Science Park, research centre planned at Union Carbide site in Bhopal: CM Yadav

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi/Bhopal, Feb 28 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday said the state government plans to develop a Science Park and a national-level research centre at the site of the former Union Carbide factory in Bhopal.

After meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, CM Yadav said he apprised him of various initiatives undertaken jointly by the Centre and the state government.

In a statement, the Chief Minister said a comprehensive plan has been prepared to develop 87 acres of land at the site into a Bhopal Gas Tragedy Memorial, a Science Park, a Convention Centre, a modern laboratory dedicated to national security and a national research centre focused on development.

Referring to the Bhopal gas tragedy of December 3, 1984, CM Yadav said the city had witnessed one of the worst industrial disasters in history, in which more than 25,000 people lost their lives over the years. He added that the state government had recently completed the transportation and disposal of hazardous waste stored at the Union Carbide factory premises.

The Chief Minister said he sought guidance from HM Shah regarding the development of a grand memorial on the vacant land of the former factory site.

He also informed HM Shah about events organised by the state government to mark the legacy of Samrat Vikramaditya, whom he described as one of the greatest rulers in history.

CM Yadav said strong action has been taken against LWE activities in the state and noted that Balaghat district had long been affected by Left Wing Extremism. He said discussions were held on organising the Baiga Mahotsav in the district to promote regional development.

Referring to healthcare initiatives, the Chief Minister said a state-wide vaccination drive for the prevention of cervical cancer has been launched, under which more than eight lakh girls will receive free vaccination.

He added that the state government is extending assistance to farmers facing crop losses due to natural calamities after conducting necessary surveys.

–IANS

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CM Yogi is not against Urdu; he aims to end narrow-mindedness: RS MP Dinesh Sharma

Lucknow, March 1 (IANS) Rajya Sabha member from Uttar Pradesh, Dinesh Sharma, launched a blistering attack on All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) national president Asaduddin Owaisi.

He stated that Owaisi’s stature is far smaller compared to that of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and that Owaisi’s statements are just aimed at spreading rumours.

Sharma clarified that CM Yogi Adityanath has never made any statement against the Urdu language. He explained that the

CM’s remarks were not aimed at opposing any particular language but were intended to eliminate narrow-mindedness that creates divisions in society.

Sharma further emphasised that Urdu is not a foreign language, but rather an integral part of Indian culture, and is on par with other Indian languages.

He came heavily down on Owaisi’s politics dubbing it as negative and provocative. He accused him of consistently expressing anti-national ideas and attempting to create divisions in society.

Rajya Sabha MP Sharma said that Owaisi’s policies only promote division, whereas the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has worked towards unity and development in the country.

He also pointed out that the BJP’s victories in Muslim-majority seats have exposed the falsity of Owaisi’s claims.

“The victories in Azamgarh, Meerut, and other Muslim-majority areas demonstrate that the Muslim community is placing their trust in the BJP,” he said.

Sharma described the BJP as a “cadre-based party” that works for the welfare of the people and has the capability to fulfil its commitments.

He concluded by slamming Owaisi’s political approach, stating that his goal is to create rifts and divide people, but such divisive ideologies have no place anymore.

Earlier, Owaisi had said the UP chief minister does not know that Urdu is part of Uttar Pradesh’s culture.

Owaisi said: “The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister doesn’t even know that Urdu is a part of UP’s culture. People of RSS and BJP don’t know that Urdu is protected by the Constitution, just like other languages.”

–IANS

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Way paved for India’s Gulf-bound rice exports to resume as war clouds lift

New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) The Israel-Iran ceasefire has paved the way for India’s Basmati exports to resume to the Gulf region, which is a major market for the aromatic rice, with Iran accounting for as much as 35 per cent of the total shipments.

Around one lakh tonnes of Basmati rice was stuck at Indian ports due to the 12-day war between Israel and Iran as ships could not sail to the conflict zone.

These shipments were mainly stranded at the Kandla and Mundra ports on the Gujarat coast.

India’s rice shipments to the Gulf countries pass through the Strait of Hormuz and with the war clouds having lifted the coast is clear for the resumption of ships to sail through.

The welcome relief is also reflected in the Indian stock markets with the shares of Indian rice exporters such LT Foods, KRBL and Chaman Lal Setia Exports, which had crashed during the 12-day war, bouncing back after US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

Indian rice exports (Basmati and non-Basmati) to Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, and Oman in the Gulf region.

As much as 80 per cent of India’s Basmati rice is exported to the Gulf, and 35 per cent of India’s Basmati rice is exported to Iran, according to industry sources.

In 2024-25, India exported Basmati rice worth $753 million to Iran up from $681 million in 2023-24, according to data compiled by the Commerce Ministry.

India’s rice imports shot up in 2024-25 because of the increase in farm yields due to a better monsoon.

The erratic monsoon in 2023-24 had adversely impacted the agricultural sector and this had led to high food inflation.

The Indian government had been forced to impose restrictions on rice exports to increase the availability of the food grain in the domestic market and bring down prices that were threatening to spin out of control.

–IANS

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Have better things to do: Tharoor’s retort to Cong leader’s ‘super spokesperson’ swipe

Panama, May 29 (IANS) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday hit back at the ‘zealots’, in an apparent reference to Congress leader Udit Raj and said that his statement on India’s evolving counter-terrorism operation were being distorted and twisted for ‘vested interests’.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP, while heading from Panama to Bogota (Colombia) – the next destination in India’s global outreach mission on Operation Sindoor, took to X on Thursday and stated that he was was clearly and explicitly speaking about reprisals for terrorist attacks and not about previous wars.

Congress leader Udit Raj, rather a section of party leaders, were riled up over Tharoor’s praise of Modi government’s policy of zero tolerance on terrorism in Panama and took a swipe, dubbing him as the BJP’s ‘super spokesperson’.

Tharoor ticked off Congress colleague without taking name and wrote on X, “For those zealots fulminating about my supposed ignorance of Indian valour across the LoC…. I was clearly and explicitly speaking only about reprisals for terrorist attacks and not about previous wars.”

He further said “critics and trolls” are welcome to distort his views and that he has “better things to do”. Tharoor said that his remarks were preceded by a reference to the several attacks that have taken place in recent years alone, during which previous Indian responses were both restrained and constrained by our responsible respect for the LoC and the IB.

The row erupted after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, leading a multi-party delegation as part of a global outreach programme after Operation Sindoor, said in recent years, India’s stance on terrorism had changed and that terrorists now understand they will face consequences for their actions.

His remark did not go down well with his party colleagues, who launched a scathing attack on him for ‘undermining’ Congress ‘golden history’.

Udit Raj said that Tharoor should be declared the BJP’s spokesperson and claimed that the latter was “denigrating the golden history of Congress” by suggesting that, before the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, India never crossed the Line of Control (LoC) or international border.

“In 1965, the Indian Army entered Pakistan at multiple points, surprising the Pakistanis in the Lahore sector. In 1971, India split Pakistan into two, and during the UPA government, several surgical strikes were conducted without politicising them. How could you be so dishonest to the party that gave you so much?” Raj posted.

Congress leader Pawan Khera also endorsed Udit Raj’s scathing attack on Tharoor by reposting his tweet.

–IANS

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