PM Modi to chair Chief Secretaries meet in Delhi tomorrow

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, Dec 13 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the fourth National Conference of Chief Secretaries in Delhi on December 14 and December 15 to prepare a common social and development agenda for higher economic growth, ahead of the Budget 2025-26.

The Conference will discuss how to strengthen cooperative federalism and ensure better coordination between the Centre and the States to achieve faster growth and development.

The Conference has been held annually for the last three years. First Chief Secretaries Conference was held in June 2022 at Dharamshala, followed by second and third conference at New Delhi in January 2023 and December 2023 respectively.

The three-day Conference to be held from December 13 to December 15 and will emphasise on the evolution and implementation of a common development agenda and blueprint for cohesive action in partnership with the States.

It will lay the ground for collaborative action to harness India’s demographic dividend by promoting entrepreneurship, enhancing skilling initiatives, and creating sustainable employment opportunities for both rural and urban populations.

Based on the extensive deliberations between Central Ministries/Departments, NITI Aayog, States/UTs and domain experts, the fourth National Conference will focus on the theme ‘Promoting Entrepreneurship, Employment & Skilling — Leveraging the Demographic Dividend’ covering best practices and strategies for States/UTs to follow.

Under this overarching theme, special emphasis will be on six areas — Manufacturing, Services, Rural Non-farm, Urban, Renewable Energy, and Circular Economy, which have been identified for detailed discussions.

Four special sessions will also be held on Frontier Technology for Viksit Bharat, Developing Cities as Economic Growth Hubs, Economic Reforms in States for Investment, and Capacity Building through Mission Karmayogi.

Besides, focused deliberations over meals would be held on Atmanirbharata in Agriculture: Edible Oils & Pulses, Care Economy for the Ageing Population, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana Implementation, and Bharatiya Gyan Parampara.

Best practices from States/UTs under each of the themes would also be presented at the Conference to encourage cross-learning across States.

Chief Secretaries, senior officials of all States/Union Territories, domain experts among others will be present at the Conference.

–IANS

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Stalin calls for democratic forces to unite against ‘One Nation, One Election’

Chennai, Dec 16 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, has urged all democratic forces in the country to unite against the ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE) Bill being pushed by the BJP-led Union government.

CM Stalin alleged that the BJP, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is advancing this proposal to divert attention from its failure to address critical issues.

In a statement shared on social media platform X, CM Stalin wrote, “All the democratic forces must unite and fight tooth and nail against this abomination imposed in the garb of electoral reform, to save India, its diversity, and the Constitution.”

He asserted that the INDIA bloc (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) will resist the “anti-federal and impractical” ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, as it could lead the country towards a unitary form of governance, jeopardising its diversity and democracy.

CM Stalin further claimed that the Union government’s push for ‘One Nation, One Election’ reflects an ulterior motive of introducing a presidential form of governance, which he said goes against the spirit of India’s Constitution.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister cautioned that the proposed Bill, if passed and implemented, would eliminate the legal checks and balances enshrined in the Constitution.

These periodic elections, he emphasised, were designed by the framers of the Constitution to safeguard the nation against anarchy and totalitarianism.

“State elections would lose their political significance, and regional sentiments and diversity would be destroyed,” CM Stalin warned.

He also remarked that the BJP lacks the required majority to pass such a critical piece of legislation but is making a “brazen attempt” to divert attention from its governance failures.

It may be recalled that CM Stalin had earlier moved a resolution in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in February 2024 opposing the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal.

At that time, he had stated, “The Legislative Assembly urges the Union Government not to implement the ‘One Nation, One Election’ policy, as it goes against the principles of democracy, is impractical, and is not enshrined in the Constitution of India.”

During the debate on the resolution, BJP MLA Vanathi Sreenivasan from Coimbatore defended the proposal, arguing, “India is the largest democratic country, and a committee has been formed to discuss the idea of ‘One Nation, One Election.’ Every party can voice its opinions in the committee. Polls are held every year in some state or the other, and ‘One Nation, One Election’ can serve as a remedy to this. Even former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi mentioned the need for ‘One Nation, One Election’ in his book ‘Nenjukku Neethi’”.

The Union Cabinet recently approved the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill, which is now set to be introduced in Parliament.

The government plans to refer the Bill to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny.

Earlier this year, a high-level panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind submitted its report on the feasibility of the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal.

–IANS

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Haryana State Women Commission vice-chairperson, driver held for taking Rs 1 lakh bribe

Chandigarh, Dec 15 (IANS) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) team of Jind on Saturday evening arrested Sonia Aggarwal, vice-chairperson of the Haryana State Women Commission, while her personal assistant (PA)-cum-driver Kulbir was caught red-handed while allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 1 lakh in lieu of making settlement in a marital dispute between a couple, an official said.

The action was initiated under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kamaljeet Singh. The team has recovered Rs 1 lakh from the driver.

Confirming action in connection with the matter, the Haryana ACB wrote in a post on Saturday on social media platform X: “The team of Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau today arrested Haryana Women Commission Vice-President Sonia Agarwal and her driver Kulbir on charges of taking a bribe of Rs1,00000. The ACB team succeeded in catching the accused Kulbir red-handed while taking a bribe of Rs 1,00000. Investigation is going on in this case. @cmohry #Corruption #vigilance.”

As per official information, Anil of Julana in Jind district — posted as a Junior Basic Teacher — and his wife, who is in Haryana Police and posted at Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar district, had some dispute for a long time.

Anil’s wife had filed a complaint against him with the Haryana State Women Commission, after which he had been summoned by the commission for inquiry. They appeared before Sonia Aggarwal on December 12 during the hearing.

Meanwhile, Anil came in contact with Aggarwal’s PA, who reportedly demanded Rs 1 lakh for a settlement in the case.

As per sources, Anil approached the ACB, following which a case was registered under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The ACB team laid a trap and caught Kulbir while taking money from the complainant near a park in Hisar on Saturday.

Simultaneously, another team raided the residence of Sonia Aggarwal at Pratap Colony in Kharkhoda, but she was not present there. The team called her and searched the house in the presence of her parents.

The team reportedly took her to the women’s police station in Sonepat for further investigation.

The DSP said Sonia Aggarwal had been arrested.

–IANS

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