Articles by "Union Minister"
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Hello Jammu News at 9:41:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Mar 25 :  Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday said the government is monitoring the availability of essential commodities in the market amid nationwide lockdown for next 21 days to check the spread of coronavirus outbreak.

Paswan warned manufacturers and traders against profiteering during this period.

The Centre is also in touch with the state governments to ensure that there is no shortage of essential commodities, he said.

"In view of situation emerging from the threat of #Covid19India, the government is keeping an eye on availability of all essential commodities in the market," Paswan tweeted.

"I appeal to all manufacturers and traders to avoid from profiteering in this situation," Paswan said in his tweet.

Meanwhile, the Centre on March 23, had allowed states and Union Territories to lift foodgrains for three months in advance from Food Corporation of India (FCI) for distribution through ration shops in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

There are about 75 crore beneficiaries under the Public Distribution System (PDS).

As of now, the government has surplus foodgrains of 435 lakh tonnes, out of which 272.19 lakh tonnes are rice and 162.79 lakh tonnes are wheat, as per the government data.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a complete lockdown across the country for 21 days from Tuesday midnight, asserting that social distancing is the only way out for the country to fight a decisive battle against coronavirus outbreak.

The Centre and state governments have taken measures to ensure that the supply of all essential items continue smoothly, he said, seeking to allay apprehensions among people about availability of food and other essential provisions.

According to Health Ministry data, the number of coronavirus cases has risen to 562.

On March 21, the Centre had released Rs 2,570-cr pending grants for local bodies of six states, to ensure that the basic services provided by local bodies are not affected amid coronavirus scare.
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Hello Jammu News at 11:25:00 PM 0
Union minister Nitin Gadkari


New Delhi, Jan 26 :  The government plans to complete three of the 22 expressways and green corridors in the next three years, including the flagship Delhi Mumbai Expressway being built at a new alignment, Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said.

These 22 projects comprising 7,500 km of greenfield expressways and corridors are planned to be completed by FY25 at a cost of Rs 3.10 lakh crore.

"We will complete the flagship Delhi Mumbai Express Highway in the next three years. The work will be done in 51 packages and work has already been started on 18. This will be India's longest expressway at 1,320 km and will reduce travel time between Delhi and Mumbai from 24 hours to 13 hours," the road transport and highways minister said.

Of the projects, six are 2,250 km expressways to be built at a cost of Rs 1.45 lakh crore.

The remaining 16 are greenfield corridors, including 5,250 km projects to be constructed at a cost of Rs 1.65 lakh crore

Besides Delhi Mumbai Expressway, the minister said the trans-Rajasthan and trans-Haryana projects will be completed within the next three years.

About Delhi Mumbai Expressway, he said greenfield alignment has been selected to avoid habitation and optimise cost of land acquisition.

"We have saved about Rs 16,000 crore on land acquisition front alone as land could be acquired at a cost of Rs 80 lakh per hectare for the project," he said, adding that the expressway will unlock new economic opportunities in hinterland districts of Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

The expressway has been taken from concept to award in a record time-frame of less than a year.

He said the new projects will provide alternate routes to diversify traffic, improve geometry/alignment and provide connectivity for major towns, thereby reducing distance and travel times

Besides, these will mitigate issues like land acquisition, utility shifting and other clearances related to brown-field expansion of existing alignment and provide thrust to the economy of backward regions by improving infrastructure, the minister said.
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Hello Jammu News at 10:09:00 PM 0
Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi


Srinagar, Jan 22 : Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today visited city center Lal Chowk and interacted with traders there.

He was accompanied by Advisor to Lt Governor Farooq Khan and Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Chowdhary.

The Union Minister interacted with shopkeepers and asked them about issues, if any, in smooth conduct of their business.

Earlier, various delegations called on the Union Minister and apprised him about their demands.

The Minister assured them that all their genuine demands will be addressed at earliest.
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Hello Jammu News at 10:03:00 PM 0
Dr Jitendra Singh conducts public outreach programme at Udhampur


Udhampur, Jan 19 :  Union Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh today conducted public outreach programme at Subash Stadium, Udhampur.

Commissioner Secretary, Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment J&K, Sarita Chauhan, District Development Commissioner, Udhampur Dr. Piyush Singla, SSP, Rajiv Omparkash Pandey, ADDC, Ashok Kumar, BDC Chairpersons, and other district Officers besides Councillors ,Sarpanches , Panches , Ex-MLA , Udhampur and large number of prominent citizens attended the programme.

The outreach programme witnessed participation of BDC Chairpersons, Councilors, Sarpanches, Panches and general public hailing from different areas of the district.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Singh said that the objective of holding public outreach programme is to disseminate the information about various government schemes and to take review of implementation of these schemes on the ground. He said that various projects already sanctioned for the district are under execution and these projects will take Udhamphur to new heights of development.

Dr Singh said that government has taken various initiatives for the development of Union Territory of J&K. He said that by removing the Lakhanpur Toll Plaza various commodities are available at low rate. He said that Government is committed for equitable development of all without any discrimination.

Dr. Singh appreciated initiatives of DDC Udhampur in conceptualizing project Jeevika and developing an IT App Sakoon-e-Awam. He hoped that these initiatives will be replicated in whole country. He also gave Rs 40 lakh from MPLAD for the project Jeevika and asked DDC Udhampur to take some other projects in convergence with MPLAD.

While responding to the demands of local representatives, Dr. Singh ensured that election to 3rd tier of PRI will be held shortly. Dr. Singh stressed on empowerments of PRIs and also ensured that all the demands of the district Udhampur will be full-filled on priority.

During the programme, different government departments like Agriculture, Health, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, etc. had set up their stalls for the general public regarding awareness of different Government schemes. Dr. Singh also inspected various departmental stalls on the occasion. He also distributed invoices under PM-Kisan scheme, Ayushman Bharat Golden cards, invoices for pensioners, and sports kits under Khelo India on the occasion.

Later, Dr. Singh also visited the Chhattrambli, Panchayat Chak Rakwalan where he inaugurated the Jeevika project conceptualized by District Administration Udhampur. He also interacted with the farmers and advised adopting mushroom cultivation, organic farming and using vermi compost in their area to increase their agriculture income.

During the visit Dr. Singh inaugurated/ laid foundation stone of various ongoing works which include Augmentation of 33/11 KV, 6.3 MVA to 10 MVA at receiving station Devika Ghat & Dhar road, installation of 1.60 MVA 22O/132 KV/11 KV Transformer at Grid station, approach road to Disaster Management Complex at Birwan, construction of road from Pad Devta bridge to Kund Devta (Jaganoo), repair and renovation of old block of Dak Bunglow, modernization of club building complex , up gradation of PHE distribution network in Udhampur town, constructions of WSS Malad, Battal, Thanoa svail, Cupar Chang, Rathian Udhampur. Various works of RDD executed under 14th FC, MGNREGA, SBM, and PMAY.

He also inaugurated Murals made on walls of Subash Stadium. During a plantation drive, envisaged to emphasize significance of tress for saving our planet, Dr. Singh and Commissioner Secretary also planted plants in Subash Stadium.
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Hello Jammu News at 9:49:00 PM 0
Smriti Irani holds public meetings at Reasi


Reasi, Jan 19 :  Union Minister for Textiles and Women & Child Development, Smriti Irani today conducted public meetings at village Moori of Dheeti Panchayat and at Spritual Growth Centre here today.

Addressing a huge crowd near Middle School Moori, Smriti Irani congratulated the locals for participating in huge numbers in parliamentary as well as Urban Local Bodies elections in the recent past. She also congratulated the administration for successfully conducting the elections.

The Union Minister also passed directions for on-spot resolution of several demands raised at the occasion which were readily accepted by the district administration. A steel foot bridge over Junnie Nallah was also inaugurated by the minister at the occasion earlier in the day.

At another public meeting at Katra, the Union Minister met with elected members of Katra Municipal Committee, Panchs-Sarpanchs of block Katra, prominent citizens and a large number of students among locals. She also inaugurated road from Paroh-Arli and Kadmal-Dhanna roads through e-inauguration.

In her welcome address, the DC said that Reasi has a huge potential for organic farming and progressive farmers are already taking up cultivation of lemongrass, a highly profitable cash crop. Block Development Council chairpersons and sarpanchs of blocks Pintail and Katra also welcomed the Union Minister and raised development issues.

In a response to public demand for opening a textile unit in the district, the Union Minister assured that a suitable unit would be set up immediately after a formal request by the district administration.

Counting achievements of the central government, Smriti said that more than 8 lakh farmers are being benefitted under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi. Similarly, around 24 thousand saffron growers have benefitted under National Saffron Mission till date in J&K. She said that under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, more than 12 lakh gas cylinders have been distributed to poor households of the Union Territory.

It was also told by the Union Minister that 3.5 lakh cards have been distributed, of over 11 lakh identified, under the ambitious Ayushman Bharat Yojana through which 50 thousand residents of the UT have already benefitted. She also told that more than 140 district and sub-district level hospital projects have been identified for up-gradation in Jammu & Kashmir in addition to the two upcoming AIIMS with an allocated budget of Rs 2 thousand crore.

Appreciating the enthusiasm of people of J&K towards Panchayati Raj and other democratic institutions, Smriti said that with dialogue and participation of people, all things are possible. ‘A new wave of development has just begun’, she added.
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Hello Jammu News at 6:18:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Mar 29 :  The BJP Friday cited the Samjhauta train blast case judgment to assert that the probe focussed on establishing the Congress's "political theory of Hindu terror", as it accused the opposition party of "smearing" Hindus on the basis of "forged" evidence for political benefits.

Senior BJP leader and Union minister Arun Jaitley also took a swipe Congress leaders, including its president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, over their temple visits, saying those who believed Hindus to be terrorists are now busy showing their dedication to the religion. 

It is good that they visit temples and also acknowledge that it is the birthplace of Lord Ram, he said in an apparent reference to Priyanka's visit to Ayodhya.

Attacking the Congress over the Samjhauta blast verdict, Jaitley said people cannot tolerate an entire community being labelled as terrorists.

Reading parts of the judgment slamming the National Investigation Agency for miserably failing to prove allegations against the accused -- all of whom, including Swami Aseemanand, were acquitted -- Jaitley said the investigation was carried out between 2007-09 when the UPA was in power.

The court, which released the verdict in its entirety on Thursday, said it has to "conclude this judgment with deep pain and anguish as a dastardly act of violence remained unpunished for want of credible and admissible evidence. There are gaping holes in the prosecution evidence and an act of terrorism has remained unsolved." 

The blast in Samjhauta Express between India and Pakistan took place near Panipat in Haryana on February 18, 2007, when the train was on its way to Attari, the last railway station on the Indian side. 

Jaitley said wrong set of people were "framed" by forging evidence and the entire Hindu community was "smeared", something, he added, that happened for the first time in history.

"Who will take accountability for this? It rests with the leadership of the Congress. The society will never forgive them," the BJP leader, accompanied by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and party's media head Anil Baluni, told a press conference.

Innocents were killed in the blast but investigators focussed not on real culprits but on establishing the political theory of Hindu terrorism, he said, alleging that the Congress gave the slogan of "Hindu terrorism" for its "vote bank" politics.

In other cases also evidence were forged to probe this theory, he added, for political benefits.

The finance minister said the US state department kept telling India about terrorists involved in blasts and gave their names as well but that line of investigation was not pursued. There were reports that the US state department suspected terror outfit LeT's role in the blasts.

To a question about the then home secretary R K Singh, who is now a BJP leader and Union minister, echoing the Hindu terror view, Jaitley said it is not important what bureaucrats said as such decisions are taken at political level.               [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 7:47:00 PM 0


Gwalior, Feb 25 :  Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Monday said in Madhya Pradesh that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has blocked the "loot lobby" and controlled terrorism successfully.

Addressing a convention of BJP workers here, the Minority Affairs Minister said the BJP will retain power after polls, as PM Modi has ensured "development without discrimination".

"PM Modi's strong will power has ensured blockade of middlemen and the corrupt. Modi has taken a strict action against the 'loot lobby'. Each and every penny of public money is now spent on welfare of the poor," Naqvi stated in a release.

The minister stated the prime minister's policy of "development without Discrimination" has ensured that every section of the society has become an equal partner in the development process.

"The development works being carried out by the Modi government had not been taken place during 60 years of rule of the Congress governments," he said.

Talking about the security scenario, the minister said the previous government had adopted a lackadaisical approach towards the national security and terrorism, before BJP came to power in 2014.

"Before 2014, hundreds of innocent people had been killed in terror activities almost every month in one and another part of the country. But due to the 'zero tolerance' policy of Modi government against terrorism, terror activities have been confined to a few places in Kashmir only," he said.

Talking about upcoming elections, Naqvi said the BJP's "Sankalp Patra" would be the only such manifesto that will be prepared with the help, suggestions and participation of crores of people of the country.

Naqvi said the BJP was reaching out to the people across the country through various platforms like websites, WhatsApp messages and e-mails.

He said a campaign like giving a missed call on a particular number is underway to reach out to people.

Besides, 300 'sankalp Rath' vehicles are rolled out and as many as 7700 suggestion boxes installed to receive suggestions from people in various cities.                 [Agencies]
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Hello Jammu News at 5:24:00 PM 0


Lucknow, Jan 16 :  Union minister J P Nadda on Wednesday exuded confidence that the BJP will win 74 Lok Sabha seats out of 80 in Uttar Pradesh and downplayed the SP-BSP alliance in the state for the general elections.

At a meeting with senior office bearers of the party here, Nadda, who is on his first visit to the Uttar Pradesh capital after being appointed the BJP's election in-charge for the state, said the party will register a handsome win in the Lok Sabha polls and all records will be broken.

"We shall increase our tally of Lok Sabha seats from the state by winning 74 seats, one more than last time," he told reporters later.

In the 2014 general elections, the BJP had won 71 Lok Sabha seats in the state and two other went to its ally - the Apna Dal.

Asked about the party's strategy for the polls this time, Nadda said, "Strategy is not meant to be disclosed and will be unveiled at the battleground only." 

"The people of Uttar Pradesh and the country will shower tremendous blessings on the BJP and their will be an all-time record victory. Not 73, but our tally will be 74 seats (in UP)." 

"The reasons for this is the inclination and affection of the people towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the various welfare works done by the Central government in the past four-and-half years. Apart from this, BJP president Amit Shah's strategy will also lead us to victory," Nadda said.

He asserted that the party's electoral plank will be that of development and not caste-based politics.

Asked whether there is any threat from the newly-forged SP-BSP alliance, Nadda said, "We knew that this (SP-BSP alliance) is going to happen, and this is a recognition of the BJP. The strength of the BJP itself speaks about it." 

"Our strategy is to get more than 50 per cent of the votes and that is how we are moving...We were anticipating that this is going to happen, and this shows the strength of the BJP." 

On allegations by rival political parties that the BJP has been unable to fulfil its poll promises, Nadda said, "As far as Mayawati and Akhilesh are concerned, they are giving their own records. Statistics are clear, and we are ready to discuss it on any forum along with statistics.

"Their life and political culture has been of commission, corruption, lawlessness and division. They are presenting their own report card, and we should understand this. The BJP believes in Sabkaa Saath, Sabkaa Vikaas." 

On various caste conferences organised by the BJP, Nadda said the BJP's poll plank is development and the way to take the country forward.

"We represent all the sections of the society... Our responsibility is to reach out to all the sections of the society and it is an essential aspect for us. But, our aim is not to contest elections on the basis of caste or encourage casteist feelings," the Union minister said.

Asked to comment on the losses suffered by the BJP in the recent bypolls in the state Nadda said, "We have all the (magic) lamps (of Alladdin)... As our party president said 'Elections is not Physics, it is Chemistry'. Under this Chemistry, the people of the country will shower their blessings on the BJP and Modiji." 

Nadda asserted that the allies are with the BJP.

"There is no bickering (in the NDA). There is very cordial relations. Sometimes, there may be an issue of understanding, but that has been taken care of," he said when asked to comment on the resentment among the BJP's smaller allies like Apna Dal(S).

On a question that the Opposition claiming that there is no Modi-wave this time, Nadda said, "Why are they saying that this is not the case (this time). It is a battle of strategy. Even in 2014, they never agreed, but we did it. The grassroot reality to bring Modiji is much much more. It is a question of our strategy, which will be unfolded." 

"The strength of Modiji has been recognised by the forging of the alliance. And, this tells that you (rival parties) do not have any thought process, ideology, agenda. The only agenda is to remove Modiji. This will not benefit UP or the country, and we will expose this agenda." 

Nadda, who holds the health portfolio, also said that there has been no technical glitches in the implementation of Ayushman Bharat, and the government's endeavour is to stabilise this programme so that it can benefit maximum number of people.                                PTI
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Hello Jammu News at 6:33:00 PM 0


New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal on Friday said she has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to remove Union Minister and former journalist M J Akbar from his post in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment against him.

Welcoming the #metoo movement, Maliwal urged all women and girls to come out and report any kind of sexual harassment.

This is the right time to please come out, please report so, all these sexual predators that are existing in our society, they need to be taken to task and they need to be put behind bars, she said.

I've also appealed to the Prime Minister through a letter today. Sir, please first of all remove Mr. M.J. Akbar from the post of minister in your central government. I think he does not deserve to be a minister anymore, she said. 

"Seven different women have reported very, very serious allegations of sexual harassment and molestation against this man. He has sexually assaulted all seven of them, that is what is being claimed," she said in a statement.

Several opposition parties have demanded the resignation of Akbar, who is the Minister of State for External Affairs.

Akbar has so far not offered any comment over the issue.

Maliwal said that she has appealed to the Prime Minister to set up fast track courts in country, increase police resources and fix responsibility of police so that faith of women can be restored in the system.

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Hello Jammu News at 1:36:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Oct 8: A Delhi Court Monday extended till November 1 the interim protection from arrest granted to former Union Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis case filed by the CBI and the ED.

Special CBI Judge O P Saini put up the matter for November 1 after the counsel appearing for agencies sought an adjournment in the matter.

Advocates appearing for the CBI and the ED, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Nitesh Rana, told the court that the agencies required time to file a detailed reply and argue on the application filed through Chidambaram's lawyers P K Dubey and Arshdeep Singh.

Chidambaram and his son were named in the chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the case on July 19.

The agency filed a supplementary charge sheet before the special judge, who will consider it on next date.

The CBI is probing how Chidambaram, who was the Union finance minister in 2006, granted a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to a foreign firm, when only the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) was empowered to do it.

The senior Congress leader's role has come under the scanner of investigating agencies in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore.

In its charge sheet filed earlier in the case against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others, the agency had alleged that Chidambaram had granted an FIPB approval in March, 2006 to Mauritius-based Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of Maxis.

The Maran brothers and the other accused named in the CBI chargesheet were discharged by the special court, which had said the agency had failed to produce any material against them to proceed with the trial.

The Enforcement Directorate is also probing a separate money-laundering case in the Aircel-Maxis matter, in which Chidambaram and Karti have been questioned by the agency.

Both Chidambaram and Karti have denied the allegations levelled against them by the CBI and the ED. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 12:24:00 PM 0


Shimla, Oct 5 (PTI) Development is important but not at the cost of environment, Union minister Radha Mohan Singh said Friday.

He was addressing a conclave of chief ministers and parliamentarians of 12 Himalayan states here. The theme of the meet is "Wellbeing of the next generation of Himalayan people".

The conclave was inaugurated by Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.

The agriculture minister said climate change adversely affected the day-to-day life in the country in general and in Himalayan states in particular. The representatives of Himalayan states should hold a meeting with Niti Aayog to formulate a policy to tackle bad effects of climate change.

Rijiju stressed the need of cultivating specialised crops in Himalayan states to compete with other states.

He said violence in northeastern region has declined by 80 per cent since he became the union minister of state for home. 

The members of terrorist groups had been forced to surrender in northeastern states which resulted in considerable decline in violence there, he said, adding tourism would increase a lot in these states too.

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Hello Jammu News at 4:23:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Sep 17: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar and his cabinet colleague Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi unveiled a 568-kg ladoo on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 68th birthday on Monday.

Participating at a function organised by Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, which is celebrating the PM's birthday as 'Swachhta Diwas', Javadekar said, "Sanitation coverage has significantly increased in the country in last four years."

Under the 'Swachhta Campaign' more than nine crore toilets have been constructed and 450 lakh villages have been declared open defecation free (ODF), Javadekar said.

Stating that sanitation coverage was only 30 per cent in the country in the first 60 to 62 years, the HRD minister said under the leadership of Modi the coverage now stood at 90 per cent.

Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said sanitation has become a mass movement.

"PM Sh @narendramodi has been working with the commitment to Clean India, Healthy India . Swachh Bharat Abhiyan #SwachhtaHiSeva has today become an effective mission with the participation & passion of common people of the country. (sic)" Naqvi later tweeted. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 5:45:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Sep 6: A day after Arvind Kejriwal expressed his sadness over Delhi metro becoming out of reach for common man, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Thursday said the Delhi Chief Minister should instead look at the state of public transport system that comes under his government which lacks 7,000 buses.

Addressing the 13th Sustainability Summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Puri said Delhi today has the fourth largest metro system in the world, it is a first class asset and most affordable metro anywhere in the world.

"My good friend - the chief minister of Delhi - was expressing sadness that so many people have moved away from the metro. The report has been produced by people who are reasonably credible but they have an agenda where they are not comparing an orange with an orange. What they end up doing was completely falsifying the facts," he said.

"If somebody wants to be sad, they should be sad about the fact that the other public transport in Delhi which comes under the government which has a sanction of 11,000 buses is about 7,000 short," Puri said.

A recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had found that after the fare hike last year, Delhi metro has become the second-most unaffordable service in the world among the cities that charge less than half a US dollar for a trip.

Reacting to the study, Kejriwal Wednesday said it is "very sad" that an important means of transport has become out of reach of common man.

Taking a further dig at Kejriwal, Puri said the ridership at any point of time before the hike was 27 lakh and today the ridership has crossed 29 lakh. The study of 2016 which said the ridership would increase to 32 lakh took into consideration the Phase-3 which has not become operational as yet, he added.

The Delhi Metro on Wednesday termed as "misleading" the CSE report which also claimed the Delhi Metro has received nearly 32 per cent less than the number of daily passengers it had hoped to serve this year, saying its earlier projection included Phase-3 which has not become operational as yet. (PTI)

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Hello Jammu News at 1:50:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Aug 9: Union Minister Arun Jaitley today attended the proceedings in the Rajya Sabha for the first time after undergoing a renal transplant in May.

Jaitley, who is also the Leader of the Upper House, was holding the charge of Finance and Corporate Affairs Ministries.

He underwent a renal transplant on May 14 and on the same day, his ministerial charges were given to Piyush Goyal on an interim basis.

Rajya Sabha members would be voting to elect the Deputy Chairperson today. (PTI)

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Hello Jammu News at 5:54:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Aug 7: A few foreign-based pro-Khalistan terrorists and fringe elements have issued threat messages and posted video containing threats to political leaders in India, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said this in a written reply to Congress MP Sunil Jakhar.

"The government of India is closely engaged with the governments of the concerned countries to address our concerns relating to anti-India activities being undertaken by such elements from these countries," Ahir said. (PTI)

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Hello Jammu News at 5:30:00 PM 0

Chennai, Aug 7: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari here and discussed various road and port projects concerning the state.

Palaniswami, who holds the Highways and Minor Ports portfolio, also presented a memorandum to Gadkari in this regard, an official release said.

Meanwhile, BJP state unit President Tamilisai Soundarrajan, underlined the party-led Centres' commitment to Tamil Nadu's growth.

Responding to reporters' query about the meeting between Palaniswami and Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, she said "growth projects" regarding Tamil Nadu were discussed between the two leaders.

"As far as our BJP government is concerned, we want big growth projects to come to Tamil Nadu," she added.

Among the big ticket projects in Tamil Nadu is the Salem-Chennai eight-lane expressway, a Central scheme that has witnessed strict opposition from some quarters, especially farmers, over land acquisition. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 8:08:00 PM 0


SRINAGAR, AUGUST 2: Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz, former Union Minister, met Governor N.N. Vohra at Raj Bhavan today.        
Prof. Soz presented a copy of his recently released book, “Kashmir Glimpses of History and the Story of Struggle” to the Governor. He also informed Governor about some of his concerns relating to the effective functioning of health and other institutions in J&K.
 Prof. Soz congratulated Governor on his decision to conduct the long pending elections to Municipalities and Panchayats and stated that this will greatly strengthen the democratic framework.

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Hello Jammu News at 12:49:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Jul 28: A mediation cell has been opened on the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights's website to register complaints of Indians who have fled with their children from abroad to escape domestic violence or some other issue, Union minister Maneka Gandhi has said.

Addressing a national conference of the state women commissions, Gandhi yesterday said the cell, consisting of members of the Ministry of External Affairs and the NCPCR, would contact the embassies of the respective countries and try to reach a solution after consultations with them.

About why India should not become a signatory of the Hague Convention, she said if India was a signatory, then the child would have to be sent back and the woman apprehended.

"We refused that we would not send our women back so their child is snatched away from them," the Women and Child Development minister said.

She said her ministry was desperately looking for a solution for women who have fled from abroad with their child to escape domestic violence or for some other issue.

"We haven't come to a solution, but till a solution is reached this cell has been formed," Gandhi added.

The Hague Convention is a multi-national treaty that seeks to protect children wrongfully removed by one of the parents from the custody of the other parent.

She recommended members of the women commissions to follow three things -- release a book on the performance every year, identify single cases and try to solve them and hire lawyers for women who cannot afford it. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 1:42:00 PM 0

Kochi, Jul 27: Union minister Alphons Kannanthanam has come out in support of a 21-year-old Kerala woman, who became a victim of cyber bullying after her video of selling fish after college went viral.

The story of Hanan, a BSc student at a private college in Thodupuzha, selling fish at Thammanam in Ernakulam after her college hours, was carried by leading Malayalam daily 'Mathrubhumi' two days ago.

Her touching story was widely shared on social media by people, including film artists and politicians.

But, a section of people on social media expressed doubts on Hanan's story and termed it as "fake".

The student had to face vicious trolling.

However, Hanan's college principal and neighbours came out in support of her and said the story published in the regional daily was not fake.

Reacting to the news, Kannanthanam yesterday wrote on his Facebook page, Kerala sharks stop attacking #Hanan. I'm ashamed. Here is a girl trying to put together a shattered life. You vultures! .

The tourism minister hailed the woman's attitude to do hard work and move forward in life.

Kannanthanam also referred to the difficulties faced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his teenage and said the latter fought against all odds to become the prime minister.

A teary-eyed Hanan appealed to her critics with folded hands to leave her alone.

I do not want any help. Kindly leave me alone and allow me to do any kind of menial jobs to earn my daily bread," she said.

Kerala Women's Commission chairperson M C Josephine said she would visit Hanan in Kochi.

Any sort of attack on such a hardworking woman is condemnable, she said.

Hearing Hanan's story, a filmmaker, Arun Gopy, offered her a role in his forthcoming movie starring Malayalam superstar Mohanlal's son Pranav Mohanlal.

The trolls also targeted the filmmaker for such an offer, but Gopy remained firm on the offer. (PTI)
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Hello Jammu News at 6:01:00 PM 0

New Delhi, Jul 26: The HRD Ministry had received 30 complaints from across the country regarding poor quality of mid-day meals during past three years and 887 students were reported ill after having those meals during the period, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

The information was shared by Union Minister of State for HRD, Upendra Kushwaha, in response to a written question in Rajya Sabha.

"A total number of 30 complaints from 15 states and union territories including Delhi regarding poor quality of serving of mid day meal have been reported during the last three years. A total number of 887 children were reported ill after having the meals in the country during the period," Kushwaha said.

"To address the issue, the government has issued guidelines on quality, safety and hygiene in school level kitchen to all states and UTs. These guidelines provide for instructions to schools to procure Agmark quality and branded items for preparation of mid-day meals, tasting of meals by 2-3 adult members of school management committee before serving to children," he added.

The HRD Minister further said the government has also adopted an elaborate monitoring mechanism at central, state and district levels to ensure quality food is served to children under the scheme.

According to statistics, maximum number of children, (259), were reported to be ill after consuming mid-day meals in Jharkhand followed by Maharashtra (201) and Uttar Pradesh (154). (PTI)
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