BJP slams Govt as Assembly session adjourned after 8 working days

BJP slams Govt as Assembly session adjourned just after 8 working days

by Argus News

BJP slams Govt as Assembly session adjourned after 8 working days

Bhubaneswar, Dec 3: The BJP on Saturday slammed the State government after the Speaker adjourned the Winter Session sine-die after just eight working days. The 11th session of the 16th Assembly, which commenced on November 24, was scheduled to continue till December 31.

Addressing a press meeting held here Opposition Chief Whip Mohan Majhi said, “The House was adjourned before the scheduled date. The State government is running away from its responsibility. Thus, it adjourned the Assembly Session. The BJP will reach out to people with issues.”

He further said, “The BJP raised farmers’ issue on the second day of the winter session. The supplementary budget was tabled in the Assembly without the presence of the Finance Minister.” “Many Ministers were absent in the Assembly and it is unfortunate that the Chief Minister absented from the House and held an election rally,” added Majhi.

“The farmers staged a protest in Padampur and the BJP has been staging protests near the Assembly for the last 16 days over the plight of the farmers. The Ruling party has hatched a conspiracy for not allowing the Assembly to function,” Majhi said.

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He subsequently took on the role of batting consultant for Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of IPL 2021 before being appointed as their head coach for the succeeding two years. (IANS)

PM Modi Targets Opposition After Rs 200 Crore Seized In IT Raids On Liquor Traders In Odisha

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Dec 8: As the Income Tax (IT) sleuths seized over Rs 220 crore in cash during raids on Odisha-based distillery group till Friday afternoon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at those involved in corruption saying every penny looted will have to be returned.

The Prime Minister was apparently referring to Opposition leaders who allegedly have links with the liquor firm.

"The countrymen should look at the pile of these notes and then listen to the honest 'speeches' of their leaders…..Whatever has been looted from the public, every penny will have to be returned, this is Modi’s guarantee," PM Modi said in a Hindi post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Prime Minister also attached a photo of a Hindi newspaper in which the cash recovered by the IT department was shown stacked.

देशवासी इन नोटों के ढेर को देखें और फिर इनके नेताओं के ईमानदारी के 'भाषणों' को सुनें... 😂😂😂

जनता से जो लूटा है, उसकी पाई-पाई लौटानी पड़ेगी, यह मोदी की गारंटी है।

❌❌❌💵 💵 💵❌❌❌ pic.twitter.com/O2pEA4QTOj — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 8, 2023

IT officials first raided BDPL on December 6 on allegations of tax evasion, and later searched the premises of Baldeo Sahu and Group of Companies, from where they claim to have recovered 156 bags of cash. Subsequently, simultaneous raids were conducted in Titlagarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh and Bhubaneswar in Odisha and in a few places in Jharkhand, said official sources.

Also Read: BJP Demands CBI Inquiry Into Seizure Of Rs 500-Cr From Liquor Trader

The IT department has so far seized over Rs 220 crore in simultaneous raids conducted at around 25 premises in Odisha and Jharkhand linked to Baldeo Sahu and Group of Companies Ltd, a country-liquor manufacturing and selling firm with operations across Odisha’s western districts.

The total seized amount is likely to go up as the counting process is still on, sources in the IT department said.

According to IT sources, the group is allegedly linked to Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand Dhiraj Sahu, whose family members run the business. It’s a partnership firm of Boudh Distilleries Private Limited (BDPL) and a leading country-liquor manufacturing firm, IT sources said.

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Free Travel For Women In Telangana RTC Buses From Dec 9

by Hemanta Pande

Hyderabad, Dec 8: Women in Telangana will be able to travel free in state-owned TSRTC buses from Saturday as the new Congress government in the state has decided to implement two of the six guarantees.

Day after assuming office, the Congress government issued an order to roll out the facility under the Mahalakshmi scheme promised during the elections for empowerment of women.

From Saturday (December 9) afternoon, girls and women of all age groups and transgender persons who are domicile of Telangana, can travel free in Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) buses within the state borders.

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The state government issued modalities for implementation of the scheme, which is being launched on the birthday of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.

Women, girls and transgenders can travel in Palle Velugu, Express, city ordinary and city Metro buses, announced TSRTC Managing Director, V. C. Sajjanar.

Travel in inter-state Express and Palle Velugu buses will be free up to the borders of Telangana State.

“They can travel by showing any of the identity cards like Adhaar, voter ID, driving licence, PAN card or passport. There will be no restriction. They can travel any distance within the state,” he said, adding that they will be issued zero tickets after 5-6 days.

The scheme will be launched at 1.30 p.m. from Assembly premises in the presence of ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari and boxing champion Nikhat Zareen.

The TSRTC MD said a total of 7,292 buses can be used by beneficiaries under the scheme.

He said the travel pattern of TSRTC shows that 40 per cent of its passengers are women. This number is expected to go up to 50-55 per cent with the implementation of the scheme.

Sajjanar said based on the number of beneficiaries of the scheme, TSRTC will seek reimbursement from the government.

TSRTC’s current daily revenues are Rs 14 crore. “With the implementation of this scheme, it will automatically come down by 50 per cent. We will request the government to fill the gap,” he said.