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Amaravati, Dec 10 (IANS) Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Wednesday that people are vexed with the coalition government in just six months as it has failed on all fronts.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President called on party leaders and workers to counter the false propaganda and diversion politics of the TDP-led coalition government.

Addressing the local bodies leaders of YSRCP from Prakasam district, Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of engaging in diversion politics to cover up the coalition government failures.

The coalition has failed to implement its election promises and failed to make budgetary allocations while during our term we had given an annual welfare calendar with dates and strictly followed it in the DBT format to avoid corruption and middlemen, he said.

“The coalition on the other hand has done away with all the welfare schemes we implemented with farmers not getting MSP and paddy procurement not being taken up. Fee reimbursement was not given affecting the students and power charges have been increased burdening the people,” he said.

Jagan Mohan Reddy claimed that the YSRCP’s governance focused on transparency, welfare, and infrastructure development, including the RBKs, door-to-door rice distribution reforms, and infrastructure projects like medical colleges, Ramayapatnam Port and Veligonda irrigation tunnels.

Addressing the controversy over rice distribution, Jagan questioned how the opposition could spread false claims when the central and state machinery, including customs and security, remains under their control. He accused Finance Minister P. Keshav’s relatives of monopolising rice exports while misrepresenting facts.

Under the YSRCP, rice was directly delivered to beneficiaries, eliminating corruption. He noted that the current government has reversed these reforms, reintroducing dealer-based distribution, low-quality rice, and ration mafia practices.

He blamed the coalition government for burdening people with taxes and escalating electricity tariffs by over Rs 15,000 crore. “Chandrababu’s idea of wealth creation is exploitation and burdening the common man,” Jagan remarked, referring to Naidu’s governance as “tax-heavy and oppressive.” He accused Naidu of privatising public assets like ports and medical colleges.

YSRCP has announced a series of campaigns, including a farmers’ support programme on December 13, a protest against electricity tariff hike on December 27, and a rally on January 3 to address fee reimbursement delays. Jagan urged party members to strengthen grassroots connections and actively counter misinformation through social media.

“This fight isn’t just against an opposition leader but against a machinery of lies,” Jagan said, affirming his confidence in the YSRCP’s return to power through trust and credibility.

–IANS

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Panaji, June 4 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Rohan Harmalkar, a key accused and alleged mastermind in the high-profile Goa land scam, under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.

Harmalkar was taken into custody on June 3 and produced before the Special PMLA Court in Mapusa on Wednesday. The court granted ED custody till June 18 for further interrogation and investigation.

The case pertains to large-scale illegal sale and transfer of land across prime locations in Goa, including tourist hotspots like Anjuna, Arpora, and Assagao in Bardez taluka, by forging documents, impersonating legal heirs, and tampering with government records.

According to the ED, the probe was initiated based on multiple FIRs registered by the Goa Police against Harmalkar and others for cheating rightful landowners through a series of criminal acts, including impersonation, creation of fake sale deeds, counterfeiting of official stamps, and manipulation of revenue records.

The investigation has revealed that Rohan Harmalkar played a central role in orchestrating the scam, which involved the illegal transfer of land parcels measuring several lakh square meters. These transactions were allegedly carried out without the knowledge or consent of the original landowners or their heirs, many of whom have now come forward as victims.

Incriminating documents seized during ED’s search operations on April 24 revealed a pattern of systematic land grabbing and fraudulent title transfers. The seized materials included forged sale deeds, manipulated land records, and counterfeit stamps used to validate illegal property transactions.

Harmalkar had been evading arrest since the April raids and was finally apprehended on June 3. The ED has termed him as one of the “main conspirators” in the scam.

Further investigation is underway to uncover the full scale of the fraud and identify other individuals and entities involved.

–IANS

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Chandigarh, Jan 20 (IANS) The Haryana government has notified the Vehicle Scrappage and Recycling Facility Incentive Policy of 2024. The initiative will enable proper disposal and recycling of old vehicles while promoting environmental sustainability through reduction of pollution.

Sharing details, Industries and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh on Monday said after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) fixed the passing limit period of 10 years for old diesel vehicles and 15 years for petrol vehicles in the National Capital Region (NCR), the number of condemned vehicles is continuously increasing and, in view of this the state has taken this decision.

He emphasised this initiative will enable vehicle parts, recycling and reuse, contributing to both environmental protection and economic growth. Vehicle owners will also get financial benefits, and the public will get relief from parking condemned vehicles on roads, streets and other public places, said the minister in a statement.

He said the government plans to implement the policy as an industrial scheme, offering capital subsidies or state GST reimbursement to new industrial units. Under the policy, the Department of Industries and Commerce will develop a 10-year land leasing module through the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC), he added.

The minister said the government would provide financial assistance to start-ups, women entrepreneurs, and candidates of the Scheduled Caste category to establish venture capital funds.

Financial assistance up to Rs 20 crore will be provided covering 10 per cent of project costs, excluding land. Complete stamp duty reimbursement is offered in D-category industrial blocks, whilst B and C blocks receive 75 per cent reimbursement.

According to the minister, 50 per cent grant of the project cost will be given for setting up the centre of excellence, which will be up to a maximum of Rs 5 crore. Besides, a grant of Rs 50 lakh will also be given to 10 such industries which provide skills and employment to the youth of the state.

–IANS

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