2002 riots: Gujarat govt opposes bail plea of Teesta Setalvad

and RB Sreekumar, as part of a larger conspiracy to blame the Gujarat government for the riots. Setalvad was tasked to defame Gujarat, the then chief minister Narendra Modi and BJP workers, the state government said.

Continued from Page 1 agency is yet to issue an official release stating the reason of Balaji's arrest, it is believed that it was connection with a money laundering case related to a job racket when he was Minister in the former AIADMK government led by late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa during 2011-15.

Addressing the media here, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Minister for Sports Development and Youth Welfare Udayanidhi Stalin said that the ruling party cannot be cowed down by the intimidation tactics of the Central government.

Udayanidhi and Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian met Balaji at the hospital.

Australia’s doctors call for overhaul of ‘sick care’ system

Continued from Page 1 than one focused on keeping Australians well, increasing pressure on hospitals. According to Robson, a significant boost in spending on preventative care would reap in benefits for the economy. The speech coincided with the release of a new AMA report showing that public hospital elective surgery waiting lists cost the Australian economy A$4.6 billion ($3.1 billion) annually. The report highlights the growing rate of chronic disease, with almost half the population in the country having one or more chronic diseases and an aging population that is putting the healthcare system under increasing pressure.

"As the AMA analysis uncovered, we currently have hundreds of thousands of people waiting too long for elective surgery, people waiting too long in emergency departments and general practices struggling to survive,"

Robson said in a statement.

"While it's true that investment is needed to tackle these issues, we can also improve efficiency, improve access to care and the quality of care."

The AMA report said that addressing hospital exit block could save A$2 billion per year, and modelling estimated that a tax on sugary drinks, which it has long campaigned for, would result in 16,000 fewer cases of type 2 diabetes, 4,400 fewer cases of heart disease, and 1,100 fewer cases of stroke.

"We need to reframe our thinking and focus more on how the money we invest in healthcare can improve health outcomes and support economic growth," Robson said.

"Because the evidence is clear -- keeping people healthy reduces the costs and burden on our healthcare system and drives economic growth and productivity."

Deepotsav 2023 in Ayodhya will be the grandest ever

Kund, Bharat Kund and every house will be lit up with diyas".

Ahmedabad, June 15 (IANS)

The Gujarat government has strongly opposed the bail plea of activist Teesta Setalvad in the Gujarat High Court and presented arguments highlighting her potential to tamper with evidence in the case related to the 2002 riots. The prosecution on Wednesday claimed that Congress leader Ahmed Patel had paid Rs 30 lakh to Setalvad, Sanjiv Bhatt

Setalvad's bail plea had already been opposed by the government last year in the sessions court on similar grounds.

During the court hearing, the state's prosecution labelled Setalvad as a "tool of a politician with the aim of defaming Gujarat". The public prosecutor emphasised that Setalvad, along with police officers Sreekumar and Bhatt, conspired to propagate the larger conspiracy aspect and destabilise the Gujarat government after the Godhra riots in 2002. The prosecution further revealed that Setalvad had allegedly received financial assistance from a prominent leader of a rival political party. They cited witness testimonies, including that of Setalvad's former close aide Rais Khan, who described a meeting between Setalvad and Patel "where instructions were given to ensure punishment for certain individuals". The prosecution supported their claims by presenting recorded statements of witnesses who claimed to have made the payment to Setalvad on Patel's instructions.

Lucknow, June 16 (IANS) The Deepotsav celebration in Ayodhya this year will be the grandest ever with a target to light 21 lakh earthen diyas.

This year's Deepotsav comes just before Ram Lalla is enthroned at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that this Deepotsav would set a new record as last year 15.76 lakh diyas illuminated Ayodhya.

According to a state government spokesman, "this year 21 lakh diyas (earthen lamps) will be lit. Each ghat, mutt, temple, Surya

The Yogi Adityanath government has been organising Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya on the eve of Diwali every year since it came to power in March 2017. Stressing on Ayodhya's importance for his government, the Chief Minister said: "At present, projects of around Rs 32,000 crore are underway in Ayodhya. In no city across the country are projects in such a large number underway."

He added that the entire world would be attracted to Ayodhya when Prime Minister Narendra Modi enthrones Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of Ram Temple after 500 years.

The Chief Minister listed the ongoing development projects in Ayodhya. He mentioned upcoming international airport, railway station and other projects.