PM Modi inaugurates ‘Aadi Mahotsav’

NEW DELHI, FEB 16 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Thursday that the country is working for the tribal population with a pride that was not seen earlier, stressing that their welfare is a matter of “personal relations and sentiments” for him.

Modi inaugurated ‘Aadi Mahotsav’, a mega national tribal festival to showcase the tribal culture on a large scale, and listed steps taken by his government since 2014 to boost progress of the community.

For the first time, a tribal in Droupadi Murmu has occupied the top constitutional post in the country, he said, adding the budgetary allocation for the community has risen manifold since 2014.

He called upon the people of Delhi and neighbouring states to visit the festival to witness the rich tribal culture and nutritious food products being showcased from across the country.

Let’s ensure that they sell all their products, the prime minister said. The government is now going from Delhi to those considered remote and bringing them in the mainstream, he said. Tribals played a big role in India’s freedom movement but attempts were made for decades to ignore these golden chapters and the sacrifices made by men and women from the community, he said, adding his government is now bringing them to light in the “Amrit Kaal”. “For the first time, the country has started celebrating Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas on the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. Museums on the life and contribution of tribal leaders are coming up in various states. It will provide inspiration and give direction to the country for many centuries,” he said. Modi said his government has worked to boost the demand for tribal products, noting that over 1.25 crore tribals, especially women, are part of over 80 lakh self help groups across the country. “Aadi Mahotsav celebrates India’s glorious tribal culture and traditions. It is taking our strength of ‘unity in diversity’ to new heights. It makes our idea of ‘vikas and virasat’ livelier,” he said. “Aadi Mahotsav is like an infinite sky where the diversity of India is projected like the colours of a rainbow,” the PM said.

Modi recalled his long association and work among the tribal community as he worked in differ-

Centre misusing governors’ posts by filling them with loyalists: CPI-M

NEW DELHI, FEB 16

(PTI): The CPI-M on Thursday accused the central government of “misusing” governors’ posts by choosing to fill them with people from a “pool” of loyal party functionaries, RSS swayamsewaks, and pliable retired bureaucrats and generals.

The latest editorial of the CPI-Marxist mouthpiece, People’s Daily, has said that the appointment of Justice S Abdul Nazeer, who had retired from the Supreme Court just two months ago, as the governor of Andhra Pradesh is an “egregious example” of how the Modi government distributes these posts.

“The recent appointment of six new governors by the president of India has revealed a lot about how the post of governor is viewed and cynically misused by the Modi government.

“It may be recalled that Justice Nazeer was part of the five-member bench which gave a unanimous verdict in the Ayodhya dispute case in 2019. As such, and the RSS,” it said. The party said that how these governors perform their duties is determined by their loyalty to the ruling party. ent capacities, starting as an RSS pracharak to BJP organisation leader and then heading government first in Gujarat and then at the Centre, and said their welfare has been a matter for personal relations and sentiments for him.

“This is evident in how one of the appointees has expressed slavish gratitude to the ruling party leaders.

“Tribal welfare is also a matter of personal relationships and emotions for me...Tribal life has taught me a great deal about the country and its traditions,” the prime minister said while recalling that he spent important years of his life in the tribal belt of Umargam to Ambaji.

He said he has tried to ensure that gifts given to foreign leaders include the works of tribals. The prime minister has often highlighted the traditional lifestyle of tribals who have traditionally practised sustainable development and which offers solutions to the challenges of climate change and global warming. He said more than 3,000 Van Dhan Kendras have been established in the country under the Van Dhan Mission. About 90 minor forest products have been brought into the ambit of the minimum support price, seven times more than the number in 2014.

No desire to become PM: Nitish Kumar

PATNA, FEB 16 (PTI):

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said that he has no desire to be in the race for prime ministership, voicing disapproval of slogans raised by workers of his JD(U). Kumar, who has become a strong votary of opposition unity since he parted ways with the BJP in August last year, was replying to queries from journalists about chants of ‘Nitish for PM’ from JD(U) workers off and on. “I keep telling them not to do so. I have no such wish,” said the longestserving CM of Bihar, who is being accused by the BJP of having betrayed the mandate of the last assembly polls for pursuing his own national ambitions.

Kumar, who is now with the multi-party Mahagathbadhan, comprising the Congress, RJD and the Left, was also asked about the possibility of expansion of his cabinet in the near future. “That is not a big issue. We have a cabinet that is large enough. But some parties may be wanting a better share and there are some vacancies because of resignations. We will do the needful at an appropriate time,” said the CM.

Centre not giving nod to flood protection plan, says Mamata

Medinipur town.

Mamata Banerjee

MEDINIPUR/PURU

LIA , FEB 15 (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged that the BJP-led central government is delaying providing clearances to a flood prevention plan necessary for the people of Ghatal area in Paschim Medinipur district.

She also claimed that the Centre was not releasing funds to the state to construct roads in rural areas and build houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

“We have already processed the Ghatal Master Plan. It will benefit at least 17 lakh people. But the Centre is not giving its clearance, though our ministers had met officials in New Delhi three to four times. Once implemented, this will help us stop flooding of the area,” Banerjee said at an official function in

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Ghatal is a low-lying riverine area in Paschim Medinipur district that gets affected by floods almost every year. The Rs 1,500-crore ‘Ghatal Master Plan’ is a mega project that entails dredging of riverbeds and strengthening of embankments of 10 major rivers including Rupnarayan, Shilabati and Kansabati, which get swollen during monsoon causing deluges.

Laying foundation stones for a slew of projects, the chief minister also claimed that the Centre is not paying the state its share of the GST collected from West Bengal.

“There are several roads in rural Bengal which need to be reconstructed. We are rebuilding 11,500 km of roads in rural Bengal and allocated Rs 3,000 crore for it. The Centre is not providing funds for it,” she said. She also claimed that the Centre is not allocating funds for the ‘Banglar Bari’ housing project and even Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awas Yojana (PMGAY).

Alleging that the Centre was not giving funds for the 100-day job scheme, Banerjee said that the state is being deprived.