Guwahati, July 15 (IANS) Assam Congress president and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday claimed that the drone strikes carried out by Indian forces at the base camps of ULFA-I can not happen without the knowledge of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Gogoi told reporters: “The precision drone strikes carried out at the base camps of ULFA-I must have been done after giving prior information to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. To carry out this kind of attack, some sort of coordination is required between the state government and the Union Home Ministry.”Gogoi pointed out that for the last few months, on more than one occasion, Sarma mentioned that he has been in touch with ULFA-I commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah for peace talks. “So, the centre must have informed Himanta Biswa Sarma about the probable drone attacks,” he said. The Congress leader also raised doubts about the future of peace talks with ULFA-I following the precision drone strikes. “We have been waiting for ULFA-I to surrender their arms, and they come to the table for the peace talks. However, the latest drone attacks might bring some resistance to the probable peace talks,” he said, adding that ULFA-I cadres who were killed in the drone attacks were Assamese people. On Sunday, Sarma claimed that the state police were not involved in any drone attack carried out at the camps of the banned militant outfit ULFA-I. He also mentioned that even Army did not confirm any such attacks on the outlawed group. Addressing the media, Sarma refuted speculation about the state police’s role in a reported incident, asserting, “Assam Police is not involved in this incident. There has been no strike from the soil of Assam.” Emphasising the need for clarity, Sarma added, “We need more details on the matter. If such an operation has indeed occurred, the Indian Army will issue an official statement. As of now, there has been no communication from the defence establishment.” The Indian Army has denied that it carried out drone attacks on the eastern headquarters of the banned United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I) in Myanmar. –IANS tdr/dan

Bengaluru, July 15 (IANS) The inaugural meeting of the Congress OBC Advisory Council was held under the chairmanship of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

The meeting will resume tomorrow on Wednesday at 10 a.m., and is expected to adopt three resolutions.Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, former Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, former Karnataka Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily, Congress MLC B.K. Hariprasad, AICC OBC Department Chairman Anil Jaihind, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar, and several Congress leaders from across the country participated in the deliberations.Congress MLC B.K. Hariprasad said that the main agenda was to frame programmes for the upliftment of Backward Classes across India.”Different states face different sets of challenges. Rahul Gandhi’s struggle to ensure a nationwide caste census will be discussed in detail. I believe that, after comprehensive discussions on political, academic, economic, and social aspects affecting backward classes, the meeting will adopt three key resolutions,” he added.When asked whether the meeting aimed to influence Backward Classes currently leaning towards the BJP, Hariprasad said, “Backward Classes have never been with the BJP.”Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also responded, saying, “The BJP has never stood for social justice. They have always opposed reservations and the principles of social justice. This is a fact. Therefore, we will be discussing how to implement Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s commitment to ensure justice for Backward Classes across the country.”He also added, “I was asked to chair the meeting, so I presided over it. I won’t say much today as the meeting is still ongoing. It will resume tomorrow at 10 a.m., and many important issues will be discussed.”Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said that Rahul Gandhi was the first to initiate a campaign highlighting the issues faced by SCs, STs, and OBCs. “Rahul Gandhi has taken this up as a mission. As a reformist, he wants to champion their cause,” Gehlot added.”Dalits continue to face discrimination, untouchability still exists, and they live under an imposed sense of inferiority. Adivasis have their own set of challenges. SCs, STs, and OBCs have been grappling with the same issues for 70 years. Rahul Gandhi has committed himself to this mission, and the entire party stands behind him,” he said.AICC OBC Department Chairman Anil Jaihind said, “The OBC Advisory Council was recently formed, and I am the convener of the committee, being the head of the Congress OBC department. We have already held a few discussions, and all top OBC leaders within the Congress are members of the Advisory Council.””There were some important deliberations today, but I will not disclose them until the discussions are concluded. Once the meeting concludes tomorrow, we will share the resolutions,” he added.”We all know that the Congress, under the leadership of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and ‘Nyay Yodha’ Rahul Gandhi, is fighting for the deprived sections of society. It is unfortunate that nearly 90 per cent of the Indian population — comprising OBCs, SCs, and STs — continues to face discrimination and denial of opportunities,” Jaihind said.–IANSmka/khz

Mumbai, July 15 (IANS) Information Technology Minister Ashish Shelar on Tuesday announced in the state council that mega recruitment will be done in Maharashtra after the 150-day action plan program under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The number of vacant posts in various government departments in the state is currently 2,97,859, which is about 30 to 35 per cent of the total number of posts, he added. Replying to the discussion under Rule 260, Minister Shelar said that recruitment to these vacant posts is done through direct service and promotion. The practice of filling up posts through external sources in government departments is very rare. Judicial ‘D’ category posts are also filled only through direct service.The minister said that appointments are made on a contract basis to fill the vacant posts of retired employees. However, they do not have any administrative or financial rights. These employees are used only for specific tasks. Their experience is useful, but they are not appointed for a period of more than three years, he added.The Chief Minister’s 150-day action plan includes a detailed review of vacancies in various departments, promotion opportunities, recruitment through MPSC and appointments on compassionate grounds. The General Administration Department is preparing a full report and outline of this as per the prevailing government rules, he said.Meanwhile, School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse, during the half-hour discussion in the state assembly, said that teachers will be made available in Zilla Parishad schools in the state according to the number of students. Members Bhimrao Tapkir, Siddharth Shirole and Kailas Patil participated in this discussion.Minister Bhuse said that CCTV cameras are being installed in every school from the point of view of student safety. Care will be taken to ensure that these cameras are equipped with modern technology. Five per cent of the District Planning Committee’s funds are reserved for the education sector. Instructions have been given to install CCTV cameras in schools from this fund as well. There are 492 schools in the Pune Municipal Corporation, out of which CCTV cameras have been installed in 393 schools.“If there are complaints regarding the quality of school nutrition, they will be investigated, and action will be taken against those guilty. A detailed plan is being prepared to provide all the physical facilities in the schools. The work of Nizam-era schools in Marathwada will be completed soon. There will be no shortage of funds for this,” said the minister.–IANSsj/dan

Bhopal, July 15 (IANS) On the third day of his visit to Dubai, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held a meeting with a delegation from DP World on Tuesday. During the meeting, detailed discussions were held regarding the ‘Bharat Mart’ project and its associated logistics possibilities.The Chief Minister, in a statement, said that DP World has expressed interest in developing Inland Container Depots (ICD), Multimodal Logistics Parks (MMLP), agri-logistics hubs, and dry ports in Madhya Pradesh. “This aligns with the state’s logistics and export policy and represents a significant step toward long-term infrastructure development through public-private partnership (PPP) models,” he said in the statement.Chief Minister Yadav described ‘Bharat Mart’ as a gateway to global trade and said that this modern trade centre will provide direct access for Indian products, especially those in food processing, agriculture, and handicrafts, to major markets in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.The Chief Minister further stated that, during the meeting, the proposed DP World rail terminal in Madhya Pradesh and the Ujjain–Nagda route were discussed as crucial enablers for seamless supply to Bharat Mart. “This logistics connectivity will ensure fast, cost-effective, and smooth transport of goods from India to Dubai, directly benefiting exporters from the state,” he said.The Chief Minister’s office said on Tuesday that he will depart from Dubai on Tuesday and reach Madrid, the capital of Spain, late at night. During his visit to Spain between July 16 and July 19, Chief Minister Yadav will be attending several business meetings, holding one-to-one discussions with industrialists during different programmes.He will address the ‘Invest in Madhya Pradesh’ business forum in Madrid and participate in high-level meetings related to industry, tourism, sports, culture and film production. After that, Chief Minister Yadav will participate as the chief guest in the ‘Invest in Madhya Pradesh’ Business Forum. During the session, senior officials will give presentations on tourism, industrial policy and investment, IT and infrastructure sectors.–IANSpd/uk

Bhopal/New Delhi, July 15 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh has been awarded the silver medal for impactful implementation of the ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) scheme in the state as well as efforts in branding local products, government officials said.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal presented the award at an event held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Tuesday. Ruhi Khan, who is the Deputy Secretary of Industry, Commerce, and Investment Promotion department of Madhya Pradesh government, received the award. “Recognising the state’s exclusivity and effective implementation of the scheme, this recognition honours the impactful implementation of the ODOP scheme in the state, as well as efforts in branding local products, generating employment, and promoting both rural and urban entrepreneurship,” the state government said. Several ODOP products have received Geographical Indication (GI) tags, boosting their global demand. This has improved the livelihoods of artisans and producers, especially in the fields of handicrafts, agriculture, and food processing. The ODOP scheme in Madhya Pradesh includes products selected for their geographical, biological, natural, or production-specific uniqueness. The scheme is being implemented across all districts, covering a wide range of products, including green vegetables, millets, handicrafts, handlooms and local tools. Local artisans and products are receiving special encouragement and support in the state. As of now, 19 products from various districts have received GI tags, including Chanderi Saree, Bagh Print, Nagpur Orange, Ratlami Sev, Kadaknath Chicken, Chinor Rice, Boutique Print, Stone Craft, Leather Toys, Bell Metal Ware, Maheshwari Saree, etc. Products from various districts such as high-quality bananas from Burhanpur, aromatic basmati rice from Raisen and Chinor rice from Balaghat are now gaining national and international recognition. These products are not just enhancing the state’s identity but also contributing to economic growth, job creation, and export potential, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said recently. The ODOP initiative has now become a people-driven movement, with active involvement from artisans, women’s self-help groups, farmer producer organisations, startups and local entrepreneurs, the state government said. The state government has taken multiple steps to elevate these products from local to global — including product-based training, branding, packaging improvements, digitisation and logistical support for exports. “Work is ongoing to enhance branding, quality, and packaging, ensuring global recognition for these high-quality products. ODOP is also helping promote tourism through local specialties,” it said.–IANSpd/khz

Guwahati, July 15 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday asserted that the banned outfit ULFA-I will not carry out any retaliation attack in response to the reported drone attack by Indian forces at the base camps of the outlawed group in Myanmar.

Sarma said, “The leadership of ULFA-I also wants the development of Assam. If they carry out any attack on the soil of Assam, the people of the state will suffer. If ULFA-I explodes a bomb, then schools, roads will be destroyed. I hope they understand these things and they will refrain from carrying out any attacks on Assam.” Earlier on Sunday, Sarma claimed that the state police were not involved in any drone attack carried out at the camps of the banned militant outfit ULFA-I. He perhaps also mentioned that even Army did not confirm any such attacks on the outlawed group. Addressing the media, Sarma refuted speculation about the state police’s role in a reported incident, asserting, “Assam Police is not involved in this incident. There has been no strike from the soil of Assam.” Emphasising the need for clarity, Sarma added, “We need more details on the matter. If such an operation has indeed occurred, the Indian Army will issue an official statement. As of now, there has been no communication from the defence establishment.” The Chief Minister stated that the state government is closely tracking developments and expects further updates through official channels by evening. The Indian Army has denied that it carried out drone attacks on the eastern headquarters of the banned United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I) in Myanmar. The banned ULFA-I on Sunday claimed that its Eastern headquarters in Myanmar had been targeted by the Indian Army with drones in the early hours. The proscribed outfit in a press statement claimed that in these cross-border strikes, their 19 cadres have been killed and another 19 injured. Reports indicate that senior ULFA (I) commander Nayan Medhi was killed in the attack, and some cadres of Manipuri insurgent groups, including Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), which is the political wing of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur present at the camp, were also killed, and some were injured. However, in an official statement, the India Army has denied these claims. –IANS tdr/dan

Mumbai, July 15 (IANS) Industry minister Uday Samant on Tuesday said in the state assembly that Maharashtra is the first state in the country to implement the MoUs signed at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

This year, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) of Rs 15.74 lakh crore of investment has been signed in Davos. Due to this industry-friendly environment, 62,000 new entrepreneurs have been created in the state in the last three years under the Chief Minister’s Employment Generation Program. For the first time in the country, a white paper on the industrial sector was issued in the state of Maharashtra.The minister was replying to the discussion on a resolution moved under Rule 293 by the opposition parties in the state assembly. He said the state government is working for the balanced development of the industrial sector.The Industry Minister said that the District Industry Council initiative has been started in the district to encourage entrepreneurs to invest. Through this, investments worth over Rs 1 lakh crore have been made this year. “The inflow of foreign investment into the state has been increasing continuously for the last three years. Reliance Industries Group is bringing an aircraft manufacturing industry to the state. A meeting has been held in this regard, and land will be provided on behalf of the government. The government is making every effort to start this project in the state itself,” said the minister.Stating that the Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district is becoming an industrial district due to the steel industry, with an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore.He further stated that the PM Mitra Textile Park is being set up in Amravati. The semiconductor industry and the ‘Defence Cluster’ are being created in Ratnagiri. Thousands of acres of land are being acquired in the state to establish industrial estates as per the demand and requirement. Due to this, new industrial estates will be started in the state. The state government is ready to empower entrepreneurs and develop industries, assured Minister Samant.Samant, who is also the Minister of Marathi Language, said that an insult to Marathi will not be tolerated anywhere in the state. The government is taking a strict stand in this regard. The best literary museum in the country will be set up in Maharashtra to promote the Marathi Language. “The state government is working for the promotion of Marathi not only in the country but also all over the world. Under that, a World Marathi Conference has also been organised. This year’s World Marathi Conference will be organised in Nashik. Also, the Brihan Marathi Mandal was established in 74 Marathi-speaking countries around the world. So far, these Mandals are functioning in only 17 places. Also, a Marathi Literature Conference will be organised for the youth,” said the minister.–IANSsj/dan

Kolkata, July 15 (IANS) A war of words has erupted between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the BJP’s Information Technology Cell Chief and the party’s central observer for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, over the latest findings and observations of NITI Aayog on the state’s financial condition.

Malviya on Tuesday countered the Chief Minister’s statement on X, claiming that NITI Aayog officially recognised West Bengal’s strong performance across key socio-economic indicators.In her message, the Chief Minister gave details on how NITI Aayog acknowledged West Bengal’s achievements under various socio-economic indicators like literacy rates, lower school dropout rates and higher pass percentages in Classes X and XII compared to national averages, life expectancy rates, sex ratio, infant mortality rate, total fertility rate and quality of life.She claimed that under all these parameters, West Bengal’s ratings as per NITI Aayog’s latest observation were above the national average. “These achievements reflect West Bengal’s continued commitment to inclusive and sustainable development,” the Chief Minister said.However, refuting the Chief Minister’s claims, Malviya said on Tuesday that the latest NITI Aayog report completely exposes the economic mess in West Bengal under the Trinamool Congress government.He also accused the Chief Minister of hyping selective statistics when the actual financial indicators painted a grim picture. In support of his counterargument, Malviya highlighted statistics under other socio-economic indicators where West Bengal’s achievements had been much lower than the national average.The socio-economic indicators highlighted by Malviya in his counterargument include the female labour force participation rate, West Bengal’s real GSDP growth rate, the state’s share in national GDP, per capita income and gross enrolment ratios in both higher secondary and higher education.According to Malviya, the latest report of NITI Aayog also pointed out how West Bengal suffered from a high fiscal deficit, worsening debt-to-GDP ratio, and a chronic revenue deficit.“The state met its fiscal deficit targets in only 2 of the last 5 years, and its debt-to-GDP ratio target just once. Revenue deficit remained unaddressed between 2016-17 and 2020-21, which was a clear signal of fiscal mismanagement,” Malviya claimed.According to him, this was not just underperformance; rather, it was a downward spiral. “West Bengal is economically adrift, with the state treasury running dry and no serious effort to create new income avenues. TMC’s model of governance has left Bengal increasingly dependent on Central funds and taxes, even as it rants against Delhi,” Malviya added.–IANSsrc/uk

Mumbai, July 15 (IANS) Environment and Climate Change Minister Pankaja Munde said in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday that various projects are being accelerated under the National River Conservation Scheme with the aim to prevent pollution, ensure cleanliness and revitalise rivers in the state.

Under this scheme, comprehensive measures are being implemented for the protection of major rivers in the state, and special emphasis has been placed on wastewater management to stop river pollution.Replying to the debate on a motion moved under rule 293 in the Legislative Assembly, Minister Munde said: “The project approved by the Central Government on January 14, 2016, for pollution control of Mula and Mutha rivers in Pune city is an important example of this. This project includes 11 sewage treatment plants and 53.5 km long new sewage channels. For this, 85 per cent of the funds are being raised by the Central Government and 15 per cent by the Pune Municipal Corporation.”To prevent pollution, she said that municipal corporations, municipalities and village panchayats have been instructed to set up sewage treatment systems. Currently, only 50 per cent of the water used is purified, while the remaining water is mixed into the river in an untreated form. To change this situation, the government has set a target of 100 per cent sewage treatment.“Special emphasis is also being given to the plastic free campaign, elimination of encroachment on river banks and planning of river front development. Awareness activities have been implemented across the state on the occasion of Environment Day. A ban on single-use plastic has been implemented in the state, and orders have been issued to close 422 industries violating it,” said the minister.According to the minister, a long-term action plan has been prepared for river pollution control and environmental protection, and the government is continuously working on it. Attention has been drawn to the issues arising from the animal burial ground in the Deonar area, and an appropriate decision will be taken after considering alternative solutions. Minister Munde said that necessary decisions will be taken regarding the shortage of doctors in the slaughterhouse, as well as the expansion of services provided to them.–IANSsj/dan

Jaipur, July 15 (IANS) Additional Director General (ADG) of the Special Operations Group (SOG), V.K. Singh, appeared before the Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday in connection with the Sub Inspector (SI) Recruitment-2021 case.

During the hearing, Singh informed the court that Babulal Katara, the Chief Examiner of the recruitment process, failed to inform the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) that his relatives were among the candidates appearing for the exam.Singh revealed that Katara’s relatives – Rahul Katara and Vijay Damor – were directly involved, raising serious concerns about transparency.Rahul Katara secured the 300th rank, while Vijay Damor cleared the written exam but failed the physical test.Justice Sameer Jain, who is hearing the matter, questioned the ADG directly, asking, “Did you not consider the impact on candidates who may have left their government jobs to join this recruitment, before recommending its cancellation?”In response, ADG Singh said that out of the 53 trainee SIs caught, 10 were already in government service. Among these trainee SIs, there were several ex-servicemen too.He argued that it cannot be assumed that just because someone left a previous government job, they would not engage in malpractice.This exchange comes against the backdrop of arguments presented on Monday by the counsel representing the selected candidates. They highlighted that a surprise test conducted by SOG on March 19, 2024, showed that only 50 candidates failed, and therefore, the entire recruitment process should not be scrapped.In response, the court had summoned ADG Singh to provide a detailed explanation regarding the findings of the investigation.The revelations have added further complexity to the ongoing legal proceedings, as the court weighs the extent of malpractice against the fairness owed to candidates who cleared the recruitment legitimately.–IANSarc/dan