National

Previous 1 2...18 19 202122 23 24...29 30 Next

Voting for electing the new President of India began on Monday in Parliament

18-Jul-2022 212

AGENCY IN PUT

Voting for electing the new President of India began on Monday in Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the early MPs to cast his vote at the polling booth inside the Parliament premises.

Talking to IANS Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, “The NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu is going to win this election with a record vote and with a huge margin.”

Murmu is the NDA candidate, who is contesting against Yashwant Sinha, supported by the Opposition parties.

The Rajya Sabha’s Secretary General is the Returning Officer for this election.

The President is elected by members of the Electoral College consisting of elected Members of Parliament and that of all the state Assemblies, including National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Union Territory of Puducherry. The nominated Members of Parliament, state Assemblies and Members of Legislative Council are not eligible to vote.

A total of 776 Members of Parliament and 4,033 MLAs will vote in the Presidential elections.

The total value of votes is 10,86,431, of which votes of MLAs are 5,43,231 and MPs are 5,43,200.

Govt must ensure journalist security act : Anirudh Sudhanshu, President SJF

16-Jul-2022 294

Two journalists were shot by bike-borne criminals last night in Khaliyari Market of Raipur police station area of Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. At the time of the incident, both the journalists were engrossed in discussing the news on tea while sitting at a tea stall.Mr.shyam Sundar Pandey and Vijay Pandey both are renowned journalist of print media. Both of them admitted to trauma centre in Banaras.

Mr. Shyam nath singh,Gen. secretary of SJF extended support on behalf of the SJF and also asked about the police probe in the matter.Meanwhile the President of SJF India demanded journalist security act to stop the incident like this in future. Now a days journalists became easy fodder for the local leaders and day by day the incident that taking place in diffrent part of coutry against the journalists not even good for journalism and democracy too.We demands journalists security act and Wewish speedy recovery of both the journalists.

Write to Diya Mali

AAP meet to decide on presidential candidate support

16-Jul-2022 235

New Delhi, Jul 16(PTI) The political advisory committee(PAC) of AAP will meet Saturday noon to decide on its support in the Presidential election, sources in the party said.

The meeting will be attended by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other members of the PAC, including Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, Punjab MP Raghav Chadha, and MLA Atishi, among others.

The AAP has so far kept it's cards close to its chest, not revealing if it will support opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha or BJP candidate Droupadi Murmu in the Presidential poll, voting for which will take place on Monday.

The AAP is the only non-BJP, non-Congress outfit with governments in two states -- Delhi and Punjab.

It has 10 Rajya Sabha MPs from the two states, including three from Delhi.

Also, the party has 92 MLAs in Punjab, 62 in Delhi, and two in Goa.

19-year-old woman abducted, gang-raped in Rajasthan

15-Jul-2022 196

Jaipur, Jul 15 (PTI) A 19-year-old woman was allegedly abducted and gang-raped in Churu district of Rajasthan, police said on Friday.

The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon and an FIR was registered in the evening, they said.

According to the FIR, the woman was abducted by an acquaintance, Naresh Jat, and two other people. They allegedly took her to a room and raped her.

The accused are on the run, the police said, adding that the medical examination of the victim is being conducted.

SAARC Journalist Forum will always be together in the interest of journalists: Anirudh Sudhanshu, President India Chapter

15-Jul-2022 649

TNIS

The Joint Forum of SAARC Journalists Forum, United Indian Journalists Association, Periodical Press of India, Indian Journalists Association, and Save UNI Movement will come together in the fight against PIB's dictatorship and other demands against journalists

Under the umbrella of joint forum a demonstration will be held at Parliament street ,Jantar -Mantar on 18 of this month. On this occasion, the President of SAARC Journalists Forum has spoken of that the SJF will always with the joint forum in the struggle for the interest of journalists and said that our organization is united in this fight.

Write to Diya Mali

Chattisgarh state govt. Cabinet Meeting

14-Jul-2022 182

1. Cabinet has approved the proposal to implement a new fisheries policy in place of the existing fishery policy in the state.

2. The proposal for sanctioning the formation of District Strike Force cadre by dissolving the posts of Assistant constables in the state has been approved. This will remove the discrepancy related to the salary of the assistant constables in police department and all the assistant constables of the state will get a regular pay scale.

3. In view of the Transfer Policy 2022, Cabinet has decided to constitute a Cabinet Sub-Committee, and on the basis of suggestion/recommendation of this sub-committee, the approval of the Hon'ble Chief Minister would be obtained.

4. Cabinet has approved the draft of Chhattisgarh Appropriation Bill, 2022, for the presentation of the first supplementary estimate year 2022-2023 in the Legislative Assembly.

5. The draft of the Salary and Allowances Amendment Bill 2022 of the Honorable Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition and Members of the Legislative Assembly was approved.

6. The draft of the amendment bill, 2022 in the Chhattisgarh Ministers (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 1972 was approved.

7. Cabinet has approved the proposal of increasing the limit under the voluntary grant of Hon'ble Chief Minister from Rs.40 crores to Rs.70 crores per annum.

8. The proposal to provide relaxation of 06 months in minimum period of 05 years for the promotion from area coordinator to the post of Chief Executive Officer, Janpad Panchayat was approved.

9. To meet the excise revenue target for the year 2022-23 as well as to meet the requirement of additional amount for the development of gauthans and other development activities, Cabinet has approved the proposal to increase the "Additional Excise Duty".

10. Necessary amendments were made in the process of granting compassionate appointment to the dependent family member in case of untimely death of the officers/employees of the dissolved Transport Corporation.

11. The proposal of Chhattisgarh Ground Water (Management and Regulation) Bill-2022, was approved.

12. Cabinet has approved the prooposal to extend the date for one-time settlement of tax dues on motor vehicles before and after the formation of Chhattisgarh State Scheme-2020 from April 1, 2022 to March 2023.

13. The proposal to exempt the outstanding road tax of Rs 99.95 lakh on city buses for a total of 24 months from April 2020 to March 2022 was approved.

14. Cabinet has approved the proposal to provide Stand Alone Rolling Mills under HV-4 category steel industry with the concession in energy cess under special relief package of State Government from 01 July 2022 to 31 March 2023, so that it may sustain the competition despite the challenges of industrial and economic slowdown.

15. The draft of the amendment bill in Chhattisgarh Electricity Duty Act, 1949 was approved.

SC refuses to pass interim order staying demolitions across states

14-Jul-2022 178

New Delhi :(PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to pass an interim direction staying demolitions across states, and said it cannot pass an omnibus order preventing authorities from taking action.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and P S Narasimha asked the parties to complete pleadings in the matter, and said it will hear the plea filed by the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind against demolitions on August 10

"Rule of law has to be followed, there is no dispute on that. But can we pass an omnibus order? If we pass such an omnibus order, will we not prevent the authorities from taking action against the violators," the bench said.

The top court was hearing pleas filed by the Muslim body seeking directions to the Uttar Pradesh government and other states to ensure that no further demolitions of properties of alleged accused in recent cases of violence are carried out.

CPM worker murder case: Kerala HC acquits 13 RSS workers

13-Jul-2022 176

Kochi, Jul 13 (PTI) The Kerala High Court has acquitted 13 RSS workers in a case relating to the killing of a CPI(M) activist in Thiruvananthapuram in 2008, saying the prosecution had miserably failed to prove the incriminating circumstances against the accused.

A bench comprising Justices K Vinod Chandran and C Jayachandran, on Tuesday allowed the appeal filed by the RSS workers challenging a Sessions Court verdict convicting them.

The bench observed that the political rivalry was a simmering cauldron of intrigue, spite and deceit, often spewing out the venom of hatred, in the form of mindless bloodshed.

"The manner in which events were portrayed before the Court, smacks of a deliberate attempt to tutor witness and collect evidence, to define a scripted story. The sad saga of political rivalry and mindless killing, as we have noticed in many cases, tears under the social fabric of the State," it said.

"The yearly remembrances, only stoke the fires of rivalry and do not wipe the tears of the bereaved or awaken the conscience of those who matter. Another life is lost and yet another prosecution fails, both lying on the wayside, grim reminders to the society of the futility of it all. We cannot but acquit the accused of the charges levelled against them; the prosecution having miserably failed to prove the Incriminating circumstances against the accused."

"There is absolutely no evidence worth its salt, and the prosecution failed to prove any corroborative circumstance, but for the political rivalry existing between two groups," it added.

The court noted that the get-away of the accused was quick and the witnesses exaggerated the identification and the details of the get-away vehicles.

On December 16, 2016, the Additional Sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram had sentenced 13 RSS activists to double life imprisonment in connection with the murder of CPI(M) worker, V V Vishnu on April 1, 2008.

The lower court had found all the 13 accused guilty of murder of CPI(M) activist.

BJP has nothing to do with 'rebellion' in Goa Congress: CM Pramod Sawant

13-Jul-2022 170

Panaji, (PTI) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday said the BJP has nothing to do with the "rebellion" in the state Congress Legislature Party.

On Sunday, five of the total 11 Congress MLAs in Goa went incommunicado, fuelling speculations about a split in the party.

But, they attended the monsoon session of the state Assembly which began on Monday and claimed there was "nothing wrong" in the opposition party.

Ten of the Congress MLAs also attended a meeting chaired by senior party leader Mukul Wasnik in Panaji on Monday night.

Some reporters outside the Assembly complex on Tuesday asked CM and senior BJP leader Sawant about developments in the state Congress.

?Let me reiterate that the BJP has nothing to do with the rebellion in the Congress Legislature Party,? Sawant said before walking away without answering any further questions.

After the five Congress MLAs -- Michael Lobo, Digambar Kamat, Kedar Naik, Rajesh Faldesai and Delialah Lobo -- went incommunicado on Sunday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had asked Wasnik to rush to Goa.

The Congress had accused Lobo and former chief minister Kamat of "conspiring and hobnobbing" with the ruling BJP to engineer a split in the grand old party's legislative wing.

The party also removed Lobo from the post of leader of opposition in the 40-member state Assembly.

Mohd Zubair's interim bail extended by SC in UP case

12-Jul-2022 206

New delhi PTI

The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended till further orders the interim bail of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair in a case lodged against him in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh for allegedly outraging religious sentiments.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna was told by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the State government, that it wants to file a counter affidavit to Zubair's plea seeking quashing of the FIR lodged in the case.

Raju said that since Zubair has already been granted bail in the matter, there should not be any objection from his side for grant of time to file the affidavit.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Zubair, said he has already been granted interim bail by the vacation bench of this court and they would also like to file their reply to the counter affidavit to be filed by the state government.

The bench then listed the plea for final hearing on September 7 and asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file its response in four weeks.

It said that rejoinder, if any needs to be filed by Zubair's side, then it should be filed in two weeks thereafter.

On July 8, a vacation bench of the top court had granted five-day interim bail to Zubair in the case.

Zubair is in judicial custody as per the order of a Delhi court in another case.

Earlier, the top court had barred Zubair from posting anything on Twitter and said he shall not tamper with any evidence, electronic or otherwise.

It had also clarified that its interim bail order is with respect to the First Information Report(FIR) lodged in Sitapur and has nothing to do with a separate case registered against the journalist in Delhi.

The FIR was lodged against Zubair in Uttar Pradesh under Indian Penal Code section 295A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings) and section 67 of the IT Act here on a complaint by Hindu Sher Sena Sitapur district president Bhagwan Sharan on June 1.

Zubair was arrested by the Delhi Police on June 27 for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through one of his tweets.

Seeking bail from the top court, Zubair, in his plea, has submitted that there is a "new" police strategy afoot in hate speech cases and communal crimes where FIRs are registered against criminals as well as those monitoring and protesting such crimes.

He has alleged the strategy is to "stifle" freedom of speech of secular persons in society who stand up against communal elements.

Bombs hurled at RSS office in Kerala

12-Jul-2022 191

Kannur (Ker), Jul 12 (PTI) Bombs were hurled at a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) office in Payyannur area of this northern district of Kerala on Tuesday with the party accusing CPI(M) of carrying out the attack.

The incident occurred around 1.00 AM, police said.

The number of attackers is not yet known and CCTV footage of the area was being examined to ascertain the same, they said.

An FIR under relevant provisions of the Explosives Act has been registered and the investigation was going on to trace the culprits, they added.

The RSS has accused CPI(M) workers of 'carrying out' the attack.

According to CCTV visuals of the attack several explosions could be seen within the boundary wall of the RSS office with many of its windows damaged in the incident.

The attack comes days after a bomb was hurled at the wall of CPI(M)'s state headquarters, AKG Centre, on the night of June 30 and the attacker in that case is yet to be identified by police.

Amarnath Yatra resumes on Baltal route

12-Jul-2022 500

Srinagar, Jul 12 (PTI) The Amarnath Yatra resumed on the Baltal route in Ganderbal district on Tuesday after a four-day suspension following flash floods that claimed 15 lives and left several injured, officials said.

They said a fresh batch of the pilgrims left the Baltal base camp early morning for the cave shrine.

Flash floods near the shrine on July 8 left at least 15 people dead and over 30 missing, forcing the temporary suspension of the pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage had resumed on Monday via the Pahalgam route.

Humble appeal to Baba Sadguru to join us in saving Aarey Forest

10-Jul-2022 620

Jagdish K Kashikar

Freelancer Journalist cum Placement/Legal Consultant, Maharashtra.

WhatsApp - 9768425757

At the very outset we wish to profusely thank you for taking up the cause of Conscious Planet – Save Soil, a global movement envisioned by you seeks to bring about a concerted, conscious response to saving soil of Mother Earth.

We take this liberty of writing to you directly in connection Metro -3 Project in Mumbai, which has telling effect on the fragile Green Lung of Mumbai (Aarey Milk Colony), with a hope that your kind intervention in this matter will go a long way in protecting the environmental cause, which the citizens of Mumbai are fighting. Thirty percent of the Earth's surface is covered in forests. These forests are home to millions of creatures and plant species, as well as a source of clean water and air. However, growing populations and desertification are contributing to unprecedented levels of forest coverage loss in Africa. In Ethiopia, Belete-Gera Forest is facing similar pressures as surrounding inhabitants cut down trees on the edges of 150,000 hectares of forest, to expand agricultural land as well as for construction and firewood. The recent devastating fires at Amazon have destroyed many trees and wild life habitat. Around 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods around the world.

In Mumbai, the Aarey Milk Colony, came in the existence in the year 1949 and is spread over an area of 3160 acres of land, out of which more than 50% of the is allotted for various commercial purposes. The recent decision of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. ( JICA being equity partner in the project) to construct Metro car shed at Aarey by the cutting of 2238 trees was environmentally suicidal decision. It is the last green, open space in Mumbai. The Aarey Milk Colony is contiguously touching the boundary of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which is a large protected area. The park is home to a number of endangered species of flora and fauna. The forest area of the Park houses over 1000 plant species, 251 species of migratory, land and water birds, 50,000 species of insects and 40 species of mammals. In addition, the Park also provides shelter to 38 species of reptiles, 9 species of amphibians, 150 species of butterflies and a large variety of fish.

The proposed Metro Car Shed is along the catchment area of the Mithi River. Tampering with flood plains like this have recently led to disastrous monsoon flooding of entire Mumbai city during high tides, a disaster which we are sure even yourself does not want.The felling of so many large number of trees which are the habitat of the wildlife as well as the nestling ground of many endangered species of birds.

Respected Sir, sustainable development is the need of hour, we Mumbaikars need the metro but not at the cost of destruction of Green Lung of Mumbai.

WE THEREFORE URGE YOU TO KINDLY INTERVENE IN THE MATTER TO SAVE MUMBAI FROM IMMINENT PERIL

Watchdog Foundation

Nicholas Almeida /Adv. Godfrey Pimenta

Adv. Vivian D'Souza/Rita D'Sa

Advisors

Adv. Tulip Brian Miranda

President

Bombay East Indian Association

Write to Diya Mali

Congress to hold press conferences across India to 'expose' BJP

10-Jul-2022 221

New Delhi : (PTI) Seeking to corner the ruling BJP over the issue of terror and its alleged links with terrorists, the Congress will on Saturday hold a series of press conferences in 22 cities across the country.

Congress leaders said the aim is to counter the BJP's "fake nationalism claims" and to take the message to the grassroots level that the ruling party has "connections" with individuals who have indulged in heinous crimes and terror acts.

"Today, 22 of our senior leaders and spokespersons will hold press conferences in 22 cities to expose the "links of terrorists with BJP"," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet in Hindi, alleging that "evidence of terrorists having links with the BJP has come out".

"The BJP has links with terrorists, what is this relationship called? he posed in the tweet.

The Congress has alleged that Riyaz Attari, one of the prime accused in the killing of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Rajasthan's Udaipur was a BJP member. It has also released his photographs purportedly with BJP leaders in Rajasthan.

The BJP, however, has denied any link with such elements and claimed that some of them had clicked pictures with its leaders after infiltrating the party ranks.

The Congress also claimed that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Talib Hussain Shah who was nabbed by people in Reasi town in Srinagar recently was an office-bearer of the BJP's minority cell in Jammu and Kashmir, a charge denied by the BJP leadership in the Union Territory.

Congress leader Pawan Khera has asked how Talib Hussain Shah, who was allegedly planning to attack the Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir, was seen in a photograph with Amit Shah. He wondered whether it was not a security breach.

This is the second series of press conferences being organised by the Congress after the first such effort was made against the new Agnipath military recruitment scheme.

The Congress has decided to take the BJP head-on over issues of national importance, and the party will continue to hold countrywide pressers to take its message to the people and to "expose" the claims of the BJP.

Top Congress leaders who are going to address the press conferences include Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda in Ahmedabad, Shaktisinh Gohil in Jaipur, Ajoy Kumar in Mumbai, Uttar Kumar Reddy in Bangalore, former Union minister M M Pallam Raju in Chennai, media and publicity head Pawan Khera in Raipur, Rajeev Gowda in Kolkata, Ranjeet Ranjan in Guwahati and Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka in Visakhapatnam.

India records 18,840 Covid cases, 43 deaths in a day; active case count up by 2,693

10-Jul-2022 214

New Delhi :(PTI) India's COVID-19 case tally rose by 18,840 in a day to reach 4,36,04,394 while the number of active cases increased to 1,25,028, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday

The death toll has climbed to 5,25,386 with 43 more people succumbing to the viral disease, the data updated at 8 am stated

The active case count increased by 2,693 in a day and now comprises 0.29 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.51 per cent, the health ministry said

The daily positivity rate was 4.14 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 4.09 per cent, according to the health ministry

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,29,53,980, while the case fatality rate was 1.20 per cent

According to the ministry, 198.65 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far

India's COVID-19 case tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020; 30 lakh on August 23; 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28; 70 lakh on October 11; 80 lakh on October 29, and 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed one crore on December 19

The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore Covid infections on May 4, three crore on June 23 last year and four crore on January 25 this year

The 43?new fatalities include 19 from Kerala, seven from Maharashtra, three each from Delhi and West Bengal, two each from Assam and Uttar Pradesh and one each from Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Nagaland, Punjab, Sikkim and Uttarakhand

A total of 5,25,386 deaths have been reported so far in the country including??1,47,971?from Maharashtra, 70,108 from Kerala, 40,123 from Karnataka, 38,028 from Tamil Nadu, 26,280 from Delhi, 23,547 from Uttar Pradesh and 21,236 from West Bengal

The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities

"Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research," the ministry said on its website, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and?reconciliation.

PM Modi in Jharkhand, Bihar on July 12

09-Jul-2022 196

New Delhi, Jul 9 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various developmental projects worth over Rs 16,000 crore in Deoghar, a famous pilgrimage site in Jharkhand, and address the closing ceremony of the centenary celebrations of the Bihar Legislative Assembly in Patna on July 12.

After launching the development projects, he will pay obeisance at the Lord Shiva temple in Deoghar, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, the PMO said.

The new projects in Jharkhand are a step towards boosting infrastructure development, enhancing connectivity and giving an impetus to ease of living in the region. They will help significantly in socio-economic prosperity in the region, it said.

As a key step towards providing direct connectivity to Baba Baidyanath Dham (the Shiva temple), which is an important religious destination for devotees from all over the country, Modi will inaugurate an airport at Deoghar, constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs 400 crore.

The terminal building of the airport is equipped to handle over five lakh passengers annually.

The prime minister will dedicate to the nation the In-Patient Department (IPD) and operation theatre services at AIIMS, Deoghar. This is in accordance with his vision to develop excellent healthcare facilities in all parts of the country, the PMO said.

It added that his goal to develop world-class infrastructure at places of religious importance across the country and improve facilities for tourists will get a further boost as the components of project 'Development of Baidyanath Dham, Deoghar' sanctioned by the Ministry of Tourism will also be inaugurated.

The projects include the development of two large pilgrimage congregation halls with a capacity of 2,000 pilgrims each; Jalsar lake front development; Shivganga Pond development among others. The new amenities will further enrich the tourism experience for lakhs of devotees who visit Baba Baidyanath Dham, it said.

Modi will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple road projects worth over Rs 10,000 crore and various energy infrastructure projects of around Rs 3,000 crore for the region. He will also launch several rail projects.

In Patna, Modi will address the closing ceremony of the centenary celebrations of the Bihar Legislative Assembly and inaugurate the Shatabdi Smriti Stambh which has been built to commemorate 100 years.

He will also lay the foundation stone of the 'Vidhan Sabha museum.

Different galleries in the museum will demonstrate the history of democracy in Bihar and the evolution of the current civic structure, the PMO said.

History of freedom struggle not about a few years and some people: PM Modi

04-Jul-2022 257

Bhimavaram (AP), Jul 4 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the history of the country's freedom struggle was not about a few years or some people but was about the sacrifice from every nook and corner of the country.

In his address after unveiling a 30-ft bronze statue of Alluri Sitarama Raju here, Modi said the legendary freedom fighter's 125th birth anniversary and the centenary of the Rampa Rebellion will be celebrated throughout the year.

"On one side the country is celebrating 75th year of independence and along with that the 125th birth anniversary of Alluri Sitarama Raju and also 100th year of Rampa rebellion are also being celebrated, he said.

Alluri led the Rampa rebellion, which was launched in 1922. He is referred to as "Manyam Veerudu" (Hero of the Jungles) by the local people.

Modi said, "the freedom struggle is not just the history of a few years, some regions or some people. It is the history of sacrifices from every nook and corner of the country." .

Paying rich tributes to Alluri Sitarama Raju, the PM said he involved himself in the country's fight for independence early, dedicating himself for Adivasi welfare and the country and was "martyred" at a young age.

His life is an inspiration, he said, adding Alluri "was a symbol of India's culture, Adivasi identity and values". He dared the British to stop him, Modi recalled.

Modi said no one can stop from making a 'New Bharat' when our youth, tribals, women, dalit and the downtrodden lead the country.

"I am fully confident that inspiration from Alluri Sitarama Raju will take the country to infinite heights," he said.

"I bow to the great freedom fighters born in Andhra Pradesh. We have not forgotten our freedom fighters, we will not forget and we will move forward by taking inspiration from them," he said and recalled icons from the state including Pingali Venkayya, "who prepared our national flag," and Potti Sriramulu.

Much like the youth joined the freedom struggle in hordes, they should now come forward to realise the dreams of the country, Modi said exhorting the younger sections of the population.

Dwelling on tribal welfare, the Prime Minister said that for the first time since independence, tribal museums are being established to highlight tribal pride and heritage.

Through programmes like Skill India Mission, tribal art was receiving a new identity while Vocal for Local was ensuring income for the community members.

The government has changed decades old laws, that prevented the tribal people from cutting forest produce like bamboo and gave them rights over them, he added.

Earlier, Modi unveiled the 15-tonne statue of Alluri, carved out at a cost of Rs 3 crore and installed by the Kshatriya Seva Samiti in the Municipal Park at ASR Nagar in Bhimavaram, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.

State Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture G Kishan Reddy, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, former Union Minister and film star K Chiranjeevi and others were present on the occasion.

The dignitaries paid floral tributes to Raju on the occasion.

Modi felicitated Alluri Srirama Raju, Alluri's nephew, and Bodi Dora, son of Alluri's close lieutenant Mallu Dora. Popularly known as "Manyam Veerdu", Sitarama Raju, also referred to by his surname Alluri, was born on July 4, 1897 at Pandrangi village in the then Visakhapatnam district.

Active COVID-19 cases rise to 1,11,711

03-Jul-2022 387

PTI

India logged 16,103 new coronavirus infections taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,35,02,429, while the active cases increased to 1,11,711, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday.

The death toll climbed to 5,25,199 with 31 new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

The active cases comprise 0.26 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.54 per cent, the ministry said.

An increase of 2,143 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 4.27 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was 3.81 per cent, according to the ministry.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore on May 4 and three crore on June 23 last year. It crossed four crore on January 25 this year.