Jaipur: CBI court gives 7 years jail to ex-bank manager for Rs 3.61 crore fraud

New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in his ‘Sandesh to Soldiers’ on the eve of India’s 79th Independence Day, hailed Operation Sindoor as a “balanced military response” and a testament to the nation’s shift towards modern, self-reliant defence capabilities.

Singh said the operation, conducted under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, was a “shining example of precise and successful military strategy,” integrating drone warfare, layered air defence, electronic warfare, and network-centric operations.

“India is no longer dependent on foreign technology,” he stressed, adding that the mission underscored the government’s commitment to indigenous defence production.

In a swift and targeted strike, nine terror training camps, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters, were destroyed without crossing the LoC or harming civilians. “We are tolerant, but when it comes to the safety of our people and dignity of our country, we face every challenge boldly,” Singh said, vowing complete eradication of terrorism.

Recalling the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Singh said Operation Sindoor and Operation Mahadev were fitting responses, also avenging past attacks on Parliament, Mumbai’s Taj, and Amarnath pilgrims.

He praised the Army, CRPF, and J&K Police for neutralising three top LeT commanders in Dachigam last month.

Highlighting defence sector progress, the minister noted that domestic manufacturing now accounts for 65 per cent of needs, up from 30 per cent a decade ago, with annual production touching Rs 1.51 lakh crore and exports at a record Rs 23,622 crore.

Targets for 2029 include Rs 3 lakh crore in production and Rs 50,000 crore in exports. Singh also lauded ongoing Armed Forces modernisation with platforms like INS Arihant, Rafale-Marine, and Prachand helicopters. On infrastructure, he pointed to 125 BRO projects, including Ladakh’s Shinkun La tunnel, set to be the world’s highest.

Celebrating women’s growing role in the military, he cited the NDA’s first 17 women graduates and record-breaking naval voyages by women officers.

He also urged youth to contribute to nation-building under initiatives like Digital India and Make in India.

Extending Independence Day greetings, Singh expressed gratitude to soldiers, veterans, and their families, pledging continued welfare measures, and reaffirmed India’s resolve for a secure, self-reliant future.

–IANS

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Thiruvananthapuram, June 23 (IANS) Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday alleged corruption behind the proposal in the state Budget to grant tax concessions for low-alcohol liquor, triggering a sharp confrontation in the Kerala Assembly.

Speaking during the discussion on the Opposition’s notice seeking an adjournment motion on the issue, Vijayan alleged that the move was aimed at facilitating undue gains for a private liquor company.

The Opposition leader claimed that the tax proposal had been inserted into the Budget with the intention of benefiting a private firm. He said the Budget schedule itself indicated that the new tax proposal had not been properly considered or planned.

“This will create an opportunity for a private liquor company to make huge profits. That is the serious issue involved,” Vijayan said.

He alleged that the move was intended to benefit a Karnataka-based liquor company and claimed that the tax reduction was aimed at favouring the private liquor major Bacardi.

Vijayan said the Budget contained a proposal that could have serious consequences for the state and urged Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan to allow the adjournment motion. However, the Speaker rejected the notice, saying the issue was part of the Budget discussion and could not be taken up as an adjournment motion.

“Can this be allowed when a person as fair as you is sitting in the Chair?” Vijayan asked the Speaker.

Following the refusal to admit the motion, the Opposition staged a strong protest inside the House. Opposition members raised slogans, entered the well of the Assembly, and later walked out.

The Speaker said that the Watch and Ward staff would not be called despite the protest. He maintained that the issue was one that had to be raised during the Budget debate and that the government would respond at the appropriate time.

“Our fears of corruption are increasing as even this aspect has been deleted from the Sabha TV. This is something new,” said K.N. Balagopal, who spoke to the media after the opposition walked out of the house.

Balagopal, the former Finance Minister, added that during the previous LDF government’s tenure, a proposal to produce wine and low-grade alcohol from fruits and vegetables had been kept on hold in view of its possible social impact.

–IANS

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Amaravati, Aug 17 (IANS) Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party President, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, on Monday slammed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu over suspension of five teachers for meeting Union government representatives to seek exemption from the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers.

Y.S. Jagan took to social media to question the Chief Minister over vindictiveness against government employees, particularly teachers.

“On the first day, teachers belonging to teachers’ associations in YSR Kadapa district were suspended, and on the second day, teachers from Anantapur and Sri Sathya Sai districts were suspended. Why were these five teachers suspended? What crime did they commit?,” asked the YSRCP chief.

Y.S. Jagan mentioned that more than one lakh senior teachers are facing difficulties because they are now being asked to write the TET examination after so many years of service, even though no such TET requirement existed when they joined service.

“Is it a crime for them to seek exemption from this rule and submit a representation to the Union Government with the support of MPs standing by them,” Y.S. Jagan asked.

Demanding immediate revocation of the suspensions, the YSRCP chief urged CM Naidu to apologise to the suspended teachers and rectify the mistake. He warned that YSRCP will take this issue seriously and extend complete legal support to the teachers in challenging these unjust suspensions.

Y.S. Jagan said, “Your Red Book-driven jungle raj is now not even sparing government teachers. Chandrababu garu, should you not have been the one to urge the Union Government to remove this TET requirement? As a partner in the NDA, why did you not pass a resolution in the Assembly and exert pressure on the Centre?”

“You failed to do what you were supposed to do. You abandoned the problems of senior teachers. But when they themselves tried to bring their problems to the notice of the Union Government with the support of our party MPs, you branded them politically motivated and suspended them,” he said.

“Is their only fault that they tried to do what you could not? Is submitting a representation a crime? Does it warrant suspension? Instead of resolving an issue, it is deplorable that the government is viewing the very same issue through a political lens and attributing political motives to teachers. How can you stoop to such a level?,” asked former CM Jagan.

Jagan accused CM Naidu of abandoning all the promises made to employees in his party’s manifesto. He said though the government is now in its third year, the promises of interim relief and Pay Revision Commission have not been fulfilled while five DAs remained pending.

“Chandrababu garu, people are watching the manner in which you are acting with the arrogance of power and pursuing dictatorial policies. You have reached a stage where you cannot even tolerate your own shadow,” added YS Jagan.

–IANS

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