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Only Congress can resurrect Himachal Pradesh: Manmohan

[email protected] (The Hindu)
October 29, 2012

MANMOHAN

Shimla, October 29: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday slammed the Prem Kumar Dhumal-led Bharatiya Janata Party government of Himachal Pradesh for “bad governance and ignoring the interests of the common man.”

Central aid

Speaking at an election rally in Una town, about 200 km from here, Dr. Singh said whatever development that had taken place in the hill State was because of central aid and the financial support extended by the UPA government.

In the past too, he said, it was the Nehru-Gandhi family that facilitated the development of the State and the BJP’s contribution was negligible. “The family had a special [bond] with Himachal and had done a lot for it.”

‘Unearned credit’

The Prime Minister said the BJP had taken unearned credit for the centrally-sponsored schemes by simply changing their names. If the Congress returned to power, it would bring the State back on track.

‘Complaint unwarranted’

Dr. Singh said the Dhumal government continued to complain of receiving step-motherly treatment from the Union government even though the Plan size for the tiny State was increased by 30 per cent and the economic package raised to Rs. 900 crore.

The State government had named the central scheme of the 108 ambulance service as “Atal Ambulance” scheme. It failed to spend the money allotted under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and the Sarv Siksha Abhiyan, Dr. Singh said.

The Centre had opened IITs, IIMs and Central universities all over the country and under the programme, it had allotted one IIT in Mandi district and a Central University in Kangra district of Himachal.

The State had the potential of becoming highly-developed, but this was possible only if the competent Congress took charge of its reins, he said.

The Prime Minister was welcomed by Pradesh Congress Committee chief Virbhadra Singh and other senior Congress leaders on his arrival.

Meanwhile, senior National Democratic Alliance leader and BJP stalwart L.K. Advani targeted the Congress-led UPA government over corruption and price rise over the past eight years.

Addressing a rally at Amb in Una district, Mr. Advani said the UPA government would not be spared by the public in the coming elections, as had happened following the Bofors scandal in 1989.

‘People want change’

The BJP leader said the people were eager for a change and the process would start from Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat. The corrupt UPA government would have to step down much before the scheduled time.

Both Mr. Dhumal and the former Chief Minister, Shanta Kumar, would be remembered for their contributions to water management and road construction in the State, while the Mr. Virbhadra Singh, also an erstwhile Chief Minister, would be remembered for his involvement in various corrupt deals, he said.

Call for open debate

Mr. Advani challenged Mr. Virbhadra Singh and PCC member Vidya Stokes for an open public debate with Mr. Dhumal.

Making a strong plea for simultaneous polls, with compulsory voting, to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies, he said these steps were necessary for strengthening the Indian democracy.

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati too addressed elections rallies in Una and Kangra districts on Sunday and advised the electorate to shun both the Congress and the BJP and support her party candidates.


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News Network
June 22,2020

New Delhi, Jun 22: With an increase of 14,821 new cases and 445 deaths, India's COVID-19 count reached 4,25,282 on Monday.

According to the latest update by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), 13,699 deaths have been recorded due to the infection so far in the country.

The rise in confirmed cases today is lower than the highest spike of 15 thousand plus cases registered on Sunday.

The count includes 1,74,387 active cases, and 2,37,196 cured/discharged/migrated patients.

Maharashtra with 1,32,075 confirmed cases remains the worst-affected by the infection so far in the country. The state's count includes 60,161 active, 65,744 cured, discharged patients while 6,170 deaths have been reported due to the infection so far.

Meanwhile, the national capital today became the second-worst affected region in the country with the number of confirmed cases in Delhi reaching 59,746 as opposed to Tamil Nadu's 59,377 cases.

While 2,175 deaths have been reported in Delhi due to the infection so far, the toll in Tamil Nadu stands at 757.

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Agencies
July 30,2020

New Delhi, Jul 30: Even as COVID-19 cases continue to surge in various parts of India, more than 1 million people have recovered and discharged till now, informed Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Ministry of Health, here on Thursday.

"More than 1 million people have recovered from COVID-19 in the country. This landmark recovery has been achieved because of the selfless work and dedication of our doctors, nurses and frontline workers," Bhushan said at a press conference.

Giving the number of cured persons, Bhushan said, "More than 1,020,000 patients have recovered. They have been discharged. It is a great achievement."

He said, "The recovery rate has shown positive trends. It was 7.85 per cent in April and today it is 64.4 per cent, which is another heartening news which tells us that whatever battle is put by the Union government in collaboration with state governments is showing results."

"Sixteen states of the country have a recovery rate that is more than the national average. Of these, Delhi has a recovery rate of 88 per cent, Ladakh 80 per cent, Haryana 78 per cent, Assam 76 per cent, Telangana 74 per cent, Tamil Nadu & Gujarat 73 per cent, Rajasthan 70 per cent, Madhya Pradesh 69 per cent and Goa 68 per cent," Bhushan said.

He said effective clinical management lead to a decrease in case fatality rate. In June it was 3.33 per cent and now 2.21 per cent.

Bhushan said the case fatality rate in India today is 2.21 per cent and it's among the lowest in the world. Twenty-four states and Union Territories have lesser fatality rate than that of the country.

Herd immunity in a country of the size and population of India can not be a strategic option. It can only be achieved through immunisation.

"Over 18,190,000 tests have been conducted in the country including RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests. There has been a week-on-week increase in average tests per day. India is conducting 324 test per 10 lakhs population per day," Bhushan said.

He added, three vaccine candidates, are in phase 3 clinical trial. These three are in the US, UK and China. In India, two indigenously developed vaccine candidates are in phase I and II of clinical trials. 

Trial of the first vaccine involves 1,150 subjects at eight sites, second on 1,000 subjects at five sites.

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Agencies
July 13,2020

New Delhi, Jul 13: The Land & Development Office, which comes under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, has sent a notice to news agency PTI, demanding it to cough up more than Rs 84 crore as penalty. The notice dated July 7 says that the penalty has been imposed due to "breaches" at its office in Delhi.

The notice that sought Rs 84,48,23,281 argues that "the less will be pleased to regularise the breaches in the premises temporarily up to 14.07.2020 and withdraw the right of re-entry of the premises subject to the following conditions being fulfilled by you within 30 days from the date of issue of this letter."

The notice also stipulates that the news agency needs to give an undertaking on non-judicial stamp paper stating that it will pay the difference of "misuse/damage charges" if the land rates are revised with effect from 01.04.2016 by the government and will also remove the "breaches" by 14.07.2020 or get them regularised by paying charges.

The notice also warns that further action to execute the deed has to be subject to complete payment and putting the premise to use according to the masterplan.

The Land & Development Office so warned that an additional 10 per cent interest may need to be coughed out by PTI if it fails to furnish the concerned amount within the stipulated time period.

Additionally, if the news agency fails to comply with the terms within the said period, the concession will be withdrawn. In other words, they will have to pay the penalty up to the actual date of payment then and will also be subject to actions.

This stern notice for alleged violations by PTI comes closely on the heels of national broadcaster Prasar Bharati locking horns with PTI over its reportage that it called "anti national".

Prasar Bharti had recently sent a letter threatening to end its "relationship" with PTI after it carried an interview of Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong, where he blamed India for the India-China violent standoff that saw 20 Indian bravehearts getting martyred.

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