110 Indian students evacuated from Iran set to land in New Delhi as India launches ‘Operation Sindhu’

Patna, April 30 (IANS) Bihar Water Resource Minister Vijay Chaudhary said on Wednesday that the credit for the Central government decision on caste census goes to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

“This initiative owes its roots to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has been consistently raising the issue when others hesitated. The credit must go to Nitish Kumar. He first raised this demand. While Congress and Mamata Banerjee opposed it within the INDIA Bloc, Nitish Kumar made it a national issue,” Chaudhary claimed.

He further claimed that Bihar Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav didn’t raise the caste census issue earlier. “He is now claiming victory. And Congress, after opposing the idea, wants to claim credit as well. Even Rahul Gandhi’s stance is confusing,” he claimed.

Chaudhary also pointed out Bihar’s proactive stance in pushing for constitutional backing. “The Bihar government fought for increased reservation and even sent a proposal to include it in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. We are fighting in the Supreme Court to protect this policy,” Chaudhary said.

Meanwhile, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor emphasised that merely collecting caste data is not enough.

“A census won’t improve the country by itself. The real change happens only when governments act on their findings,” Kishor said.

Referring to Bihar’s caste census, he noted: “It was said that poor families would be given Rs 2 lakh for employment. How many have received it? Buying a book doesn’t make you a scholar, you have to read.”

Nitish Kumar welcomed the Centre’s decision, reiterating that there was a long-standing demand that would help in framing better policies.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 6 (IANS) Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday made some startling and sensational claims about ‘imminent’ CBI raids on the premises of his close aide and ex-Deputy CM Manish Sisodia.

Taking to his social media handle X, Kejriwal claimed that reliable sources have confirmed that Manish Sisodia will face raids by CBI sleuths in the next few days at the behest of the BJP-led government at the Centre.

He claimed that the BJP was frustrated and rattled with the AAP’s model of growth in the national Capital and hence was resorting to such ‘devious’ ways to score political points.

“I had said a few days ago that Delhi CM Atishi ji would be arrested and some AAP leaders would be raided. According to reliable sources, there will be a CBI raid on Manish Sisodia’s house in the next few days. The BJP is losing the Delhi elections. These arrests and raids are the result of their frustration,” wrote the AAP supremo on X.

In the same breath, he declared that his party was a staunchly honest outfit and the Centre and its agencies will once again find nothing damning, like in previous instances.

“So far, they have not found anything against us, they will not find anything in the future either. The AAP is a staunchly honest party,” Kejriwal asserted.

Manish Sisodia, the former Delhi Deputy CM was arrested over alleged corruption in the Delhi liquor excise policy. He was raided by the CBI in August 2022 and charged with facilitating graft in the now-defunct policy. The AAP had dismissed the charges, calling it witch-hunt by the Centre.

Kejriwal, last month, had raised apprehensions about Delhi CM Atishi’s arrest in a fake transport case as he claimed that the BJP was rattled by the AAP’s announcement of welfare initiatives like the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana’ and’ Sanjeevani Yojana’.

Addressing a press conference, he claimed that multiple Central agencies like the ED and CBI and the Income Tax department were given ‘instructions from the top’ to arrest the Chief Minister and raid AAP leaders.

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 4 (IANS) Describing internal and external security as two sides of the same coin, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called upon security research institutions to break down silos and work collaboratively to ensure a strong, secure, and self-reliant India.

Inaugurating the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) – Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Collaboration Conference-Cum-Exhibition on ‘Advanced Technologies for Internal Security and Disaster Relief Operations’ at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi, the Defence Minister said that the country’s security apparatus must remain adaptive to emerging threats such as cyber warfare, hybrid warfare, space-based challenges, and transnational organised crime.

The event promises to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and collaboration to strengthen India’s internal security and disaster response framework.

Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh said, “Security challenges in the modern world are evolving rapidly, and the overlap between internal and external security is increasing. It is imperative that our institutions break silos and work collaboratively to ensure a strong, secure, and self-reliant India.”

He stressed that India’s national security must be viewed holistically, integrating efforts across different security agencies and leveraging the latest technological advancements.

India’s security apparatus must remain adaptive to emerging threats such as cyber warfare, hybrid warfare, space-based challenges, and transnational organised crime, he said.

He noted that India’s internal security is not just about managing conventional threats like terrorism, separatist movements, and Left-Wing Extremism but also about preparing for unconventional threats that can destabilise the nation’s economic and strategic interests.

“The adversaries of today do not always come with traditional weapons; cyber-attacks, misinformation campaigns, and space-based espionage are emerging as new-age threats that require advanced solutions,” he stated.

Rajnath Singh recalled his tenure as Home Minister, highlighting how the collaboration between security agencies and scientific institutions led to significant technological advancements.

He cited examples of DRDO-developed technologies such as the Corner Shot Weapon System, INSAS rifles, IED jammer vehicles and riot control vehicles, which were effectively integrated into the operations of CAPFs.

“Our security forces require the best tools and technologies to remain ahead of the curve. It is encouraging to see DRDO’s focus on modernisation, with products like small arms, surveillance equipment and drone systems either inducted or undergoing evaluation for deployment in internal security agencies,” he said.

As part of the event, the Transfer of Technology (ToT) of the ASMI 9x19mm Machine Pistol was done by DRDO and the knowhow was provided to Lokesh Machinery Tool, marking a step forward in the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

Rajnath Singh also inaugurated an exhibition showcasing DRDO-designed technologies developed in collaboration with the Indian Defence industry, highlighting achievements in indigenisation.

–IANS

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