Modi govt’s zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism will continue: Shah

HYDERABAD, MAR 12

(PTI): Noting that the Centre has successfully tackled several internal security challenges in the last nine years, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday stressed that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government’s policy of zerotolerance towards terrorism would continue.

Speaking at the 54th Raising Day celebrations of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) here, he said separatism, terrorism and anti-national activities in any part of the country will be dealt with firmly.

Highlighting the role of CAPFs (Central Armed Police Forces) and state police in the fight against terror, Shah termed it ‘significant’ and said it has been demonstrated in the last nine years.

Speaking of the security situation in parts of the country, he affirmed that violence in Kashmir, insurgency in Northeast and Left Wing Extremism-affected areas is coming down, while

President

people’s confidence is increasing.

The number of people involved in terror related activities is on the decline, many are giving up arms and returning to mainstream, he said. Averring that any country can make progress only if the security of its airports, ports and industrial establishments is assured, Shah said CISF’s history of 53 years shows that it has immensely contributed to the economic progress of the nation.

The security of airports, ports and other establishments of national importance is very important if the target of five trillion dollar economy set by PM Modi is to be realized, he pointed out, expressing confidence that CISF will prepare itself to meet all the future challenges. Shah further said the Union Home Ministry would leave no stone unturned to equip the CISF with the modern technologies to face the challenges of the future.

In this context, he said the Home Ministry has already drawn up an action plan. In the next 10 years, several opportunities would be available to CISF for the development. In the contemporary digital age, CISF has provided security to its stakeholders, he said adding that the security protocol has been made impenetrable by equipping it with state-ofthe-art technologies like robotics, artificial intelligence.

On the hybrid model adopted by CISF, the Union Home Minister said it is going to enhance the force’s role in the times to come.

BRS taunts Amit Shah with ‘washing powder’ welcome posters

HYDERABAD, MAR 12 (AGENCIES):

The model would pave way for its use in advisory and many other roles in private companies as well.

In the coming decades, the central force would be able to safeguard even the private companies from security threats related to drones and modern technology.

Observing that India has become a fast-growing economy today, Shah said it is our responsibility to keep the country’s institutions, mines, ports, and airports safe.

The Union Home Minister further said there are several challenges facing the country today, such as counterfeit currency trade, infiltration and narcotics, and with a bright history, CISF has secured the country.

Later, Shah paid homage to the CISF personnel who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty since its inception. CISF Director General (DG) Sheel Vardhan Singh spoke on the occasion.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders set up a hoarding of ‘Washing Powder Nirma’ in a sarcastic welcome to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Hyderabad on Sunday.

In continuation to various posters that surfaced on the walls of Hyderabad against BJP leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday, another hoarding giving Amit Shah a sarcastic welcome has come up at JBS junction in Hyderabad today, reports NDTV news.

Posters against BJP continue to surface in Hyderabad since Saturday when BRS MLC and Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s daughter K Kavitha appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. BRS leaders put up a hoarding that read ‘Welcome Amit Shah’. The hoarding featured morphed images of the

‘Nirma girl’ with faces of BJP leaders who joined the BJP party from other parties.

The hoarding showed the faces of Himanta Biswa Sharma, Narayan Rane, Suvendu Adhikari, Sujana Chowdhary, Arjun Khotkar, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Eshwarappa, and Virupakshappa.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had visited Hyderabad to attend the 54th CISF Raising Day parade.

Senior BJP leader and former MLC, N Ramchander Rao, speaking to ANI and reacting to the hoarding set up by BRS leaders, condemned the incidents. “BRS leaders have developed a habit of displaying hoardings without naming themselves because they are afraid of action by law enforcement agencies. It has become a habit to display such hoardings, showing the BJP government and BJP party leaders in a bad light,” he said. The BJP leader said that they did the same thing earlier when PM Modi visited Hyderabad during national executive meetings.

PM dedicates world’s longest rly platform in Hubballi

itself,” she said.

Mothers and sisters should inculcate in their sons and brothers the values of giving respect to women and also asked teachers to strengthen the culture of respect and sensitivity towards women among the students, President Murmu said.

NEW DELHI, MAR 12

(PTI): President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday said it is expected that the media would have “complete sensitivity” towards the dignity and safety of women in their advertisements, news and programmes.

In a video message while flagging off an All Women Bike Rally, organised by the Navbharat Times, the president said that according to the Constitution, it is the duty of every citizen of India to give up such practices which are against the dignity of women.

“To perform this fundamental duty, it is necessary that the thinking of every citizen should be respectful towards women. The foundation of respectful conduct towards women can be laid in the family

“The president said that it is expected from the media that they would have complete sensitivity towards the dignity and safety of women in their advertisements, news and programmes,” according to a statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

She said that despite all the limitations and challenges, women have set new records of success on the strength of their indomitable courage and skill.

DHARWAD (KTK), MARCH 12 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday dedicated to the nation the “longest railway platform in the world” at Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji Hubballi Station near here. The record has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records

AAP unveils UP ULB poll plan; vows to ease water, house tax

LUCKNOW, MAR 12

(PTI): The AAP on Sunday unveiled its election plank for urban local body polls in Uttar Pradesh, promising to halve house taxes and waive water taxes in municipal bodies it wins.

AAP MP Sanjay Singh, the party’s Uttar Pradesh incharge, launched the party’s slogan -- “House Tax Half, Water Tax Maaf” -- to woo the electorate during a visit to Lucknow.

He also declared incharges for 633 urban local body seats in Uttar Pradesh and said the party will contest from every constituency.

During his visit, Singh called the ED (Enforcement Directorate) the “Entertainment Department” and alleged that central agencies are being misused to target the opposition.

Singh said the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has accepted the report of the commission set up to look into the issue of reservation to Other Backward Castes (OBCs) in urban local body polls and expressed hope that the government will soon announce the election dates, he said.

The party will reach out to the public and ask them to give the AAP an opportunity to clean their cities.

The people of Delhi gave the AAP a chance and the party gave them a clean city, mohalla clinics and the best education system. Even the Punjab government is working on the Delhi mod-

KOLKATA, MARCH 12

(IANS): Trinamool Congress leader Santanu Bandopadhyay, who is currently in Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody in connection with the multi-crore teachers’ recruitment scam in West Bengal, was also involved in ‘money for transfer’ racket.

The revelation has been made by the investigating ED officials who have secured copies of recommendation letters for transfer of state government employees while conducting raid and search operations at Bandopadhyay’s residence, sources said.

According to them, from examination of related documents it is also clear that there were fixed rates of payments for transfer depending on the proposed place of transfer, where transfers to Kolkata or its adjacent districts attracted highest payments. el, Singh said. “There will be no water tax and the house tax will be reduced to half in every local body where the

Bandopadhyay, who is also principal nodal officer of Hooghly district Zilla Parishad, will be presented on Monday at a special court of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata where the ED counsel might make an appeal for extension of his central agency custody. Meanwhile, it learnt that in the remand letter of Bandopadhyay, ED has mentioned about property worth Rs 20 crore held by the accused ruling party leader as well as his wife Priyanka Bandopadhyay.

AAP wins the chairman’s post,” Singh said. The AAP contested the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in 2022 but failed to make any headway. Alleging that central agencies are being misused to target opposition leaders, Singh said, “I want to ask PM (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi that every day he is targeting opposition leaders. In Bengal, the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) has lodged 30 cases against the TMC; on district, Sunday. (PTI) recently, officials said, adding that the 1,507 m long platform has been built at a cost of about Rs 20 crore. Modi at an event here, also dedicated the electrification of Hosapete – Hubballi – Tinaighat section and the upgradation of Hosapete station, for boosting connectivity in the region.

Developed at a cost of over Rs 530 crore, the electrification project establishes seamless train operation on electric traction. The redeveloped Hosapete station will provide convenient and modern facilities to travellers. It has been designed to resemble the Hampi monuments, officials said.

The PM also inaugurated and laid the founda- tion stone for various projects of Hubballi-Dharwad smart city. The total estimated cost of these projects is about Rs 520 crores.

He also laid the foundation stone of the Jayadeva Hospital and Research Centre, which will be developed at a cost of about Rs. 250 crores and will provide tertiary cardiac care to the people of the region, and for the Dharwad Multi Village Water Supply Scheme, which will be developed at a cost of over Rs. 1,040 crores.

He also laid the foundation stone for Tupparihalla Flood Damage Control Project, which will be developed at a cost of about Rs 150 crores,officials said. The project aims to mitigate damage caused by floods and involves construction of retaining walls and embankments.

‘Rs 600 cr detected during raids is rumour’

PATNA, MAR 12 (PTI):

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has dubbed as “rumours” the claim of the Enforcement Directorate that proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 600 crore were detected during searches on premises owned by him and close family members.

The RJD leader, who is currently away in Delhi, also said the BJP will be left embarrassed if he made public the “panchnama” (seizure list) signed after the raids.

“Just recall, in 2007, transactions worth Rs 8,000 crore, including a mall and hundreds of land plots, were alleged,” tweeted Yadav, in an obvious reference to the land-for-hotels ‘scam’ pertaining to his father Lalu Prasad’s tenure as the railway minister.

Tejashwi Yadav