India’s budget will be ray of hope for world: PM Modi

NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said amid global economic turmoil, India’s budget will attempt to meet the hopes and aspirations of common citizens and be a ray of hope for the world.

Addressing the media ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament, Modi said recognised voices in the world of economy were bringing positive messages from all sides.

The prime minister said the Budget, to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday, will strive to fulfil people’s hopes, aspirations and also boost the hopes with which the world is looking at India.

“The ray of hope being seen by the world will glow brighter -- for this, I firmly believe the finance minister will make all efforts to meet these aspirations,” Modi said.

He also noted that

I seek

President Droupadi Murmu was delivering her maiden address to the joint sitting of Parliament at the start of the Budget Session. The President’s speech is the pride of the Constitution of India, the pride of India’s parliamentary system, and also an opportunity to respect women and the great tribal traditions of the country, Modi said.

According to the parliamentary traditions evolved over the last six to seven decades, a parliamentarian speaking for the first time in the House, belonging to any political party, is extended respect and a conducive atmosphere is created to enhance his/ her confidence, the prime minister said.

“This is a rich and best tradition. It is the responsibility of parliamentarians to ensure that this moment of the President’s first address to Parliament is full of enthusiasm, warmth

share like Nitish Kumar did while challenging Lalu: Kushwaha

PATNA, JAN 31 (PTI):

Disgruntled JD(U) parliamentary board chief Upendra Kushwaha Tuesday likened his rebellion to the challenge Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had thrown to RJD president Lalu Prasad three decades ago. Talking to reporters here, the recalcitrant leader maintained that he had “boundless reverence” (agaadh shraddha) for Kumar but insisted that the septuagenarian was no longer able to exercise his own volition, resulting in JD(U)’s vulnerability. “I have been asked to clarify what I meant by claiming my own share (hissa) in the party.

I am doing that today”, Kushwaha a former union minister said with rhetorical flourish. “I am speaking of the same share that Nitish Kumar had demanded at the famous rally of 1994 when and energy. I am sure our Parliamentarians will pass this test,” the prime minister said.

Lalu Prasad was reluctant to give our leader his due,” he said. Kushwaha was referring to ‘Luv Kush’ rally in Patna, a veritable gathering of Kurmis and Koeris upset with supposed hegemony of numerically powerful Yadavs which Prasad, then helming Bihar, was seen as embodying. Kumar’s presence at the rally had set the tone for his separation from the undivided Janata Dal and charting of an independent political journey. Kushwaha, who had returned to JD(U) after merging his Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, rued that as parliamentary board chief he enjoyed no powers.

Modi said the BJPled NDA government has always worked with a singular aim of putting ‘India First and Citizens First’ and the same spirit will be seen during the Budget Session.

The prime minister said there would be arguments as well during the Budget Session and he hoped that the opposition will articulate them well by studying issues closely.

“The House will deliberate on formulation of policy which will benefit the nation,” the prime minister said.

The Budget Session of Parliament began on Tuesday and the first part will conclude on February 13.

The Parliament will re-convene on March 12 for the second part of the Budget Session that will conclude on April 6.

NEW DELHI, JAN 31 (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said there is “nothing new” in President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament, asserting that she speaks about whatever the government has to say. He said if the government through the President is claiming that the country has pro gressed so much, then why the poor continue to suffer due to unemployment and high inflation, even as he alleged that the schemes renamed by the Modi government are not reaching out to the poorest of the poor.

Kharge claimed that the new colleges and schools that the government claims has opened are all in the private sector as the poor people are unable to benefit from them as they cannot afford them.

“The President’s address is the government’s statement that has come through the President. It is not a new thing... It is only a routine matter and she has expressed those programmes and achievements which the govern - ment wanted her to say,” he told PTI.

The Congress chief, however, regretted that he could not attend the first address of the President to the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament, as he was in Jammu and Kashmir and failed to attend the same due to inclement weather.

“In fact, if those achievements are very good, then the people should not feel the pinch of inflation and unemployment. Even the investment is not coming.

“The government claims that it has removed corruption, but then how one man can dupe LIC/ SBI and other banks of nearly ‘Rs 1 lakh crore’. Now, nearly 30 crore people are suffering who have invested in LIC as that money has gone to one businessman who is very close to the prime minister. However, there is no action on such individuals and schemes which have duped the people of the country,” he said.

Kharge said the government announces schemes with new names, but they do not reach the common people.

He said there is nothing new in the President’s speech, but all welcome it individually because the President is supposed to be impartial.

Asked about the President talking about every Indian being confident and India emerging as a self reliant, strong nation, touching new heights and emerging as solution provider to the world under this government, he said, “I do not blame her, but it is Mr Modi whatever he told outside, she is saying so. If it is so, why is there so much inflation, so much unemployment, why the money value has gone down and why is there so much hike in petrol/diesel prices.”

Italian woman punches crew member on flight; arrested

MUMBAI, JAN 31 (PTI):

A 45-year-old Italian woman passenger allegedly punched a crew me mber, spat on another staffer and stripped on board a Vistara flight to Mumbai from Abu Dhabi after she was stopped from entering the business class, police said on Tuesday.

The incident took place on Monday and after the flight landed in Mumbai, the crew members handed her over to Sahar police and she was arrested, they said.

Vistara in a statement said the passenger was restrained by the crew for “unruly and violent behaviour” and the incident was reported to the relevant authorities as per the standard operating procedures. According to an official from Sahar police station, the woman, identified as Paola Perruccio, boarded the flight at around 2 am on Monday with an economy class ticket.

The woman later entered the business class and when she was stopped by the crew members, she allegedly started abusing them, he said. When the crew members tried to stop the woman from misbehaving, she allegedly punched one of them in the face and spat on another staffer, the official said. When the other crew members rushed to help their colleagues, the woman alleged ly started stripping and walked up and down the aisle in that state, he said. After the flight arrived here on Monday morning, the crew members approached the Sahar police and handed her over to them, the official said.

The woman was arrested and booked under various Indian Penal Code Sections including 323 (voluntary causing hurt) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and provisions of the Aircraft Act, the official said. She was produced before a court and later released on bail, the police added. Vistara in a statement said, “We confirm that there was an unruly passenger on Vistara flight UK-256 operating from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai on January 30. In view of the continued unruly conduct and violent behaviour, the captain issued a warning card and made a decision to restrain the customer.”