DA probe against Shivakumar: SC says it is ‘not powerless to annul Lokayukta proceedings’

Jammu, Dec 12 (IANS) J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday chaired a meeting of the Department of Floriculture, Parks, and Gardens to review its functioning and discuss strategies to enhance the sector’s potential, an official statement said.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister highlighted the immense opportunities in the floriculture sector, especially with Kashmir Valley soon to be connected with the rest of the country through railways.

He emphasised the need to leverage this connectivity to market Kashmir’s flowers across India and globally.

“We must engage progressive growers and other stakeholders to fully realise the sector’s potential,” the Chief Minister said.

He further directed the department to plant tulips along Airport Road to enhance the aesthetic appeal and launch ad campaigns to attract more tourists to Srinagar’s iconic Tulip Garden.

Earlier, the Commissioner Secretary gave a detailed presentation on the department’s functioning, highlighting achievements and ongoing projects.

Key milestones and initiatives discussed included, Tulip Show 2024 in which a record 1.7 million tulips of 72 varieties were planted, attracting 4.46 lakh tourists in March 2024.

The meeting also discussed significant developments in the floriculture sector, including the establishment of ornamental cherry tree gardens (Sakura) and the creation of a Tulip Garden in Sanasar.

The establishment of peony and rose gardens at Pahalgam was also highlighted, alongside progress in the process of enlisting six historic Mughal Gardens as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Discussions further focused on various ongoing and upcoming projects aimed at the modernisation and enhancement of the region’s parks and gardens.

These included the upgradation of Bagh-e-Bahu Garden and the establishment of Bour Camp Garden in Jammu.

Other projects discussed were the development of chrysanthemum plantations at Udhampur, the upgradation of Badamwari, and the establishment of the Dara Shikoh Garden.

The creation of theme gardens at Gulmarg, the development of floriculture nurseries, and the establishment of a model flower centre in Jammu were also deliberated.

Additionally, plans for an amphitheatre and beautification projects at Bagh-e-Bahu were reviewed.

The Chief Minister emphasised the importance of modernising and mechanising garden maintenance to enhance efficiency while optimising resources and generating revenue. He urged the department to prioritise initiatives that boost the tourism potential of Jammu and Kashmir while preserving the region’s rich natural heritage.

The Chief Minister emphasised the need for modernisation and mechanisation of garden maintenance, resource optimisation, and revenue generation.

He urged the department to focus on projects that enhance the tourism potential of Jammu and Kashmir while preserving its natural heritage.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 23 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday condemned attempts to incite violence in society, highlighting that the teachings of Jesus Christ promote love, harmony, and brotherhood.

While speaking at the Christmas event hosted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) at its headquarters here, PM Modi stressed the need to work together to embody the values taught by Jesus and strengthen this spirit of unity.

He also condemned last week’s terror attack at Germany’s Magdeburg Christmas Market, where an SUV drove into a crowd, resulting in the deaths of four women and a nine-year-old child, while injuring 205 people. Among the injured were seven Indians.

PM Modi stressed the importance of prioritising human interests alongside national interests, stating that India’s foreign policy reflects this approach.

He highlighted India’s humanitarian efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic, where the country helped over 150 nations by providing medicines and vaccines. This approach, centred on human welfare, had a positive global impact, with countries like Guyana and several island nations expressing deep gratitude.

“India went beyond its capabilities to help other countries during the Covid-19 pandemic, providing medicines to over 150 nations,” he said.

He also highlighted the evacuation of Indians stranded in war-torn nations, saying that no matter where they are or what crisis they face, today’s India sees it as its duty to bring its citizens to safety.

“We brought back our nurses who got stuck in the Gulf countries. It was a very satisfactory moment for me when we safely brought Father Alexis Prem Kumar from war-torn Afghanistan, a decade back. He was stuck there for 8 months and was in hostage… for us, all these missions are not mere diplomatic missions but an emotional commitment to bring back family members,” he said.

The Prime Minister further expressed pride in George Koovakad’s elevation as a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.

“It is a moment of pride that His Holiness Pope Francis has made His Eminence George Koovakad a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church,” he said.

He stressed the significance of hope in transforming the world, drawing attention to India’s achievements over the past decade.

PM Modi pointed out that 250 million people have overcome poverty, and the nation’s economy has grown from the 10th to the 5th largest globally.

He praised the country’s youth for their drive and ambition, and highlighted the empowerment of women across sectors, including entrepreneurship and the armed forces, emphasising that no nation can progress without empowering women.

PM Modi also discussed India’s strides in technology, with advancements in mobile and semiconductor manufacturing. He underlined the importance of technology in empowering the poor and the rapid infrastructure development taking place, including new expressways, rural roads, and metro routes.

These initiatives, he said, inspire hope for a brighter future for India.

The Prime Minister reiterated the values of compassion and selfless service taught by Jesus Christ, stressing the role of institutions in serving society. He commended the government’s initiatives, such as the PM Awas Yojana, which empowers women by building homes in their names, and the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, which has increased women’s participation in Parliament.

PM Modi concluded by reiterating the importance of collective effort in building a developed India.

He expressed his confidence that, with ongoing initiatives like Swachh Bharat and support for local artisans, India will continue to progress.

“A developed India is our shared goal, and together, we will achieve it,” he affirmed, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a hopeful Jubilee Year.

–IANS

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Patna, Dec 23 (IANS) The controversy surrounding the 70th BPSC examination has taken a serious turn, with Leader of Opposition in Bihar Tejashwi Yadav levelling allegations of malpractice and institutional corruption in the recruitment processes.

Tejashwi Yadav has written a letter to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar outlining eight demands, emphasising the need for transparency and fairness in competitive examinations.

Yadav has alleged that the examination conducted on December 13, 2024, was marred by malpractice, pointing to systemic corruption within the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC).

“The cancellation of the examination at the Bapu Examination Centre in Patna and the re-examination at the same venue is a measure aimed at concealing institutional flaws,” Yadav said in his letter.

The RJD leader claimed that BPSC had used employees from a private agency, rather than government employees, to conduct such a significant exam. He strongly criticised the credibility of the examination process.

Tejashwi pointed out that all future exams must be conducted solely by government employees, and advocated for removing private agencies from the process.

“I want to urge the Chief Minister to Identify and penalise those responsible for the malpractice in the December 13 exam. I also demand a high-level independent inquiry into the allegations of corruption in the BPSC,” he said.

Tejashwi demanded a comprehensive reform in BPSC to ensure transparency and eliminate corruption in government recruitment. The state government should provide suitable remedies or compensation to candidates whose efforts were undermined by the irregularities, establish a mechanism to hold the Commission accountable for lapses and ensure the integrity of the merit-based selection process without external influences or biases.

He claimed that reports of irregularities were not limited to the Bapu Examination Centre but also emerged from several other centres. The BPSC has acknowledged the lapses, which indicates systemic flaws.

“I demand the cancellation of the entire 70th Preliminary Examination and the organisation of a re-examination for all candidates to ensure fairness,” Yadav said.

He further said around 90,000 registered candidates were allegedly unable to complete the application process due to corruption and procedural inefficiencies. He advocated for allowing these candidates to fill out the examination form and participate in the re-examination.

“Allegations levelled by students that private coaching institutes predicted more than 25 per cent of the questions in the paper raise concerns about potential leaks. A thorough investigation is needed into it. An independent and impartial judicial probe is required to investigate the widespread irregularities,” he said.

Tejashwi Yadav in his letter said thousands of candidates have been protesting in harsh weather conditions, expressing discontent with the BPSC’s handling of the situation.

He criticised the insensitive behaviour of the state government towards the agitating students.

Tejashwi urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to cancel the 70th Preliminary Examination to eliminate doubts about fairness. He said that the Commission should announce a re-examination date with clear guidelines to rebuild candidate confidence.

–IANS

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