An emotional day for Pranab as CWC bids farewell

June 25, 2012

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New Delhi, June 25: The Congress today bid a warm farewell to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, poised to become the country’s President, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that the veteran leader will be missed.

At a special meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), party chief Sonia Gandhi personally bid farewell to the chief trouble-shooter of the party and the UPA and expressed confidence that he would win the July 19 Presidential election with a huge margin.

‘A true congressman’

A visibly emotional Mukherjee, who had held a number of posts in the party and the government, said he has got much more from the party than what he had given.

He said he always considered himself as a true Congressman and did whatever is good for the party.

Mr. Mukherjee recalled his long association with the CWC and thanked the party for nominating him for the President’s post.

Mr. Mukherjee will file nomination for the Presidential poll on June 28, AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told reporters after the CWC meeting.

He is expected to resign from the government and the party tomorrow.

Ms. Gandhi hailed Mr. Mukherjee as the senior-most member of the CWC and said it was a matter of great pleasure that the UPA has made him a Presidential candidate.

Dr. Singh said Mr. Mukherjee’s absence will be felt as he discharged many duties in the government.

The informal CWC meeting called to felicitate Mr. Mukherjee was attended by 20 of the 26 members, including Permanent Invitees.

Among those who spoke on the occasion were Defence Minister A. K. Antony, and senior party leaders Motilal Vora, S. C. Jamir, R. K. Dhawan, Mohsina Kidwai.

Karan, Digvijay absent

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh was not present at the CWC meeting. Karan Singh, who was one of the aspirants for the Presidential post, was also not present.

Asked about his absence, Digvijay Singh said he was in Madhya Pradesh to attend a private function and had accordingly informed the party leadership.

On Mr. Digvijay’s absence, Mr. Dwivedi said he was among the six leaders who could not attend the meeting.

Digvijay Singh had courted controversy by dubbing Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee as “immature” and “erratic” over her opposition to Mr. Mukherjee’s candidature drawing instant disapproval from the party.

Key player at CWC

Mr. Mukherjee became a member of the CWC in 1978 and has been a key player in the top decision making body of the party.

Sweets, including popular Bengal delicacy ‘sandesh’, were distributed at the meeting as Congress leaders wished the 76-year-old leader a good innings ahead.

Known for his razor sharp intellect, Mr. Mukherjee, a quintessential Congressman, is variously described as a walking encyclopaedia, chronicler of Congress history, expert in matters of Constitution and governance and a stickler for rules in Parliament.

Mr. Mukherjee is expected to launch his campaign for the Presidential polls from Chennai on June 30 and then likely to visit Hyderabad and Bangalore the next day.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal is coordinating Mr. Mukherjee’s poll campaign, including the process of filing the nomination. An informal coordination committee has also been set up.

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News Network
March 25,2020

Kolkata, Mar 25: Amid the countrywide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that all police stations will take responsibility to deliver food at doorsteps under the supervision of District Magistrates and Police Superintendents.
"As we have to ensure that there is no scarcity of food, all Police stations will take responsibility to deliver food at doorsteps and it will be monitored by District Magistrates and Police Superintendents," said Banerjee at a press conference here.
She also said that under the social pension schemes, the pension holders will get their pension of March and April together.
Speaking on local police blocking people involved in essential services, she said, "The Officer-in-charge will have to ensure that the local police know about the rules and exemptions during the lockdown."
"If any police official or an administrative official is found flouting the lockdown norms, then strict action will be taken against them," she added.
The Chief Minister also said, "If somebody needs to help us by giving materials then they need to contact health department official Sanjay Bansal, whose contact number is - 9051022000."
"The government has also launched a State emergency relief fund wherein people can donate. For donation, the account number is 628005501339, IFSC: ICIC0006280 and website: wb.gov.in," she said.
She also said that on March 31 the government will review the situation.
According to a recent update by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, a total of 562 positive cases for coronavirus have been confirmed in the country.

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News Network
March 29,2020

New Delhi, Mar 29: The battle against coronavirus is a tough one and it required harsh decisions to keep India safe, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first Mann Ki Baat after the 21-day lockdown was imposed in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.
"The battle against COVID-19 is a tough one and it did require such harsh decisions. It is important to keep the people of India safe. A disease must be dealt with at the very beginning as delay makes it incurable," said Prime Minister Modi.
He said that as the coronavirus has put the entire world in lockdown, so "India is doing the same."
"It is a challenge before everyone, science and knowledge, poor and rich, powerful and weak. It is neither restricted to a nation nor region or particular weather. This virus is bent upon killing human beings, eliminating them. Hence all of us, the entire humanity, must unite and resolve to eliminate it," he added.
Addressing the 63rd edition of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', the Prime Minister had sought forgiveness from all countrymen, and especially the poor, for the nationwide lockdown in the country in the view of the novel coronavirus.
During his address to the nation on March 24, the Prime Minister had announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly virus. 

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Agencies
May 4,2020

Mumbai, May 4: Days after Facebook, private equity firm Silver Lake said it will invest 56.56 billion rupees ($746.74 million) in Reliance Industries's digital arm, giving it a valuation of 4.90 trillion rupees. Silver Lake on Monday agreed to pay Rs 5,655.75 crore to buy 1.15 per cent stake in the firm that houses billionaire Mukesh Ambani's telecom arm Jio.

The investment in Jio Platforms comes within days of Facebook investing USD 5.7 billion to buy a 9.99 per cent stake in Jio Platforms. The investment is at a premium of 12.5 per cent to the Facebook deal.

"This investment values Jio Platforms at an equity value of Rs 4.90 lakh crore and an enterprise value of Rs 5.15 lakh crore and represents a 12.5 per cent premium to the equity valuation of the Facebook investment announced on April 22, 2020," Reliance said in a statement.

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