New Delhi, The <keyword id="6354977" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> on Friday issued a notice to the Centre and Twitter on a plea seeking a mechanism to check content on Twitter spreading hatred through <keyword id="2479020" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Fake-news">fake news</keyword> and instigative content through <keyword id="5009640" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="bogus-accounts">bogus accounts</keyword>. A bench headed by Chief <keyword id="6357043" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="justice">Justice</keyword> S.A. Bobde issued the notice on a plea by BJP leader Vinit Goenka seeking a mechanism to check content on Twitter spreading hatred through fake news and instigative content through bogus accounts. The top court tagged the matter with similar pending petitions seeking social media regulation. The plea, filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey, argued that presently total number of Twitter handles in India are around 35 million and total number of Facebook accounts are 350 million and experts says that around 10 per cent Twitter handles (3.5 million) and 10 per cent Facebook accounts (35 million) are duplicate/bogus/fake. The petitioner argued that these fake Twitters handles and bogus Facebook accounts, have been created, in the name of eminent people and high dignitaries including the <keyword id="2540" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="President">President</keyword> of India, Vice President of India, Prime Minister of India, Chief Ministers, <keyword id="68811" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cabinet-ministers">Cabinet Ministers</keyword>, Chief Justice of India and the judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts. Goenka said that these fake Twitter handles and Facebook accounts use real photos of constitutional authorities and eminent citizens. As a result, the common man relies upon the messages published from these Twitter handles and Facebook accounts. The petitioner insisted that fake news is the root cause of many riots, including the one in Delhi earlier this year. Moreover, bogus accounts are used to promote communalism, which is a threat to the unity of the country. The plea argued that political parties use fake social media accounts to tarnish the image of opponents during elections, and also self-promotion. The plea sought the apex court to issue direction to the Centre, Ministry of Information &amp; Broadcasting, Ministry of Law &amp; Justice, and <keyword id="749437" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twitter-India">Twitter India</keyword> to make a mechanism against the social media accounts in order to stop the hatred, fake, instigative and other news which are contrary to the law of the country or violates the law of the country. The plea also sought directions to make a law to initiate action against Twitter and their representatives in India for wilfully abetting and promoting anti India tweets and penalising them. The petitioner cited that the <keyword id="69522" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ministry-of-home-affairs">Ministry of Home Affairs</keyword> has banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) under the Unlawful Activities and Prevention Act on July 10, 2019, yet this banned organisation continues to have an active presence on Twitter promoting its agenda. The petitioner argued despite sending a representation to the authority concerned no action has been taken against social media giant Twitter. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/experts-say-india-and-china-both-need-to-show-their-voters-that-they-won-in-ladakh-for-the-disengagement-to-be-successful/articleshow/80876036.cms">Experts say India and China both need to show their voters that they won in Ladakh⁠ for the disengagement to be successful</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/why-grofers-may-allow-an-american-blank-cheque-firm-to-buy-it-out-instead-of-fighting-ambani-and-bigbasket-for-ipo/articleshow/80874979.cms">Here’s why Grofers may allow an American “blank cheque” firm to buy it out instead of fighting Ambani and BigBasket for IPO</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/spicejet-and-indigo-stocks-take-off-as-a-2-hour-flight-could-now-cost-up-to-13000/articleshow/80873865.cms">SpiceJet and IndiGo stocks take off as a 2-hour flight could now cost up to ₹13,000</a>

Supreme Court tells Indian government and Twitter to find a way to curb hate speech online and shut down fake accounts

Ahmedabad, May 3 () Deviating from the Centre'sorder granting certain relaxations in 'Red' zones during thethird phase of the coronavirus-induced lockdown beginning onMonday, the Gujarat government has decided against giving anyrelief in six cities and as many municipalities due to highnumber of cases.A senior official said on Sunday that Chief MinisterVijay Rupani had decided against granting any relief in themunicipal limits of Ahmemdabad, Surat, Vadodara, Gandhinagarand Bhavnagar--all in 'Red' zone, and Rajkot municipalcorporation which falls under 'Orange' zone."No relaxation will be allowed in the lockdown rulesfor another two weeks in municipal corporations of Ahmemdabad,Surat, Vadodara, Gandhinagar, and Bhavnagar, as well as sixmunicipalities of Botad, Bopal, Khabhnat, Bareja, Godhra andUmreth which are under red zone (as per the Centre'snotification)."No relaxation will be allowed in Rajkot municipalcorporation as well, which is under orange zone. This wasdecided by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani at a high-level meetingheld on Saturday," said Ashwani Kumar, Secretary to ChiefMinister, in a press briefing via video conferencing.As on Saturday, Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat togetheraccounted for over 4,500 of the total 5,054 COVID-19 cases inGujarat.Though the Centre has allowed standalone shops andprivate offices (with 33 per cent staff) to remain open in'Red' zones outside containment areas, the state governmenthas decided against such relaxation within the limits of theabove six municipal corporations and as many municipalities."Except the shops selling essential items, no shopswill be allowed to remain open in the above-mentioned areas.No offices will also be allowed to remain open," Kumar said.No paan shops selling cigarettes, paan masala, gutkha,or permit liquor shops will be allowed to operate in any partof the state irrespective of the zones during the lockdownperiod, he said.The state government has, however ,allowed industriesto resume operations in rural areas, two municipalcorporations and 156 municipalities on the condition ofadhering to social distancing norms, Kumar added.The government has allowed opening of salons, beautyparlours and tea shops in 'Orange' and 'Green' zones, theofficial said.Taxis and cab services are also allowed in these zoneson the condition that only two passengers, besides driver, cantravel.Kumar further said the government had decided torestrict people from coming out of their houses between 7 pmand 7 am in the areas placed under the strict lockdown.State transport buses have been allowed to operate ingreen zones with 50 per cent capacity, Kumar said."Drivers and conductors will face action if they ferrymore than 30 passengers in one bus," he said.Relaxation has been given to industries to operate inrural areas as well as municipal corporations of Junagadh andJamnagar."They will have to operate in a staggered manner, andhave to screen workers and maintain social distancing norms,"he added.Kumar also said that permissions and passes will notbe required to be renewed for the third phase of the lockdown,which is slated to remain in force till May 17, as they willbe considered valid without the need to apply afresh. KAPDNSK NSK

Guj: No relaxations in six cities during lockdown

(Eds: Updates with details, quotes)Ahmedabad, Apr 27 () Gujarat Chief Minister VijayRupani favoured a gradual lifting of the coronavirus-enforcednationwide lockdown during interaction of CMs with PrimeMinister Narendra Modi on Monday through video-conferencing,said an official here.Rupani maintained that interests of daily wagelabourers, small as well as big shop owners and self-earningpeople should be kept in mind if the lockdown is extendedbeyond May 3, he said."Lockdown needs to be gradually lifted. The state willfollow the Centre's guidelines and lift the lockdown in agradual and step-by-step manner, depending on the number of(COVID-19) cases going down (in different areas), secretaryin the Chief Ministers Office, Ashwani Kumar, told reporters,quoting Rupani telling the meeting via video link.Gujarat, with 3,301 novel coronavirus cases and 151deaths so far, is second only to Maharashtra on both counts inthe country.Kumar said at the PM-CMs meeting, Rupani gave detailsregarding how Gujarat is fighting the virus and decisionstaken to open some sectors of the economy (outside containmentzones &amp; COVID-19 hotspots) to bring the life back to normalcy.Rupani presented a detailed picture of how Gujarat isfighting against coronavirus. He said the state is testingextensively and conducting detailed survey and surveillance(to detect positive cases) in big cities, Kumar said.Rupani informed that the state has 61 dedicatedCOVID-19 hospitals which have 10,500 beds with required numberof ICUs and ventilators."We will increase the number of beds in a week to22,500 in our COVID-19 Care Centres, he said, quoting thechief minister.The chief minister told the meeting that Gujarat isanalysing reasons for high COVID-19 fatality rate as 151people have died so far, which comes to 4.57 per cent (oftotal cases), more than the national average of 3.07 per cent.We are analysing the cause of death rate in Gujaratdue to COVID-19. The pattern that has emerged is that 85 percent of those who have died had co-morbid conditions (pre-existing illnesses), Rupani told the meeting.Rupani said three districts of the state have so farnot recorded any COVID-19 case, while 18 districts have onlysingle digit cases. So the situation is under control in these21 districts, the CMO official informed.The chief minister apprised the meeting about thedecisions taken by the state government to ease the lockdown,imposed in late March, in select areas, Kumar said.He informed the meeting about relaxations given tofarmers for crop harvesting and other activities, and also tofishermen."Rupani informed about starting industries in ruralareas, permission given to construction projects in urbanareas with conditions and opening of standalone shops, Kumarsaid.Modi held a video-conference with the chief ministersof various states and Union territories to discuss thesituation arising in the country due to the COVID-19 outbreakand the lockdown imposed to stem its spread. PDRSY RSY

At PM-CMs meet, Rupani favours gradual lifting of lockdown

Here’s the list of all the 22 candidates from Aam Aadmi Party contesting Haryana Vidhan Sabha elections 2019 <table style="width: 0cm;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="border-width: 1pt; border-style: solid; border-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Haryana </td> <td style="border-top: 1pt solid black; border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left-width: initial; border-left-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Constituency </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> AAP Candidate name </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Ambala City </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Amshum Kumar Agarwal </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Assandh </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Anup Sandhu </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Badkhal </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Dharma Vir Badana </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Bahadurgarh </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Anita Chikara </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Ballabgarh </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Harendra Bhati </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Barwala </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Anup Singh Chanauth </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Beri </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Ashwani Tulhera </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Faridabad </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Kumari Sumanalatha Vasishth </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Faridabad NIT </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Santosh Yadav </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Fatehabad </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Lakshya Garg </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Garhi Sampla-Kiloi </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Purva Subedhar Munipal Atri </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Gurgaon </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Ranvir Singh Rati </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Hansi </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Manoj Rati </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Hodal </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Karan Singh Dagar </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Julana </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Ramkumar Pahal </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Ladwa </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Gurdev Singh Sura </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Mahendragarh </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Ajay Sharma </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Narnaund </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Sandeep Loura </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Palwal </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Kuldeep Kaushik </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Panchkula </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Yogeshwar Sharma </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Tosham </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Pawan Hindusthani </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="border-right: 1pt solid black; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; border-left: 1pt solid black; border-top-width: initial; border-top-style: none; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Uklana </td> <td style="border-top-width: initial; border-style: none solid solid none; border-left-width: initial; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right-width: 1pt; border-right-color: black; padding: 1.5pt 2.25pt; height: 15.75pt;"> Manjith Rang </td> </tr> </tbody></table> Some of the top candidates in the limelight nominated by the AAP include Ranbir Singh who will contest from Gurugram, Kumari Sumanata Vasishth who will fight from Faridabad, Santhosh Yadav, who will face the elections from Faridabad NIT, Harendra Bhati nominated from the Ballabhgadh constituency, Yogeshwar Sharma who will try his luck from Panchkula and Anshul Kumar Agarwal who will contest from Ambala City. All the 90 assembly seats will go for polling on October 21, 2019 since the term of the present ruling government will end on November 2. To fulfill the mandates of the constitution, the election commission has declared the election in this state. The schedule published by the EC says the votes will be counted on October 24, 2019. The results are expected to be declared on the same day by evening. During 2014 general elections for the Vidhan Sabha, BJP bagged 47 seats. The second highest score was reported by the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) which could win from 19 seats. The congress which was ruling at that time could get only 15 seats. Two seats were won by the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won one seat each. There were also five independent candidates who won the elections from different constituencies. AAP could not get even a single seat during the said elections.

AAP candidate list for Haryana Vidhan Sabha elections 2019

Shalimar Bagh delhi assembly election candidate names

New Delhi, Feb 1 () Agri experts and industry players on Saturday gave a mixed reaction to the budget proposals, saying the government did not announce any major structural reforms to increase farmers' income.
 Farmers' body India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) called a nation-wide protest on February 13 to protest against the "pro-corporate" budget.
 Industry players observed that the government failed to bring reforms in the Essential Commodities Act. There were few schemes to spur private investment and capital formation in the agriculture space.
 However, fertiliser cooperative major IFFCO welcomed proposal of exempting cooperative societies from minimum alternate tax and also bringing tax rate for cooperative societies to 22 per cent from 30 per cent.
 "These steps will indeed help the cooperatives to work in a dynamic manner and can bring more innovations for the farmers of country," IFFCO Managing Director U S Awasthi said in a statement.
 Hailing the Budget, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Chairman Dilip Rath said: "18 per cent increase in allocation of funds to Animal Husbandry and Dairying sector to Rs 3,289 crore for the 2020-21 fiscal as against the revised budget estimate for 2019-20 is remarkable which recognizes that dairy sector is increasingly becoming an important sector for the economy, especially for the rural areas."
 The measures announced will help sustain growth of milk production by more than 6 per cent and also reinforces the intent of the government that the dairy sector continues to play a stellar role in realising the goal of doubling farmers' income, he added.
 Stating that the budget was a "mixed bag" for agriculture, the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) Director General Ram Kaundinya said it is "disappointing" to note the continued emphasis on Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) as a panacea for farmers.
 "While the FM said that they wanted to make the Indian farmer competitive, she did not talk anything about using modern science and technology in seeds, increasing farm mechanization and other inputs which are essential for this," he added.
 Edible oil industry body SEA said it was expecting at least this year the government will come out with a package of incentives for higher production and productivity of oilseeds to reduce our dependence on import of edible oils.
 NCDEX MD &amp; CEO Vijay Kumar said allocation of Rs 2.83 lakh crore to agriculture, irrigation and rural development will provide impetus in re-energizing the sector.
 For DCM Shriram Chairman and Senior Managing Director Ajay Shriram, it was a "balanced budget" which has tried to move the needle in different areas while maintaining the fiscal prudence.
 NCML Chairman Sanjay Kaul said this is a refreshing change from the previous budget which had limited new schemes for agriculture.
 However, the agri-industry would be disappointed with no reforms announced in the Essential Commodities Act and minimal schemes to spur private investment and capital formation in the agri space, he said.
 Ajay Kakra of PwC India said, "Systematic coverage of agriculture sector through the 16-point agenda reflects an definite intention to bring fundamental development in agriculture and allied sector. Covering allied sector and important thematic areas can surely work towards aspirational agenda of the government."
 Cargill India President Simon George said, "Agriculture being the backbone of the nation it would be significant to see how the government would push the Krishi Udaan on not just national but international routes and enabling agri and farmers to be part of the global value chains, providing enormous value addition for farmers and the economy."
 LT Foods Ltd Managing Director and CEO Ashwani Arora said the government's efforts to provide impetus to the agri sector are "laudable" but one key area which remained untouched was the direct benefit to companies working in the area of agri-extension and directly engaging with farmers to educate and enhance their knowledge on advancing technologies.
 "We were also hoping for subventions and incentivisation to agri-export companies. Both these were seemingly left out," he added.
 Farm machinery maker CLAAS Managing Director Mrityunjaya Singh said: "Adoption of Model agricultural laws, agricultural credit availability of 15 lakh crore and allocation of 2.83 lakh crore will encourage farmers to adopt latest farming machinery and technology. This will upskill the farming sector in India."
 SLCM Group CEO Sandeep Sabharwal said it's a "Kisan friendly, while KisanKraft Ltd MD and founder Ravindra Agrawal said it was "mixed bag".
 "For achieving the goal of doubling the farmer's income, training farmers on best package of practice, MSP revision is necessary," he said.
 Netafim Agricultural Financing Agency Pvt CEO Prabhat Chaturvedi said, "NABARD initiative to create an e-portal of geo-tagged, WDRA-compliant warehouses, integrated with eNAM, is a welcome step, which will help in better prices as well as warehouse-receipt financing for farmers."
 SourceTrace Vice President Marketing Om Routray said: "The budget has been favourable thus far towards agriculture and allied sectors. There is a good focus on using technology to develop agriculture in India."
 Aadvik Foods Co-founder Shrey Kumar said: "Overall the budget looks positive towards start-ups and improving the logistics and infrastructure of the agriculture segment."
 The setting up of cold chain infrastructure in the country is much needed and it is good to hear that government is planning to improve the same, Kumar added.
 Garware Technical Fibres CEO Shujaul Rehman said, "Sagar Mitras is an appreciative initiative for rural youth in fisheries. Thus fish farming is now a thriving sector and we see the sector GDP and turnover graph ascending with time."
 World Gold Council India Managing Director Somasundaram PR said: "Measures to boost farmers' income and reduce taxes for the middle class will boost purchasing power and consumer confidence, which will benefit jewellery industry as well." LUX MR

Agri industry & experts give mixed bag of response on budget

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/46542810.cms" /> CBI court’s summon of the erstwhile Prime Minister, <keyword id="6359397" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Manmohan-Singh">Manmohan Singh</keyword> as an accused in the coal block allocation scam, popularly called Coalgate scam has been giving nightmares to the Congress party. The party president <keyword id="689" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sonia-Gandhi">Sonia Gandhi</keyword> has left no stones unturned to understand the way outs for Singh in the case. 
 Sonia is learnt to be consulting <keyword id="30182" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Kapil-Sibal">Kapil Sibal</keyword>, former law minister Ashwani Kumar , Ghulam Nabi Azad and <keyword id="63771" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mallikarjun-Kharge">Mallikarjun Kharge</keyword> among other legal minds of the country to challenge the court summons. 
 With Kapil Sibal and <keyword id="70470" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="KTS-Tulsi">KTS Tulsi</keyword> in defence, Manmohan Singh will appeal to the <keyword id="6354977" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Supreme-Court">Supreme Court</keyword> against the CBI summons. 
 
 Over 100 party leaders and MPs had joined Sonia in a ‘walk for support’ for Singh this morning in Central Delhi. 
 As reported by <keyword id="76338" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Reuters">Reuters</keyword>, Sonia who rarely speaks in public off the campaign trail, rallied to Singh's cause in apparent recognition of his loyalty to her family. 
 
(Image: Reuters)

The curious case of Manmohan Singh

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/46756050.cms" /> As the financial year comes to a close, we have some good news for the ‘aam aadmi’ of India. News reports suggest that your EMIs might shrink a little in the coming days as banks across the board are poised to lower lending rates as their hands are being forced by surplus liquidity and low credit demand. 
 According to the Economic Times report, the country's top banks are considering to lower their <keyword id="6371181" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="interest-rates">interest rates</keyword> to push credit demand. "With increased government spending, liquidity is likely to be abundant at the beginning of the new fiscal. This would lead to bank base rate cuts in April-June quarter," NS Venkatesh, IDBI Bank's executive director &amp; chief financial officer told the ET. 
 The lower interest rates won’t only benefit the common man of India but will also lure companies into taking loans. A senior official from the <keyword id="6354731" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Bank-Of-India">State Bank of India</keyword> (SBI) told ET that many banks may start cutting rates in the first quarter to lure companies into taking loans. 
 
Apart from the IDBI and the SBI, other government and private banks are also considering rate cuts in the next fiscal. Dena Bank chairman &amp; managing director Ashwani Kumar also confirmed to ET that their lender's asset liability committee would take a decision on rates in April. 
 
So, why are banks considering a rate cut? Perhaps, they making this move because their credits grew just 10.2% year-on-year to Rs 65,24,300 crore as on March 6 while companies have reported a 32% growth over the preceding fiscal and raised Rs 3,56,382 crore in bonds this fiscal? 
 The <keyword id="30067" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI">RBI</keyword> has kicked off a benign interest rate cycle by lowering repo rate 50 basis points in two separate phases since January 15, but lenders have so far refused to transmit the monetary policy action to protect margins ahead of the fiscal year-end as the impact of any deposit rate cut comes after a lag. 
 Kaushik Das, Deutsche Bank vice-president and economist, told ET that interest rate cuts have become an imperative for the banks. He said, "To the extent that <keyword id="22195" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Inflation">inflation</keyword> is falling, real rates will rise this year unless policy rate cuts are matched by bank rates coming down. With the real <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> showing only tentative signs of recovery, and credit growth anemic, it is critical for bank rates to decline, both in nominal and real terms." 
Image: indiatimes

You could be paying lower EMIs soon! RBI to ‘Aam Aadmi’s’ rescue

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/42332059.cms" />NEW DELHI: Dr Manmohan Singh’s legacy came under yet another round of intense attack with former <keyword id="6356851" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="CAG">CAG</keyword> Vinod Rai alleging that the former <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">prime minister</keyword> was aware of major scandals as they unfolded, refuting claims Singh was not fully aware of the machinations that resulted in humungous loss to the public exchequer and mauled the <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> party’s electoral fortunes. 
 The former CAG’s revelations challenge the defence of Singh that the <keyword id="6446767" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="2G-scam">2G scam</keyword> was perpetuated by A Raja using the political necessity of Congress to humour DMK, thus fastening the mega swindle to the reformist PM. 
 
Rai, whose book “Not Just An Accountant” is set for release in the next few days, claimed that Dr Singh was alerted by his senior cabinet minister Kamal Nath about the brewing 2G scam. 
 
Adding credibility to Rai’s claim, Kamal Nath admitted that he had cautioned Dr Singh against 2G allocations. “I wrote to the Prime Minister that I am hearing all sorts of things are going on in 2G allocation. The PM chose to do nothing,” Nath told Times Now. The former commerce minister said he feels that had Dr Singh intervened “things would have been different for the Congress”. However, there was no point flogging a dead horse, said Nath even as he emphasized that “A Raja was prosecuted for what he did”, and that Rai should not resort to sensationalism to boost the sales of his book. 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/42331701.cms" style="font-size: 14.3999996185303px;" /> 
 
The former CAG also claimed that he was under pressure to drop the name of the former civil aviation minister from the federal auditor’s report on the controversial purchase of aircraft for public carriers. He said the then minister, Praful Patel, had “nudged” the public carriers to go in for the large-scale purchase. 
 
“All hell broke loose when the draft report reached the ministry and bureaucrats of all hues tried to prompt the CAG to drop the word “nudge”. 
 
Patel denied the charge saying that he never met Rai. 
 Rai’s is only the latest book from those who have had a ringside view of Dr Singh’s prime ministership, and who later chose to record the unpleasant realities of the PMO under him and the <keyword id="26374" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="UPA-government">UPA government</keyword>. Dr Singh’s former media advisor Sanjaya Baru, former external affairs minister K Natwar Singh and former coal secretary PC Parakh have all recorded the makings of many scandals that have marked the UPA decade, portraying the former PM as the leader who was not in control or unwilling to intervene. 
 Elaborating on what he had told TOI exclusively on August 24, Rai on Thursday told Time Now that he was approached by three Congress MPs – former <keyword id="6356398" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Law-Minister">Law minister</keyword> Ashwani Kumar who had to resign for allegedly pressuring the CBI to dilute PMO’s role in the Coalgate scam, <keyword id="56431" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sanjay-Nirupam">Sanjay Nirupam</keyword> and Sandeep Dikshit – to drop the name of the Prime Minister from the CAG report on 2G spectrum allocation. 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/42331699.cms" style="font-size: 14.3999996185303px;" /> 
Manmohan Singh’s legacy as PM came under yet another round of intense attack with former CAG Vinod Rai alleging that the former prime minister was aware of major scandals as they unfolded. 
 
“I mentioned in the book that after the PAC meeting on the 2G, Congress MPs did tell me that keep the PM out of this,” Rai said. 
 
Reacting to Rai’s claim, Sanjay Nirupam said the former CAG was lying. “I have never spoken to him,” Nirupam said. 
 
Rai said the irregularities in allocation of 2G licences date back to the tenure of Raja’s predecessor and his DMK colleague Dayanidhi Maran in the telecom ministry. “And we had evidence of the licence being given out at particular prices not only from Raja's time but before also from the previous minister who was also from the DMK. We found that there was a track record that the previous minister had started in a particular way and Raja followed that way. But Raja kept informing the PM what he was planning to do,” he said. 
 
Rai said then PM Manmohan Singh’s own cabinet colleagues were advising him against the licence allocation in arbitrary manner. “Like his own cabinet colleagues were saying that lets discuss this in a GoM. The finance ministry was also saying that lets bring it to a group of ministers. The law ministry had also advised him to do that. But somehow it did not take place,” he said. 
 
 
<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/42331698.cms" style="font-size: 14.3999996185303px;" /> 
<keyword id="204796" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Former-Union">Former Union</keyword> minister Kamal Nath (L) has claimed that he had cautioned Manmohan Singh against 2G allocations and slammed the former PM's inaction over the issue. 
 
The former CAG said former PM had enough time to stop the allocations. “It could have been stopped because between this letter of 26th December and 10th of January when the LOIs were actually issued, there was a fortnight’s time,” he said. 
 
“The buck stops at the PM's desk in any parliamentary democracy. He is the CEO of the country. He can stop, or he can initiate, both. I have written in the book that he probably chose not to stop,” Rai said.

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