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Rajnath tipped for home, Jaitley likely to get finance

May 20, 2014

New Delhi, May 20: RSS may have decided not to interfere with ministry-making but it feels that BJP president Rajnath Singh and party leader Arun Jaitley should join the government.raJNATH

BJP sources said Sangh leaders camping in Delhi gave their assessment in the context of Rajnath's stated stand that he would like to continue in the organization.

This was confirmed by sources close to Rajnath although they refrained from spelling out whether the party chief is ready to reconsider his stand yet.

RSS's advice to Rajnath is seen as significant because it may clear the way for the appointment of a new party chief, probably someone who is in sync with PM-elect Narendra Modi's need to revamp the organizational machinery.

Party circles consider general secretary Jagat Prakash Nadda among the possibilities. The former chief of the BJP's youth wing Bharatiya Yuva Janata Morcha comes from Himachal Pradesh and worked under Modi when he was general secretary in charge of the state. In his early 50s, Nadda also enjoys a good rapport with BJP's "star" general secretary Amit Shah as both were part of the same BYJM team.

Party circles rate low-key Nadda as the archetypal 'organization man', with a good reputation among Sangh circles.

RSS leaders have also advised Jaitley not to opt out of government because of his defeat in Amritsar constituency.

Senior RSS leaders Suresh Soni and Dattatreya Hosbole had visited Jaitley, considered a shoo-in for the finance portfolio, after the result.

"RSS is of the opinion that one's personal setback should not distract him from the larger goal of the organization," said a senior BJP leader.

Rajnath has been speculated as a possibility for both defence and home. One school in the party feels the home ministry should be split into two, and the responsibility of internal security assigned to a new department which can be under a minister of state who will report directly to the PM. The argument is faulted by those who feel that having a senior in an untrimmed home ministry can buffer the PM against mishaps, like a Maoist attack, which are fairly common, cannot be eliminated overnight and can cause embarrassment to the home ministry.

Modi had a series of meetings with senior party leaders including Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje in what was described as a ministry-making exercise. Political circles are keenly looking forward to the allocation of portfolios as this is expected to provide a good insight into the saffron hierarchy under Modi. Although sources said specific names for heavyweight portfolios have not been discussed yet, speculation was rife about who might get what.

Indications that L K Advani may be willing to be Speaker of Lok Sabha keep growing, a good one coming from his daughter Pratibha who said the veteran could consider handling the constitutional position if asked by the party. However, there was no clarity about the leadership's preference for a position which in unreliable and ambitious hands can become a source of distress for the government.

Former party chief Nitin Gadkari has been speculated as a hot probable for an important economic portfolio because of his reputation for efficient execution of projects. PWD minister in the Sena-BJP coalition in the 1990s in Maharashtra, Gadkari has been credited with the construction of Mumbai-Pune Expressway as well as flyovers in Mumbai.

Ex-leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and parliamentary board member Ananth Kumar, who easily overcame the challenge of Nandan Nilekani to win the Bangalore South seat yet again, are both seen as certainties for Cabinet berths. But party circles are agog with speculation about the choice of portfolios for them. Ditto for Murli Manohar Joshi, who like fellow stalwart Advani and RSS leaders camping in Delhi, was the recipient of a "courtesy call" from Modi.

Modi, who had breakfast with party general secretaries, also met Karnataka leader B S Yeddyurappa. Sources close to the former Karnataka CM claimed that he was not a claimant in view of pending corruption cases against him.

Modi also met NDA partner Ram Vilas Paswan whose LJP won six of the seven seats it contested in Bihar and boosted BJP's chances in many more. Sources said the Dalit leader was certain to get a good portfolio in the light of his contribution to Modi's total as also the recognition that continuing the partnership will help the BJP in Bihar elections.

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News Network
March 29,2020

New Delhi, Mar 29: The Centre on Sunday asked state governments and Union Territory administrations to effectively seal state and district borders to stop movements of migrant workers during lockdown, officials said.

During a video conference with Chief Secretaries and DGPs, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla asked them to ensure that there is no movement of people across cities or on highways as the lockdown continues.

"There has been movement of migrant workers in some parts of the country. Directions were issued that district and state borders should be effectively sealed," a government official said.

States were directed to ensure there is no movement of people across cities or on highways.

Only movement of goods should be allowed.

District Magistrates and SPs should be made personally responsible for implementation of these directions, the official said.

Adequate arrangements for food and shelter of poor and needy people including migrant labourers be made at the place of their work, the official said.

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Agencies
January 4,2020

Kota, Jan 4: Following the death of an infant in the morning, the death toll in JK Lon Hospital here has risen to 107, officials said on Saturday.

A three-member state government committee of doctors, who was sent to investigate the matter on December 23 and 24, found that Kota's JK Lone Hospital is short of beds and it requires improvement.

However, the committee gave a clean chit to the doctors for any lapses over the recent death of infants admitted there.

A Central government team reached the hospital on Saturday to take stock of the situation.

As per the government report, at least 91 infants lost their lives at the government hospital in December last year.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to Chief Secretary of Rajasthan to submit a detailed report within 4 weeks about the steps being taken to address the issue.

The Commission also asked the Chief Secretary to ensure that such deaths of the children do not recur in future due to lack of infrastructure and health facilities at the hospitals.

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News Network
May 19,2020

New Delhi, May 19: Spitting at workplace will be punishable with fine, the Personnel Ministry has said, citing the national directives for COVID-19 management.

In an order issued to all central government departments, it has asked their heads to ensure strict compliance of this and other directives in this regard.

This order is likely to bring about changes in and around government and private work places, where one can easily spot stains of 'pan' and 'gutka' spitted at some of the corners of walls or areas not frequented by many employees/public.

"Spitting in public and work places shall be punishable with fine, as may be prescribed in accordance with its laws, rules and regulations by the state/union territory local authority," said the national directives issued by the Home Ministry and shared by the Personnel Ministry with all central government departments.

It said wearing 'face cover' is compulsory in all public and work places.

In additional directives for the work places, the ministry said as far as possible, the practice from work from home should be followed.

"Staggering of work/business hours shall be followed in offices, work places, shops, markets and industrial and commercial establishments. Provision for thermal scanning, hand wash and sanitiser will be made at all entry and exit points and common areas," the directives said.

Frequent sanitization of the entire workplace, common facilities and all points which come into human contact e.g. door handles etc., shall be ensured, including between shifts, it said.

"All persons in charge of work places shall ensure social distancing through adequate distance between workers, adequate gaps between shifts, staggering the lunch breaks of staff, etc," the directive said.

The Centre on Monday asked 50 per cent of its junior employees, below the level of deputy secretary, to join work in office.

Till now, only 33 per cent of such employees were asked to attend office due to the novel coronavirus lockdown.

Central government employees were asked to work from home due to the lockdown that came into force from March 25.

All officers of the level of deputy secretary and above have already been asked to attend office on all working days.

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