapped under the debris or washed away.

The rescue operation by NDRF and Fire and Rescue Services that was stopped by Friday evening due to poor light and bad weather resumed by Saturday morning.

Horrifying scene prevailed in the area as relatives of the missing people screamed around in search of their beloved ones. As it is nearly 48 hours since the incident happened, the chances of recovering missing persons alive from the debris is becoming bleak. Three of the bodies recovered on Saturday could not be identified till evening.

Kerala Revenue Minster E Chandrasekharan, who visited the area on Saturday, said that search operation would be carried out until all the missing are recovered.

It was by around 11.30 pm on Thursday that landslide had hit the Nayamakkad estate of Kannan Devan Hills and Plantations. Settlement clusters of plantation workers where 83 persons were staying were reduced to debris as the huge rocks came bulldozing. Five of the residents were reported to be not in the spot while the mishap occured.

Meanwhile, heavy rains led to floods at many parts of the state. Red alert has been issued at Idukki, Malappuram and Wayanad districts for Sunday also. A total of 11,446 persons of 3,530 families were shifted to relief camps across the state, of which major chunk is at Wayanad.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that water level at most dams is increasing swiftly.

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Never talked about charging migrant labourers; 85% fare borne by railways, 15% by state govts: Centre

Agencies

May 4,2020

New Delhi, May 4: The government has not talked about charging anything from migrant labourers as 85 per cent of the transportation cost is borne by the railways and 15 per cent by state governments, the Centre said on Monday amid a row over the national transporter allegedly charging the workers for ferrying them home during the COVID-19-induced lockdown.

The government also said the process of transporting the stranded migrant labourers was being coordinated by states “except for one or two states”.

Asked if the migrant labourers were being charged for being ferried home, Joint Secretary at the Health Ministry Lav Agarwal said that as far as migrant labourers are concerned, the guidelines have clearly stated that under the infectious disease management one should stay where he or she is.

“Based on the request given from states for particular cases, permission was given to run special trains. Be it government of India or the Railways, we have not talked about charging from workers. Eighty-five per cent of the transportation cost is borne by the Railways, while states have to bear 15 per cent of the cost,” he told reporters.

“Based on the request of the states the process that started, under which limited number of stranded migrant labourers have to be transported for a particular reason, is being coordinated by the state governments, except for one or two states,” Agarwal said.

At the daily briefing on the COVID-19 situation, Agarwal also said that in the last 24 hours, 1,074 COVID-19 patients have recovered, the highest number of recoveries in one day.

The recovery rate stands at 27.52 per cent with 11,706 COVID-19 patients cured till now, he said.

Agarwal said in the last 24 hours, 2,553 novel coronavirus cases were reported, taking the number of overall cases to 42,533. The total number of active cases stands at 29,453, he said.

The joint secretary also said that the COVID-19 curve is relatively flat as of now and it was not right to talk in terms of when the peak would come.

“If we collectively work then the peak might not ever come, while if we fail in any way we might experience a spike in cases,” he said.

Amitabh Kant, Chairman of the Empowered Group dealing with civil society, NGOs, industries and international partners, said in 112 aspirational districts, “we worked with the collectors and in these 112 districts only 610 cases have been reported which is two per cent of the national level infection”.

In these 112 districts, 22 per cent of India's population resides, he said.

In a few districts like Baramulla, Nuh Rachi, Kupwara and Jaisalmer more than 30 cases have been reported, while in the rest of the places very few cases are there, Kant said.

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why is no one talking about privatized railways? why Adani is not offering free travel to laborers?

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Civil Aviation Minister announces interim relief for victims of AIE flight crash

Agencies

August 8,2020

The Civil Aviation Ministry announced an initial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the dependents of the deceased in the Kozhikode AIE plane crash, while the Kerala government also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each.

Minister of Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri, who visited the mishap spot on Saturday, said that a detailed probe is already on and the pilot and co-pilot were highly experienced.

He also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the injured and Rs. 50,000 each to those who suffered minor injuries. The other normal compensations would be decided in due course.

Puri said that Captain Deepak Vasant Sathe, aged 59, who commandeered the AIE flight, had a flying experience of 10,848 hours, while co-pilot Akhilesh Kumar, aged 32, had a flying experience of 1,723 hours.

"Deepak was one of the most distinguished and experienced pilots. He had a commanding experience of 6,662 hours and was commander of B-737 aircraft for 4,244 hours. He had also operated to Kozhikode international airport 27 times. He joined AIE in 2013 and prior to that he served with the IAF and HAL. He was a figher pilot and a recipient of prestigious sword of honour and a gold medalist," said Puri.

Puri said that even as the flight slipped down to around 35 feet, a major disaster was averted due to timely rescue operations. Local people played an exemplary role and the fire brigade's timely action of cutting the plane body and rescuing the passengers minimised the casualties, he said.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also said that the local people and all rescue and relief agencies did a well co-ordinated job. The state government would also meet the entire treatment expenses of the injured.

Till Saturday afternoon, the total number of deaths was 18. While 149 were still in hospitals, 23 were discharged.

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