PM Modi likely to visit Bengal for two days later this month

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Kolkata, June 5 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to be on a two-day visit to West Bengal later this month and attend two functions in the state, said BJP leaders in Kolkata on Friday.

On June 20, which will henceforth be celebrated as the ‘Bengal Foundation Day’, the Prime Minister is likely to address a gathering in Tarakeswar, Hooghly district, known for the iconic Tarakeshwar (Lord Shiva) temple there.

The previous Mamata Banerjee-led and Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government used to celebrate “Polia Boishakh (Bengali New Year Day)” as the Bengal Foundation Day, and hence there was no fixed day as per the English Calendar for celebrating the day.

However, the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced that June 20 will be celebrated as Bengal Foundation Day, considering the historical relevance of the day.

On that day in 1947, the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee moved a proposal in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly to partition the province, integrating West Bengal into India.

While Mamata Banerjee opposed celebrating Bengal Foundation Day on June 20 because of the pain of several people involved with partition, the BJP argued that the foundation day of a state should be linked to the historical relevance associated with that day.

Confirming the visit schedule of the Prime Minister, the local BJP legislator from Tarakeswar, Santu Pan, told IANS that as per the tentative schedule, PM Modi will be addressing a gathering at Tarakeswar at 2 p.m. on June 20, on the occasion of Bengal Foundation Day.

“He might also attend some other programmes here on that day. But I am unable to spell out the details right now since we are waiting for the final confirmation from the Prime Minister’s Office on this count,” said Pan.

On the very next day, an insider from the state committee of the BJP said that on June 21, the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend a programme in Kolkata on the occasion of the ‘International Day of Yoga’.

As per the schedule as of now, after finishing his programmes in Tarakeswar on June 20, the Prime Minister will come to Kolkata and spend the night at Lok Bhavan in the city. The tentative venue of the programme on the occasion of International Yoga Day will be at Netaji Indoor Stadium in central Kolkata.

–IANS

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Chandrababu Naidu to attend swearing-in of Delhi CM

Amaravati, Feb 19 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new chief minister of Delhi likely to be held on Thursday.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president left for the national capital on Wednesday evening.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Chandrababu Naidu is likely to call on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Minister for Water Resources C.R. Patil, and Union Minister for Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The Chief Minister is expected to discuss with Amit Shah issues relating various projects and other matters pertaining to the State.

Chandrababu Naidu will discuss with C.R. Patil issues relating to the release of funds for the Polavaram project, particularly on Central assistance for building the left and right canals to supply water with a capacity of 17,500 cusecs.

The Chief Minister is expected to discuss with Shivraj Singh Chouhan the issues being faced by chilli farmers. Naidu, who has written several letters to the Centre mentioning the problems being faced by the chilli farmers, will be directly taking up the issues to the notice of the Union Minister and making a request for Central assistance.

Chandrababu Naidu will be returning to Amaravati by Thursday night.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu are also likely to attend the swearing-in of the new chief minister of Delhi.

Naidu, whose TDP is a key partner in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, earlier in the day thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for sanctioning Rs 608.08 crore for the state under disaster and flood relief.

Chandrababu Naidu took to X to thank the Prime Minister and Home Minister on behalf of the people of Andhra Pradesh.

The High-Level Committee (HLC), under the chairmanship of Home Minister Amit Shah, approved Rs 1,554.99 crore of additional Central assistance under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to five states affected by floods, landslides and cyclonic storms during last year.

–IANS

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World will be a witness to India’s cultural strength at Kumbh: Gajendra Shekhawat

Jodhpur, Dec 26 (IANS) Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Thursday that this year’s Kumbh will showcase India’s strength and cultural power on a global scale.

Speaking to the media about the upcoming Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, Union Minister Shekhawat highlighted the event’s ancient legacy, mentioning its references in the Vedic civilisation, the Mahabharata, the Gupta period, the Chalukya dynasty, and throughout medieval history.

Reflecting on past gatherings, he noted that 20 crore pilgrims attended the Kumbh Mela in 2013 and the 2019 Ardh Kumbh attracted 25 crore.

The Union Minister estimated that 45 crore people will participate in the Mahakumbh this year.

Union Minister Shekhawat emphasised that the district administration, the Uttar Pradesh government, and the Indian government are collaborating on an unprecedented scale to make the Kumbh even more divine and grand.

He also mentioned that the number of Kalpavasis, who stay for the entire period of Kumbh and practise spiritual penance, will reach 20 lakh this time, which is double the usual number.

The Minister added that around 20 lakh foreign tourists are expected to attend this year, with preparations made to ensure they experience the richness of Greater India in one place.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 13 inaugurated and launched multiple development projects worth around Rs 5,500 crore at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister bowed in devotion to Prayagraj, the auspicious land of Sangam, and paid his respects to the saints and sadhus attending the Mahakumbh.

PM Modi expressed gratitude towards the employees, shramiks and Safai Karmacharis who have made the Mahakumbh a grand success with their hard work and dedication.

Reflecting on the magnificent scale and size of the Mahakumbh, the Prime Minister said that it is one of the largest gatherings in the world where lakhs of devotees are welcomed daily for the Mahayajna lasting 45 days and a whole new city is set up for the occasion.

“A new history is being written on the land of Prayagraj,” the Prime Minister exclaimed while underlining that the organisation of Mahakumbh next year would take the spiritual and cultural identity of the nation to new peaks and said that such a ‘MahaYagya’ of unity would be discussed around the world.

“India is a land of sacred sites and pilgrimages,” said PM Modi. He added it was a land of rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Kaveri, Narmada and many other innumerable rivers.

Describing Prayag as the confluence, collection, congregation, combination, influence and power of the sacred flow of these rivers, the importance of many pilgrimage sites and their greatness, the Prime Minister said that Prayag was not just a confluence of three rivers, but more than that.

Explaining the importance, PM Modi remarked that it has been told about Prayag that it is a pious time when the sun enters the house of Makar, and then all the divine powers, nectar, sages and saints descend down to Prayag.

He added that Prayag was one such place without which the Puranas would be left incomplete. He further noted that Prayag was one such place which was praised in the verses of the Vedas.

“Prayag is a place where there are holy places and virtuous areas at every step,” said PM Modi.

Throwing light on the cultural and spiritual significance of Prayagraj, the Prime Minister recited a Sanskrit shloka and explained: “The effect of the Triveni, the glory of Venimadhav, the blessings of Someshwar, the land of penance of Rishi Bhardwaj, the special place of Lord Nagaraj Vasu ji, the immortality of Akshayvat and the grace of God – This is what makes our Teertharaj Prayag.”

He further explained that Prayagraj is a place where all four elements of ‘Dharma’, ‘Arth’, ‘Kama’ and ‘Moksha’ are available.

–IANS

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Baijayant Panda to chair select committee on Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Bill

New Delhi, Oct 1 (IANS) The Lok Sabha has constituted a select committee to examine the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and senior MP Baijayant Panda has been appointed as its Chairperson.

The 24-member panel comprises a diverse mix of lawmakers from across parties, including Supriya Sule, Mahua Moitra, Karti P Chidambaram, Biplab Kumar Deb, and Dr CN Manjunath, among others.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), enacted in 2016, is a landmark reform aimed at streamlining the resolution of corporate distress and individual insolvency. It provides a time-bound framework for resolving insolvency, maximising asset value, and improving credit discipline.

The 2025 amendment bill seeks to refine existing provisions, plug procedural gaps, and enhance the efficiency of resolution mechanisms in line with evolving economic realities.

The Select Committee’s mandate is to scrutinise the bill clause-by-clause, assess its impact on stakeholders, and recommend improvements. Using AI-powered legislative tools, the panel will analyse data from past insolvency cases, simulate outcomes under proposed changes, and evaluate the bill’s alignment with global best practices.

This tech-enabled approach is expected to improve the precision and speed of parliamentary review.

Chairperson Baijayant Panda brings extensive legislative experience and policy acumen to the role. Under his leadership, the committee is expected to engage with industry experts, legal scholars, and financial institutions to ensure the bill reflects practical needs and safeguards public interest.

The committee includes members with backgrounds in law, finance, and governance, such as Dr D Purandeswari, Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, and Dr Shrikant Eknath Shinde. Their expertise will be crucial in navigating complex provisions related to cross-border insolvency, pre-packaged resolution schemes, and creditor rights.

The panel’s deliberations will be pivotal in shaping India’s insolvency landscape, especially as the economy grapples with post-pandemic restructuring and rising corporate debt.

The committee is expected to submit its report in the upcoming session, paving the way for informed debate and legislative action. This development underscores Parliament’s commitment to robust financial reform and highlights the growing role of data-driven policymaking in India’s legislative process.

–IANS

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