Srinagar, Feb 1 : The Union Budget is not people-friendly as it has been prepared keeping in mind the interests of a few businessmen, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti alleged on Wednesday.
Talking to reporters here, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said the budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is the same as the ones presented by the BJP-led government over the last eight-nine years.
“Taxes have increased and money is not being spent on welfare schemes or subsidies. Taxes are being amassed for their crony capitalists. The taxes imposed should have benefitted the people, but they have broken their backs.
“Rather than benefitting people, welfare schemes and subsidies are being done away with. The situation in the country is such that those who had risen above the poverty line have again fallen below it,” Mufti said.
She alleged that the budget has been prepared for “a few businessmen”. “This is not for the people of India, not for the poor,” the former Union minister said.(PTI)
Not a people-friendly budget Mehbooba Mufti
Two die as massive avalanche hits Afarwat peak in Gulmarg
Baramulla, Feb 01: At least two persons were killed after coming under a snow avalanche at Afarwat peak in ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday, reports said.
Quoting unnamed officials, news agency GNS reported that a rescue operation was launched soon after the avalanche hit the area.
The bodies of two persons were retrieved from under the snow, they said, adding that fortunately, we were able to rescue four other persons”.
The identity of the deceased is being ascertained, they said. The rescue operation is on to find out if there is any other person trapped, they added.
The Apharwat or Afarwat peak is popular with skiers.
“Avalanche hit the Afarwat peak #HapathKhud at famous ski resort in #Gulmarg.#Rescue operation has been launched by #Baramulla Police alongwith other agencies. Reports of some skiers being trapped are being corroborated. More details shall follow,” tweeted Baramulla Police.
3.36 lakh quintal paddy procured from 6,500 farmers in J&K: Official
JAMMU, Feb 1: The agriculture department has procured 3.36 lakh quintal paddy from more than 6,500 farmers in Jammu and Kashmir last year, an official said on Wednesday.
At a meeting of northern states on the price policy for kharif crops 2023-24 here, Director of Agriculture Jammu K K Sharma said, “The department has established 23 procurement mandis to maintain a reasonable price for agriculture products.” “During the year, 3.36 lakh quintal paddy was procured covering 6,549 farmers and crediting Rs 68.88 crore in their accounts within 48 hours through direct benefit transfer,” he said.
He said the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir stands at the third position in terms of farmers’ income as the department worked tirelessly even during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the interests of farmers and holistic development of the agriculture sector.
Restore statehood, hold elections in J&K: Harsh Dev
Jammu, 01-02-2023: Seeking early restoration of statehood to J&K and installation of an elected govt, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh, Former Minister and Chairman J&K AAP State Co-ordination Committee said that prolonged central rule in the erstwhile state was a negation of the constitutional guarantees enshrined in the constitution of India. He said that several assurances by the central govt of restoring statehood to J&K at the appropriate time had failed to inspire the people of J&K who had lost faith in all such ‘melodramatic rants’ of the BJP leadership. He was addressing a press conference in Jammu alongwith senior leaders of the Party including Sardar Deep Singh, Major General (rtd) J.S Jamwal, Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Dr. Ayoub Mattoo, Farooq Banday, Kuldip Rao, R.S Chouhan, Amit Langer besides others.
Speaking to media persons, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh said that while the people of the erstwhile state were mystified and befuddled by the abrupt abrogation of Article 370, they had expressed their strong opposition to the dismantling of 200 year old historical State of J&K and downgrading it to the level of UT. He said that such a move of BJP led government had not only lowered the morale of the people of erstwhile State but caused huge disenchantment in the hearts and minds of general masses. “It was not a demotion of the State only. Infact every sensible citizen felt downgraded and humiliated. It had deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of J&K who felt belittled and dwarfed”, said Mr. Singh.
“History bears testimony that J&K acceded to the Union of India in 1947 only due to the historic decision taken by Maharaja Hari Singh despite numerous stumbling blocks, pulls and pressures. The demotion of State to UT level was not only unprecedented in the history but amounted to huge disparagement of the patriotic people of Jammu and Kashmir”, observed Mr. Singh. Demanding early restoration of statehood and installation of an elected govt, Mr. Harsh Dev urged for personal intervention of the President of India to save the people of J&K from dictatorial and autocratic regime.
Major General J.S Jamwal and Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Khan (senior AAP leaders) pointed towards the growing tensions in various parts of the UT and the failure of administration to come up to the peoples’ expectations. They said that bureaucratic rule was no answer to the prevalent crisis. The LG administration had lost connect with the masses. The unemployed, semi-employed and contractuals were on the roads with none to even take note of their sufferings and grievances. The people inhabiting the rural areas were suffering badly for basic amenities with no access whatsoever to the corridors of power. With hardly any forum to ventilate their grievances, the people were suffering badly in the absence of a popular govt thereby resulting in growing alienation amongst the masses, said the AAP leaders.
Mukesh Ambani Overtakes Gautam Adani To Become Richest Indian In The World
New York [US], Feb 1: Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has overtaken Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani to become the richest Indian in the world with a net worth of USD 84.3 billion, according to Forbes Real-time billionaire list for 2023.
Ambani overtook Adani after the Reliance Industries Chairman’s assets went up 0.19 per cent with an increase of wealth by USD 164 million while Gautam Adani’s assets went down by 4.62 per cent with the industrialist’s weath pegged at USD 84.1 billion according to the real time tracker of Forbes of 5 pm EST on Tuesday.Adani who figured among the top three billionaires in the world has dropped in the ranking to number 10 just below Mukesh Ambani. At the top of the list is French luxury fashion giant’s LMVH’s Bernard Arnault and family. In December 2022, Louis Vuitton’s founder and CEO Bernard Arnault overtook Elon Musk as the world’s richest person.
However, these values fluctuate constantly. If there is a gain in Adani’s stock, it is expected Adani’s personal wealth will rise too.
This comes following a report by US short-seller Hindenburg Research on the Adani Group alleging a decades-long fraud scheme, “brazen accounting fraud, stock manipulation and money laundering”
The Hindenburg Research report raised concerns about shares of Adani group companies having a possibility of declining from their current levels, owing to high valuations. It also said the Group’s exposure to debt was a concern.
The Adani Group, however, said it was mulling legal options in the US and India against Hindenburg Research after its report accused firms owned by Gautam Adani of market manipulation and accounting fraud.
In a sharp and focused response to Hindenburg Research’s report on its businesses, the Adani Group has responded to all 88 questions raised by Hindenburg including the young age of its auditors.
Hindenburg has hit back stating that the Adani Group’s accusations are “baseless.”
Shares of Adani Group firms fell in morning trade today. However, the key market indices opened with gains as investors’ sentiments were boosted over Union Budget expectations.
Shares of Adani Enterprises, the flagship firm of the group, fell 3.02 per cent to Rs 2,880.20 apiece on the BSE. In a span of five days, the shares were down 15 per cent. Adani Green declined 3.82 per cent to Rs 1,177.15 apiece and the shares had fallen about 38 per cent in a span of five days. (Agencies)
47.8 crore Jan Dhan accounts opened: FM
New Delhi, Feb 1: While presenting the Union Budget 2023-24 in Parliament on Wednesday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said 47.8 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened across the country so far.
Sitharaman said the National Rural Livelihood Mission has achieved remarkable success by mobilising rural women into 1 lakh self help groups (SHGs).
Launched in 2014, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is the national mission for financial inclusion to ensure access to financial services — savings and deposit accounts, remittance, credit, insurance and pension in an affordable manner.
FM Sitharaman announces scheme to improve socio-economic condition of vulnerable tribes
New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday proposed to launch a scheme to improve the socio-economic condition of particularly vulnerable primitive tribal groups.
An amount of Rs 15,000 crore will be made available to implement the Prime Minister Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PM-PVTG) development mission in next three years under the development action plan for Scheduled Tribes, she said while presenting the Union Budget for 2023-24 in Parliament.
“PM-PVTG development missions are being launched to improve socio-economic conditions of the particularly vulnerable tribal groups,” the finance minister announced.
This will saturate PVTG families and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to health, education, nutrition, road and telecom connectivity and sustainable livelihood opportunity, she said.
“An amount of Rs 15,000 crore will be made available to implement the mission in the next three years,” she added.
In the next three years, the Centre will recruit 38,800 teachers and support staff for 749 Eklavya Model Residential Schools servicing 3.5 lakh tribal students, Sitharaman noted.
Union Budget 2023: Sitharaman avers govt provided free foodgrains to 80 crore poor people during pandemic
NEW DELHI, Feb 1: The Government ensured that no one went hungry during the pandemic by providing free foodgrains to 80 crore poor people, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Wednesday.
In times of global challenges, G-20 presidency gives an opportunity to strengthen India’s role in the global order, she added.
The government is implementing scheme to supply free foodgrains to poor under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) with expenditure of Rs 2 lakh crore from January 1, the finance minister said.
Agriculture and allied sector growth has been buoyant through the years on the back of the measures adopted by the government to augment crop and livestock productivity, returns to farmers through price support and by promoting crop diversification. Private investment in agriculture sector has increased by 9.3 per cent in FY21 (7 per cent in FY20).
Son of the soil Dr. Anil Sharma has been awarded with DM in Cardiology by GMC Kottayam, Kerala
Dr. Anil Sharma is an enthusiastic and leading Cardiologist of north India. After completing his MBBS from Government Medical College Jammu, He pursued MD in Medicine from the same college. His main areas of interest include STEMI care, Primary Angioplasty, Trans-radial interventions, Structural Heart Disease interventions, Arrhythmia & Heart failure management. He has good experience in complex interventions, Pacemaker and ICD implantation, peripheral & renal angioplasty and balloon valvotomy.
He has now been awarded with DM in Cardiology by (GMC Kottayam) in the 16th Convocation organised by Kerala University of Health Sciences and the degree was confered to him by Sh. Arif Mohammad Khan Hon’ble Chancellor and Governor of Kerala.
Cabinet approves Union Budget for 2023-24
New Delhi, Feb 1: The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved the Budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 (April 2023 to March 2024), sources said.
Following this, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Budget in the Lok Sabha.