Author: Vividh Bharathi

Amaravati, Dec 10 (IANS) Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Wednesday that people are vexed with the coalition government in just six months as it has failed on all fronts.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President called on party leaders and workers to counter the false propaganda and diversion politics of the TDP-led coalition government.

Addressing the local bodies leaders of YSRCP from Prakasam district, Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of engaging in diversion politics to cover up the coalition government failures.

The coalition has failed to implement its election promises and failed to make budgetary allocations while during our term we had given an annual welfare calendar with dates and strictly followed it in the DBT format to avoid corruption and middlemen, he said.

“The coalition on the other hand has done away with all the welfare schemes we implemented with farmers not getting MSP and paddy procurement not being taken up. Fee reimbursement was not given affecting the students and power charges have been increased burdening the people,” he said.

Jagan Mohan Reddy claimed that the YSRCP’s governance focused on transparency, welfare, and infrastructure development, including the RBKs, door-to-door rice distribution reforms, and infrastructure projects like medical colleges, Ramayapatnam Port and Veligonda irrigation tunnels.

Addressing the controversy over rice distribution, Jagan questioned how the opposition could spread false claims when the central and state machinery, including customs and security, remains under their control. He accused Finance Minister P. Keshav’s relatives of monopolising rice exports while misrepresenting facts.

Under the YSRCP, rice was directly delivered to beneficiaries, eliminating corruption. He noted that the current government has reversed these reforms, reintroducing dealer-based distribution, low-quality rice, and ration mafia practices.

He blamed the coalition government for burdening people with taxes and escalating electricity tariffs by over Rs 15,000 crore. “Chandrababu’s idea of wealth creation is exploitation and burdening the common man,” Jagan remarked, referring to Naidu’s governance as “tax-heavy and oppressive.” He accused Naidu of privatising public assets like ports and medical colleges.

YSRCP has announced a series of campaigns, including a farmers’ support programme on December 13, a protest against electricity tariff hike on December 27, and a rally on January 3 to address fee reimbursement delays. Jagan urged party members to strengthen grassroots connections and actively counter misinformation through social media.

“This fight isn’t just against an opposition leader but against a machinery of lies,” Jagan said, affirming his confidence in the YSRCP’s return to power through trust and credibility.

–IANS

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Chandigarh, Dec 11 (IANS) In a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress spokesperson Alok Sharma on Wednesday accused AAP of functioning as the “B team” of the BJP and reiterated that the Congress would contest the Delhi Assembly elections independently.

Sharma questioned AAP’s electoral performances in recent elections. “In Haryana, AAP garnered fewer votes than NOTA. Clearly, they should contest elections alone instead of meddling with the Congress’ prospects. AAP is behaving as the BJP’s B team. They are a big distraction. After such a dismal showing, they need to introspect on their strategy and purpose,” Sharma told IANS.

Sharma also expressed confidence in the Congress’ chances in Delhi. “We are fully prepared to fight the Delhi Assembly elections on our own. Our Nyay Yatra has just concluded, and the overwhelming response from the public has been highly encouraging. Delhi has deteriorated under AAP’s governance, and people are ready for change. This time, the Congress will emerge victorious and restore Delhi’s lost glory,” he added.

Kejriwal also said early on Wednesday that there was no possibility of any alliance with the Congress in the Delhi Assembly elections which are likely to be held early next year. “Aam Aadmi party will be fighting this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is no possibility of any alliance with congress,” he said in a post on X.

Kejriwal’s AAP has already released names of 31 candidates for the upcoming elections.

Sharma also launched a broadside against the BJP-led Central government and the Punjab government on the issues of unemployment and the rising drug menace in the state.

“The twin crises of unemployment and drug abuse have gripped Punjab. Our demand is clear — jobs, not drugs. Drug smuggling must be curbed, and youth need gainful employment opportunities. The Congress has been actively raising these issues across India. Yesterday, the Punjab Youth Congress staged a massive protest, and today, we are here to emphasize these concerns,” Sharma told IANS.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 11 (IANS) Shehla Rashid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student and Kashmir-based activist on Wednesday shared why Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership is different from other leaders and what made her an admirer of the PM from a one-time critic. She also called the PM a ‘fair administrator.’

Rashid spoke about how the Modi administration stands apart from previous ones, especially regarding schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, and others that have benefitted a wide cross-section of society.

Talking to IANS, Rashid said, “PM Modi is a fair administrator. When he brings out a scheme, it’s for everyone — whether it’s the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana or Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, or any other initiative. Everyone gets its benefits, irrespective of their background. Unlike previous schemes, like the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana, today everything is digital. There’s no officer sitting in the office; it’s a completely transparent system where people can access these benefits without discrimination or bribery.”

She further highlighted how the digitalisation of government services has reduced bureaucratic interference and opened doors for people across the country, particularly the marginalised sections of society.

“Earlier, there was a clear bias, especially against Muslim women. But today, the system has been made transparent, and anyone who needs help can easily access the government’s benefits without middlemen,” she claimed.

Rashid also pointed out that while PM Modi is focussed on providing development for all, he does not specifically highlight any religious community in his policies.

“PM Modi never says that he is doing something for Muslims or Hindus. He speaks of doing things for the poor, for women, and for the youth. He does not use communal language, and he doesn’t expect votes from any particular community. He wants the Muslim community to become self-sufficient, to stand on its own feet,” she claimed.

She alleged that there are a few parties in India who believe that there will be no development in the country if they don’t come to power.

“The Sachar Committee report showed that Muslims have lagged behind even more than the SC/ST communities in India. The so-called secular parties have failed to bring them into the mainstream. It’s not about waiting for a government to give us something, it’s about self-empowerment. We need to educate ourselves, train our youth, and prepare them for the future,” she said.

Rashid’s message to the Muslim community, and the country at large, was clear: The future lies in education and skill development.

“We have to give our children the right exposure and skills to succeed in this rapidly changing world. The rise of Artificial Intelligence, the global economy — these are areas we need to focus on,” she said.

“PM Modi’s message to us is clear: Stop waiting for someone to topple the government or give you handouts. Believe in yourself and take responsibility for your progress.”

Rashid further asserted what made her become PM Modi’s admirer from being a critic.

“There’s only one reason for this — PM Modi has shown us the dream of a developed India. His focus is on the country’s progress. We are facing external threats, whether it’s from China, Pakistan, or anti-India sentiment in other parts of the world. We cannot afford to be divided by language, region, caste, or religion. We need to unite to build a strong, developed India,” she said.

Rashid emphasised that India’s focus should be on fostering unity and putting the country’s development at the forefront, setting aside social divisions that often detract from the larger goal.

“The reality is that we need to work towards a cohesive society. The enemies of India are many, but the only way we can confront these challenges is by focussing on building a strong, developed India. That’s what PM Modi has been advocating for all these years,” she concluded.

–IANS

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Kochi, Dec 11 (IANS) The Kerala High Court on Wednesday issued a contempt notice to an officer of the Cochin Devaswom Board under the Contempt of Courts Act for allegedly breaching its guidelines on the use of elephants during temple festivals. The action comes amidst growing concerns over the treatment of elephants at such events.

The court pointed to violations that took place during the Tripunithura Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple festival held from November 29 to December 6. It noted that on December 2, 15 elephants were cramped into a small space, disregarding the mandatory three-meter distance between each animal, as stipulated in the court’s guidelines.

Last week, the court had directed the officer to file an affidavit explaining the alleged misconduct.

While the officer admitted to violations on only one day, he attributed it to non-cooperation from devotees, who accused the Devaswom official of disrupting temple rituals.

In response, the Court stated: “Will you disobey the Court’s mandate just because some devotees say so? Sorry, we cannot accept this affidavit. We will initiate contempt proceedings for outright defiance of our directions. The state cannot descend into lawlessness. How dare you jeopardize lives? We have zero tolerance for such behaviour.”

The Court further noted that the officer’s actions amounted to civil contempt and directed the registry to formally register a contempt case. The officer was ordered to respond by January 9, 2025. “We, therefore, direct the registry to formally register a Contempt of Court case and to issue a notice to the deponent Devaswom officer forthwith so that the deponent officer can respond to the same on or before January 9, 2025,” the court added.

During the proceedings, the court was informed about the deteriorating condition of a 65-year-old elephant. This prompted the bench to remark: “Elephants are symbols of Lord Ganapathi. Is this how we treat Lord Ganapathi? Why are we so cruel?”

The Court instructed the amicus curiae to consult experts regarding the determination of elephants’ age and condition and to submit a report.

“We need some rules in place if captive elephants are to be paraded, existing captive elephants must be taken care of, there should be places to rehabilitate elephants that are unfit to parade. Who will rehabilitate these elephants and where does the fund come from,” the court said and posted the matter to December 19.

–IANS

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