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Shah to SSB: Ensure borders with friendly neighbours not misused

Home Minister Amit Shah presiding over the 56th Raising Day Parade of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) on December 19.

New Delhi (NVI): Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) must ensure that India’s borders with friendly neighbours are not misused for activities against the country, while seeing to it that people living in border areas are not adversely affected, Home Minister Amit Shah said today.

“India has an open border of around 2,450 km with Nepal and Bhutan and the SSB has performed a good job in ensuring that not a single infiltrator sneaked into our country,” the Home Minister said while presiding over the 56th Raising Day Parade of the SSB.

He praised the force for nabbing more than 50 intruders, mostly Pakistanis, at the Indo-Nepal border in the last one year, besides seizing contraband items including drugs worth Rs 380 crores.

He also acknowledged that the nation cannot become a global economic power, if its borders are not secure, especially when the country has hostile neighbours that are constantly engaged in cross border terrorism, insurgency, illicit trafficking of humans, drugs, fake currency, cattle and others.

He complimented SSB for the dedicated and outstanding performance over the years in securing the borders of the country and giving supreme sacrifices to protect the citizens in Naxal-affected areas.

“The jawans of SSB have always kept their duty before their life. I bow my head to salute this fearless dedication and commitment towards the security of the nation,” Shah said.

The Minister informed that by the end of 2020, over 12,000 vacancies in both Gazetted and Non-Gazetted ranks would be filled to make SSB stronger, besides easing the work pressure.

The Home Minister while hailing the lady officers who marched shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts and earned accolades with their brilliant performance within the country as well as UN Missions abroad said said that at present 22 women jawans of the force are participating in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Congo.

He said that the Prime Minister Narendra-led Modi had initiated several welfare schemes for jawans. Adding that in near future, the government would ensure that jawans spend at least 100 days with their family.

He encouraged the officers and jawans of the force to scout for in-house talent in sports, who would represent the country at Olympics.

He also paid tributes by laying wreath at the Martyrs memorial, inspected the parade and awarded gallantry medals to officers and jawans.

CAA stir: Mobile services stopped in Delhi

New Delhi (NVI): Following a government directive, Airtel, Vodafone-Idea, Jio, MTNL have suspended mobile services in some parts of the National Capital in the wake of violent protests over Citizen Amendment Act (CAA).

According to a Delhi Police directive, communication of all types that is voice, SMS and internet were suspended today from 0900 hrs to 1300 hrs in walled city areas of North and Central districts, Mandi House, Seelampur, Jaffarbad and Mustafabad, Jamia Nagar and Shaheen Bagh and Bawana.

The Delhi Police in its directive said that “this should be treated as an absolute direction and compliance should be reported”.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Metro rail Corporation (DMRC) has also closed entry and exit gates of several stations.

The stations that have been closed were Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jasola Vihar Shaheen Bagh, Munirka, Lal Quila, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Vishwavidyalaya, Patel Chowk, Lok Kalyan Marg, Udyog Bhawan, ITO, Pragati Maidan, Khan Market, Mandi House, Barakhamba, Vasant Vihar and Janpath.

PM Modi congratulates Johnson on UK election win

File Photo

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to his British counterpart Boris Johnson over telephone and congratulated him on his electoral victory in the recently concluded elections.

The Prime Minister while conveying good wishes on behalf of the people of India and on his own behalf, expressed confidence that under the able leadership of Johnson the strategic partnership between India and UK will strengthen further, an MEA statement said here today.

Modi said that the re-election of Johnson as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom reflected the faith reposed by the people of UK in him and the Conservative Party.

Boris Johnson thanked Modi for his good wishes and expressed his commitment to further strengthen India-UK ties.

Prime Minister extended an invitation to Johnson to visit India at his early convenience, which was accepted.

Govt’s priority to border areas has sent signals across border: Jitendra Singh

New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has placed border areas on high priority and this approach has sent signals both ways– across the borders and to those living at the international borders, Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh said.

While delivering the keynote address on Border States and National Security, at an event organised by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), here yesterday, Dr Singh said that during the last five years, the government has taken many initiatives, such as constructing bunkers, toilets, Seema Bhawans and provision of cattle insurance, among others.

“This has been possible because of extreme sensitivity of the Government towards these people and this approach of the government has uplifted the morale of people living in bordering areas,” he added.

“We owe to pay tribute to the efforts of security forces deployed at the borders. At the same time, we need to understand the people living near the bordering areas and respect their courage, as they are the first ones to face the brunt in case of any disturbance,” the Minister said.

The Minister said that security forces are perpetually in the war mode now a days, as militancy and cross-border terrorism have become a serious challenge. Adding that the entire security dynamics have changed over the years, consequently the obligation of security forces has also changed.

Speaking about the North East region, the Minister said that NE states share a socio-cultural proximity with the bordering countries, but that does not obviate the importance of security.

“Peace and development are reciprocal in relation. If peace is not there, the development cannot happen. Similarly, if development is not there, it gives a breeding ground for unrest,” he said.

He said the North East region had undergone huge transformation during the recent years which include connectivity through rail, air and road.

On the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Dr Singh said that the Act is going to preserve India’s vast resources, both natural and human and awareness needs to be generated about this aspect.

Indian markets open flat

Mumbai (NVI): Indian markets benchmark Sensex and Nifty opened marginally lower today as global investors turned cautious over US President Donald Trump’s impeachment.

The 30-share BSE Sensex after retreating from its record high, was trading 24.89 points or 0.06 per cent lower at 41,533.68 in the opening session.

Similarly, the 50-scrip NSE Nifty slipped 7.60 points or 0.06 per cent to 12,214.30.

Tata Motors was the top gainer in the Sensex pack rising up to 1.86 per cent, followed by Tata Steel, Tech Mahindra, M&M, TCS, Vedanta and Infosys.

On the other hand, HUL was the top loser, shedding up to 1.45 per cent. Yes Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI and ONGC were also trading in the red.

Meanwhile, the Indian rupee opened marginally lower at 70.99 against the US dollar in the early trade.

On Wednesday, the Sensex gauge settledat 206.40 points, or 0.50 per cent, up at its all-time closing high of 41,558.57.

While, the Nifty advanced 56.65 points, or 0.47 per cent, to its record closing peak of 12,221.65.

Delhi air quality “very poor”; to deteriorate further  

Delhi air quality
File Photo

New Delhi (NVI): The overall air quality in the National Capital plunged into the “very poor” category today and is likely to remain the same for the next two days.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the deterioration in the air quality is due to decrease in wind speed.

SAFAR said that the air quality will further deteriorate tomorrow and will remain in the higher end of the “very poor” category.

The minimum temperature is also likely to witness a fall in the next week, SAFAR added.

The AQI in Delhi University area was recorded at 327, while in Chandani Chowk it was 388, Lodhi Road recorded 301, IIT Delhi it was 366 while in the neighbouring Noida the air quality was was 344.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the minimum temperature is likely to be 5.2 degree Celsius, which is three degree below normal, while the maximum temperature will settle around 19 degree Celsius.

Sahitya Academi awards announced in 23 languages, Tharoor among awardees

New Delhi (NVI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been honoured with Sahitya Akademi Award 2019 along with 22 other writers in various languages.

Among the awards announced in 23 languages today, seven are for poetry, four for novels, six for short stories, three for essays and one each for non-fiction, autobiography and biography.

Tharoor, a former Union Minister, won the prestigious award in ‘non-fiction’ category for his book ‘An Era of Darkness’. The book talks about the effect of British rule in India and how the colonizers exploited the country.

Seven awards in poetry category were awarded to Dr. Phukan Ch. Basumatary (Bodo), Dr. Nand Kishore Acharya (Hindi), Nilba A. Khandekar (Konkani), Kumar Manish Arvind (Maithili), V. Madhusoodanan Nair (Malayalam), Anuradha Patil (Marathi) and Prof. Penna Madhusudan (Sanskrit).

Awards in novel category were given to Dr. Joysree Goswami Mahanta (Assamese), L. Birmangol Singh (Beryl Thanga) (Manipuri), Cho. Dharman (Tamil) and Bandi Narayana Swamy (Telugu).

In the short stories category, the awardees are Abdul Ahad Hajini (Kashmiri), Tarun Kanti Mishra (Odia), Kirpal Kazak (Punjabi), Ramsawroop Kisan (Rajasthani), Kali Charan Hembram (Santali) and Ishwar Moorjani (Sindhi).

In the category of autography, the award was given to Dr. Vijaya (Kannada) while Prof. Shafey Kidwai (Urdu) got the honour in biography category.

Awards for books of essays were given to Dr. Chinmoy Guha (Bengali),  Om Sharma Jandriari (Dogri) and Ratilal Borisagar (Gujarati).

The awards relate to books first published during the five years immediately preceding the year of Award (i.e. between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017).

The Award in the form of a casket containing an engraved copper-plaque, a shawl and an amount of Rs. 1,00,000/- towards cash content will be presented to the authors of these books at a special function which is to be held on February 25, 2020 at New Delhi during the Festival of Letters organized by Sahitya Akademi.

FM holds pre-Budget meet with CMs, Dy CMs and FMs of states

New Delhi (NVI): As part of her pre-Budget consultations, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today heard views and suggestions of states and Union Territories as she met Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers and Finance Ministers of states and UTs here.

State governments expressed their suggestions on growth, investment, resource requirement and fiscal policy. They also suggested measures to strengthen cooperation between states and the Centre to attain $5 trillion economy.

Sitharaman welcomed the suggestions made by the State/UTs in the meeting and assured them that the memorandums submitted by State/UTs will be examined and suitably considered.

Sitharaman elucidated union government’s philosophy of “Cooperative Federalism” and steps taken by the union government to bolster growth of the economy, according to an official release.

The meeting was attended by Chief Ministers of Goa, Haryana and Puducherry, Deputy Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Tripura as well as 17 Finance Ministers or Ministers representing their states.

The meeting was part of a series of confabulations that the Union Finance Minister is holding with various stakeholders to ascertain their views regarding the Budget which is expected to be presented by her on February 1.

Rajnath Singh visits US Naval Base

Washington (NVI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is here for the India-US ‘2+2’ Ministerial dialogue, has expressed hope that the Indo-US relations would strengthen further in the near future.

He said his visit to the US reflected the strong defence ties between the two countries.

Singh visited the American Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana and Naval Station Norfolk, highlighting the depth of the US-India defence partnership and the close ties between the Navies of the two countries.

The US officials said the Indian delegations’ visit to Naval Air Station Oceana and onboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower will further bolster partnership between the two countries.

Singh also inspected a Boeing Mobile Flight Simulator, static display and F/A-18E flight demonstration.

The Indian delegation also toured the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), which is located at Naval Station Norfolk.

Singh was accompanied by Indian Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, other senior officials of the Government of India and active-duty military officers.

SC rejects Nirbhaya convict’s review plea

SC quashes plea seeking waiver of exam fees for CBSE Class 10, 12 students
File Photo of Supreme Court

New Delhi (NVI): The Supreme Court today rejected a plea by Akshay Kumar Singh for review of his death penalty in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case.

Akshay Kumar Singh is one of the four convicts facing the gallows for the gruesome act.

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice R. Banumathi, said there was no reason for reviewing the 2017 judgement of the top court upholding death penalty of the convict.

It observed that Akshay’s review petition was similar to those filed by other three convicts, which were dismissed by the top court last year.

Meanwhile, the Patiala House court heard a plea by Nirbhaya’s parents for issuance of death warrant against all the four convicts.

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