Get ready for snap polls: Gadkari

September 26, 2012

gadkari

Surajkund (Haryana), September 26: With Trinamool Congress walking out of the ruling UPA and NCP threatening to follow suit, BJP top brass on Wednesday asked party leaders to stand united and remain battle-ready as the prospects of early polls loom large in the current political scenario.

In his inaugural address at BJP national executive here, party president Nitin Gadkari asked his party to prepare for polls as the Congress-led UPA government is a “sinking ship” and the people have lost all love for it.

“The national President conveyed in his speech the uncertain current political scenario...He said the nation is on the verge of change. Elections can be held anytime,” BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters.

Significantly, Mr. Gadkari asked his party leaders to show “large-heartedness, be united and make all efforts to meet the target (of coming to power)“.

The main opposition party has several senior leaders vying to become BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.

“Gadkari discussed the current political scenario. This government is in the state of uncertainty. If the government falls of its own, BJP will not come to save this government,” Mr. Prasad said.

Asked if the BJP is ready to face polls, Mr. Prasad asserted, “BJP is ready for polls. If polls are held within one month, we are ready.”

Mr. Prasad said in view of the current situation the BJP president asked partymen to motivate themselves together towards the “big goal” of coming up to the expectations of the people, as the nation was “standing on the verge of change“.

Mr. Gadkari appealed to all partymen to strengthen the party and stand united in a bid to achieve the goal of wresting power from the UPA. The BJP president termed Congress as a “sinking ship“.

Replying to a media poser on the crisis in Maharashtra where NCP ministers have quit the government, Mr. Prasad said, “Since the UPA government is a sinking ship led by the Congress party, most of the allies are seeking avenues to leave the government and therefore we see the repeated spell of uncertainty.”

“BJP’s job is not to protect the Congress government, which is falling by itself,” he added.

BJP alleged that there has been an “institutionalisation of corruption” in the UPA government along with subversion of democratic and constitutional institutions like the PAC and the JPC.

“UPA has also done marketisation of coalition politics. Every coalition partner is subjected to a price mechanism,” Mr. Prasad said.

Claiming that BJP states were “better” ruled, he said, “BJP does not need a Congress certificate for good governance“.

On the Prime Minister’s remarks reminding the nation of the 1991 economic crisis, Prasad said the BJP-run states were doing well, recording higher growth even in such a negative scenario.

Mr. Prasad said Mr. Gadkari reminded the party cadre of “Good governance” during the Vajpayee-led NDA government where he used the “mantra of economics, environment, ecology and ethics“.

“Economic management giving due importance to ecology, environment and ethical considerations and this sums up good governance,” he said, adding that, “BJP has proved its record of governance, reform, pro-people policies and equitable growth.

Seeking to rope in more allies in the NDA in the coming times, he lashed out at the Congress for using CBI as an “instrument of Congress ally management“.

On the Congress President’s allegation that BJP was spreading canards, the BJP spokesperson said, “We reject it with contempt”.

'Will scrap FDI if voted to power'

Seeking to put at rest speculation on its stand on FDI in multi-brand retail, BJP on Wednesday said it is opposed to the proposal in toto and indicated that it will scrap the policy if the NDA comes to power.

Amid reports that Shiromani Akali Dal President and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, who is a key NDA ally, has softened his stand on FDI in multi-brand retail, BJP on Wednesday said it is opposed to the proposal completely as it is against the interest of the farming community.

The principal opposition party clarified that it is not a question of the quantum of FDI to be allowed and the party is fully against it.

Party president Nitin Gadkari elaborated on this point in his inaugural address at the BJP’s National Executive Meet here.

“We are opposed to FDI in multi-brand retail and once we come to power, the consequences will follow,” BJP chief Spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said, indicating that the NDA will do away with the policy even if the UPA government implements it.

Asked about the agenda for good governance released by BJP before the 2004 general elections which said the party favours 26 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail, Mr. Prasad said.

“Leave it to us. 2004 is eight years ago. Wait for our manifesto. Mr. Gadkari categorically opposed FDI in multi-brand retail.”

The Union Cabinet had approved 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail and the government has stated firmly that there will be no rollback of the proposal despite ally TMC withdrawing support to the UPA regime.

Mr. Badal was quoted as saying in the media that had the government not forced reforms on it and acted like a “dictator”, the party may have welcomed FDI in multi-brand retail.

Asked about Mr. Badal’s comments, Mr. Prasad said, “We keep talking to Sukhbir Badal and have held discussions with him on this issue also. There is no difference (of opinion between us) at all.”

“BJP is of the firm view that FDI in multi-brand retail is not in the interest of India and that is the view of NDA as well,” he added.

Earlier, in his speech Mr. Gadkari had maintained that FDI in multi-brand retail in not good for the farming community and India’s retail chain.

BJP insisted that it is not against reforms and is proud of its “record of governance, reforms, pro-people policies and equitable growth”.

The party pointed out that there are several hurdles in the implementation of the UPA decision on FDI in multi-brand retail, saying India is a signatory to bilateral agreements with 82 countries where it cannot stop foreign multinationals from entering certain states if it is allowing domestic companies to set up shop.

BJP said the Kerala High Court verdict, which said FDI in multi-brand retail cannot be allowed, will also have to be respected. All the BJP and NDA ruled states are opposed to the policy.

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Agencies
February 10,2020

New Delhi, Feb 10: The government is set to privatise Central Electronics Ltd, a CPSE under the Department of Science and Technology, by selling its 100% stake with management control and has invited the Expression of Interest for the same by March 16.

The selected bidder will be required to lock in its shares for a period of three years during which it cannot undertake the sale of its stake in CEL, the PIM (Preliminary Information Memorandum) said.

"The government of India has 'in-principle' decided to disinvest 100 per cent of its equity shareholding in CEL (which is equivalent to 100 per cent of the total paid up equity share capital of CEL) through Strategic Disinvestment with transfer of management control (Strategic Disinvestment or Transaction)," DIPAM, the Disinvestment Department, said.

The process for the transaction has been divided into two stages, namely, Stage I and Stage II.

After BPCL and Air India, this is yet another CPSE which government is slated to privatise if it gets offers from bidders.

The government has set a challenging target of Rs 2.1 lakh crore disinvestment proceeds from CPSE sell-offs and IPOs, OFSs (Offer for sale) in the next fiscal and it going out all guns blazing to meet that target after revising this fiscal target of Rs 1.05 lakh crore to Rs 65,000 crore.

The Interested Bidders (which can also include employees of CEL) must have a minimum net worth of Rs 50 crore as on March 2019. DIPAM has released complete invitation Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) of CEL. Resurgent India Limited is the advisor to the Transaction.

CEL is a pioneer in the country in the field of Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) with the distinction of having developed India's first Solar cell in 1977 and first Solar panel in 1978 as well as commissioning India's first solar plant in 1992.

More recently, it has developed and manufactured the first crystalline flexible solar panel especially for use on the passenger train roofs in 2015.

Its solar products have been qualified to International Standards IEC 61215/61730. CEL is further working on development of a range of new and upgraded products for signaling and telecommunication in the railway sector.

In the SWOT analysis of the CPSE, DIPAM has stated under weakness that "the company has weak financial loss due to past losses, high manufacturing cost and non payment of dues by state nodal agencies affecting the financial position of the company".

The CPSE has adequate land for expansion, the SWOT analysis said adding "the CPSE faces threat of dumping of solar cells at very low rates which makes solar PV manufacturing industry unviable".

Entry of new players in the market for solar products and railway signalling systems also is cited as a threat.

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News Network
March 4,2020

New Delhi, Mar 4: A court in Delhi on Wednesday convicted expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the death of the Unnao rape victim's father.

District judge Dharmesh Sharma said Sengar had no intention of killing the victim's father. “He was beaten in a brutal manner that led to his death,” the judge said.

The court had sent Sengar to jail on December 20 for the “remainder of his natural biological life” for raping the woman in 2017, when she was a minor.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had examined 55 witnesses in support of the case and the defence examined nine witnesses.

The court had recorded the statements of the rape survivor's uncle, mother, sister and one of her father's colleague who claimed to be an eyewitness to the incident.

Charges were framed against Sengar, his brother Atul, Bhadauria, sub-inspector Kamta Prasad, constable Amir Khan and six others in the case.

The case was transferred to Delhi from a trial court in Uttar Pradesh on the directions of the Supreme Court on August 1 last year.

In July, 2019 a truck rammed into the car the rape victim was travelling in with some family members and her lawyer.

Two of her aunts died in the incident. She was airlifted from a hospital in Lucknow and to AIIMS in Delhi.

The victim has been provided accommodation in Delhi and is under CRPF protection.

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Agencies
August 4,2020

Ayodhya, Aug 4: Ramarchan puja begins at Ram Janmabhoomi site ahead of the foundation laying ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Ramarchan Puja is a prayer to invite all major gods and goddesses ahead of Lord Ram's arrival.

Mahesh Bhagchandka, one of the trustees of Ashok Singhal foundation as Yajman in the puja said, "This is being conducted at the temporary seat of Ramlalla. The pooja will be conducted in four phases."

Speaking about the third and fourth phases, he said: "In the third phase, Dashrath, father of Lord Ram with his wives will be worshipped and then all three brothers of Lord Ram - Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughan with their wives. Lord Hanuman ji will too be worshipped. Whereas in the fourth phase, Lord Ram will be worshipped."
Meanwhile, security has been heightened in Ayodhya ahead of the foundation laying ceremony.

Temples across the city is decorated with lights, diyas and flowers ahead of the grand event. Patna's Mahavir Mandir Trust is preparing over 1.25 lakh 'Raghupati Laddoos' for the occasion. Thes laddoos will be distributed as 'prasad' to devotees.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday offered prayers at the Hanuman Garhi temple during his visit to Ayodhya to take stock of the preparations for the 'bhoomi pujan'.
He along with officials also visited 'Ram ki Paudi' to inspect the arrangements ahead of the foundation stone laying ceremony.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5. 

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