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The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has called for Bharat Bandh against the disinvestment, privatisation and labour reform policies of the central government. According to CITU, ten central trade unions were supporting its cause.

CITU calls for a nationwide strike

CITU said that it had been over four years since the last Indian Labour conference took place in August 2015. In the last conference, the government created a Group of Ministers to consider the 12 point-charter of demands of the labour unions. But nothing happened after that meeting. It further said that the government started selling Public Sector Undertakings and natural resources to strengthen the failing economy.

Worker’s demand

The 24-hour strike is called to oppose privatization policies of the central government and present a 12-poing common demand like working-class on pay hike, fixing of the minimum wage, social security and uniform five-day week.

Services affected by Bharat Bandh

Banking services are more likely to get affected by the nationwide strike but private sector banks are likely to work as usual. But the transport sector is likely to get the maximum impact of the strike. According to SBI, only a few members of its unions are participating in the Bandh. Also, BJP-affiliated Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh won’t participate in the strike.

Government on nationwide strike

The government has warned those participating in the strike of consequences the 24-hour strike. Their wages would be cut and they could face disciplinary action. The Ministry of Personnel has prohibited government employees from participating in the strike.

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Devotional International

Gurudwara Nankana Sahib Attacked And Anti-Sikhism Slogans Shouted In Pakistan

HT News يناير 4, 2020

Gurudwara Nankana Sahib in Pakistan came under attack on Friday. According to initial reports, hundreds of angry people surrounded the iconic gurudwara and started pelting stones at the devotees inside. Nankana Sahib was the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

Attack on Gurudwara Nankana Sahib

It was said that the group attacking the gurudwara was led by a family whose boy abducted the daughter of a gurudwara official from her home and forcibly converted her to Islam. Jagjit Kaur was abducted from her home in Nankana Sahib in August last year.

Another report told that the scuffle was the result of a minor altercation between two Muslim groups in the city of Nankana Sahib. It happened at a tea-stall but the district administration swung into action and controlled the situation.

India condemns the incident

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh appealed Pakistan PM Imran Khan to intervene and assure the safety of the devotees stuck inside the iconic gurudwara. Akali Dal MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa also tweeted to condemn the wanton act of destruction.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan replied

In response to the tweets of Indian leaders, Pak PM tweeted a video alleged to be of Indian police attacking Muslims. But on checking, the video was found to be of Bangladesh and was shot in 2013. The Pak PM wasted no time in deleting the tweets.

Pak Foreign Office statement

The authorities in Punjab province released a midnight statement to assure the world community that the gurudwara remained unchanged and undamaged in the attack.

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National News & Politics

PM Modi Released 12 Thousand Crore Rupees For 6 Crore Farmers

HT News يناير 3, 2020

PM Narendra Modi released the third installment of Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi in Karnataka. He pressed the button from his tablet while addressing a gathering in Tumkur. PM is on a two-day visit to Karnataka. He said that the money has been deposited in the eighth crore farmer of the nation.

PM Modi in Tumkur

He transferred 12 thousand crore rupees in 6 crore farmer families from the rally of Tumkur. Also, he displayed his displeasure at many state governments not implementing PM-KSAN due to politics.

PM Modi said that efforts were made to identify specific products from every block and district and calculate their value. Separate identification of products would increase their export value. He hoped that the states would rise above domestic politics and implement the PM-KSAN scheme.

He said there was a time when a considerable amount of government funding was withdrawn by middlemen. Only 15 paise reached the poor out of every rupee sent by the government. Middlemen used to withdraw 85 paise from that money. But today the money is transferred directly to the bank accounts of needy people.

The Third installment of PM-KSAN

PM released the third installed of PM-KSAN and awarded certificates to the beneficiaries of the scheme from eight states and union territories. He also gave Krishi Samman Awards on this occasion.

Outstanding farmers were awarded the Krishi Karman Award and Citation. Also, PM Modi handed over the keys of deep-sea fishing boats and transporters to selected Tamil Nadu farmers. He assured that his government was doing its best to improve the condition of farmers.

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National

Indian Railways Hiked Fares By 1 Paise And 4 Paise Per KM

HT News يناير 1, 2020

Indian Railways announced a hike in fare in its train excluding suburban trains. According to the order, the fair hike would start from January 1, 2020.

Fare hike by Indian Railways

Fare of suburban railways has left untouched in the new hike but ordinary non-AC and non-suburban fares are hiked by 1 paise per km of journey. A 2 paise/km hike was introduced in fares of mail/express non-AC trains and 4 paise/km hike in the fares of AC classes.

The new fare in premium trains

Premium trains included in the fare hike are Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto. After 4 paise/km hike, fare of the Delhi-Kolkata Rajdhani would increase by around Rs. 58.

The order further states that the no changes in reservation fees and superfast charges are introduced. Also, the hike won’t be applicable to tickets that are already booked.

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National Today's Special

US Congratulates Genera Bipin Rawat For Becoming The First CDS Of India

HT News ديسمبر 31, 2019

General Bipin Rawat is made the first Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) by the government of India. He’s currently serving as army general and will retire on December 31. He’ll take the new responsibility on the following day and report directly to the Prime Minister.

Chief of Defense Staff

It is the first time in India that a CDS is appointed but need of a chief for all defense forces was felt from the time of Kargil war in 1999. PM Modi has promised creating of CDS in his Independence Day speech.

The chief of three forces would report to the CDS and the latter would head the Department of Military Affairs. His salary would be equivalent to the emoluments of a service chief. The CDS post would help in improving coordination among the three services – the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

Role and requirements of CDS

A committee headed by National Security Advisor AjitDoval would determine the role and responsibilities of the Chief of Defense Staff. But his primary role would be to bring the three forces on same page. The CDS can serve the country till 65 years of age. General Bipin Rawat would serve as CDS till March 2022.

The world congratulated General Bipin Rawat

The US was the first to congratulate the first Chief of Defense Staff of India. The US Department of State tweeted that CDS would further improve US-India joint cooperation. Maldives Foreign Minister also congratulated General Bipin Rawat for becoming the first Chief of Defense Staff of India.

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National

India Would Become $5 Trillion Economy In 2026

HT News ديسمبر 30, 2019

India would become the fourth-largest economy in 2026 according to a recent report by the UK-based Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). Also, India would achieve its economic target of achieving a GDP of $5 trillion the same year.

Highlights of the CEBR report

India has already become the world’s fifth-largest economy by overtaking the UK and France
India would surpass Germany to reach the fourth-position in 2026
India would battle with Japan and Germany for the third-position over the next decade

World Economic League Table 2020 report

The report is an annual calculation by CEBR in association with Global Construction Perspectives. The report is based on the 2019 data provided by IMF World Economic Outlook.

The report highlights that India would achieve its growth target but two years later than the government’s target. The Modi government intends to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2024. But it also brings into focus the economic-crisis India is facing on its home turf. India witnessed a growth decline of 4.5% in September quarter of 2019-20. The troubling thing is that it was a six-year low.

Economic crisis in India

India is facing an economic slowdown due to negligible investments. The slowdown has impacted the consumer sector because of weak job creation and financial stress among rural households. The report is silent on how India would come out of the dark clouds gathering over the economy and become the third-largest economy over the years.

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National News & Politics

After Mamata Banerjee, Punjab And Kerala CMs Also Stand Against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

HT News ديسمبر 13, 2019

Chief ministers of Kerala and Punjab have decided to follow West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee that is opposing implementation of Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in West Bengal.

Mamata Banerjee on CAB

Mamata Banerjee turned down the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill even before it was passed by parliament. She voiced her concern about minorities while addressing a gathering in Kharagpur at the same time when Union Home Minister Amit Shah was speaking over CAB in the Lok Sabha. Minorities shouldn’t get scared of the bill as WB government was with them. She was also opposing National Register of Citizens.

Kerala CM on CAB

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayansaid that Kerala had no place for such an “unconstitutional law”. He further said that the constitutional guarantee of equal citizenship to all irrespective their faith was made void by this law. He said that any move to determine citizenship in the basis of religion was equal to rejecting the constitution.

Punjab CM on CAB

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said that Congress with majority would oppose the bill in the assembly and block the unconstitutional bill from being implemented in the state. He further said that the law was very divisive in nature.

Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

The controversial bill has been passed by the parliament and it is waiting assent of the President Ram Nath Kovind. The Indian Muslim League of Kerala has challenged the bill in Supreme Court and the Congress is expected to file its challenge soon. The bill is getting maximum opposition in North East where two people have already been killed in police firing in Guwahati.

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National

India Launched Satellite Made By An Israeli School

HT News ديسمبر 12, 2019

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched Indian satellite RISAT-2BR1 with 9 satellites of four countries at 03:25 PM from Satish Dhawan space centre inSriharikota.

RISAT-2BR1 satellite

The RISAT-2BR1 is a radar imaging and earth observation satellite and it can take clear images in clouds and low light conditions. It packs 0.35-meter resolution camera that can locate and recognize to different articles even when they are only 35 cm apart. It weighs 628 kg and it would work for 5 years. This satellite would help armed forces in keeping a tab over infiltration in the border areas.

Security agencies require 4 RISAT satellites

ISRO is planning to launch the RISAT-2BR2 satellite this month and another after the second launch but no launch date is revealed yet. Security agencies need at least 4 RISAT satellites to keep a watch over specific places. These satellites would provide real help in locating infiltration and conducing encounters.

PSLV-C48 rocket is used in launch

It was the 50th mission of PSLV and 75th rocket launched from Sriharikota. Also, it was the 37th launch from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan space centre. ISRO has lined 13 launch mission till 6th March 2020. Out of these 13 launches, 6 belong to big vehicle mission and 7 satellite mission.

Rockets launched of other countries

ISRO launched 6 satellites of USA and 1 nano satellite each of Israel, Japan, Italy and Israel. The Israeli satellite is named Duchifat-3 and it is made by Israel Science Centre and students of Sha’arHaNegev High school.

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National News & Politics

Congress Writes To Its State Presidents To Protest The Citizenship Bill Today

HT News ديسمبر 11, 2019

Congress will hold protest against the passage of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 in the Lok Sabha. It has urged its leaders and workers to hold protests across the country on Wednesday.

Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal said that the people were aware that the Congress was opposing the CAB that was likely to be taken up in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. The party needed to enlighten the public at large on the party’s stand and mobilized support in favour of party’s decision. He also wrote a letter to party state Presidents.

Letter of Mr Venugopal

He requested the party leaders and workers to undertake dharna pradarshan (protest) against the Bill in state headquarters by involving the senior leaders and frontal organisations.

The letter came out after former Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi criticised the CAB calling it an attack on the constitution of India. Mr Gandhi said that anyone supporting the bill was destroying the foundation of nation.

The CAB passed in the Lok Sabha sought to give nationality to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan despite vehement opposition from major opposition parties. He also termed the bill anti-Muslim.

Parties that opposed CAB

The Congress, the TMC, Revolutionary Socialist Party, DravidaMunnetraKazhgam (DMK), All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), AIUDF, BSP, Samajwadi Party, AamAadmi Party and YSR Congress opposed CAB citing various grounds. But the bill was passed with 311 voting in its favour and 80 against the bill.

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National Viral

Chandrayaan-3 Would Cost ISRO Rs. 75 Crores

HT News ديسمبر 8, 2019

Chandrayaan-3 is now official and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has started working on the ambitious project. It has sought Rs. 75 crores for this mission but the fund would be in addition to the existing budget of ISRO.

ISRO needs Rs. 60 crores for the expenditure for buying machinery, equipment and other capital expenditure for Chandrayaan-3 mission. Also, it needs Rs. 15 crores for meeting the revenue expenditure head. ISRO needs this money quick because it is preparing for the Moon landing mission next November.

ISRO’s budget for 2019-20

ISRO has demanded Rs. 666 crores over and above the funds granted in the original 2019-20 budget.The Rs. 75 crores are 11% of the Rs. 666 crores. Rest of the funds would be utilized for the following programmes.

Rs. 8.6 crores for the proposed human spaceflight programme expected to be implemented in 2022.
Rs. 12 crores for development of small satellite launch vehicle.
Rs. 120 crores for development of launchpad for small satellite launch vehicle.

But the largest demand for funds has been raised by UR Rao Satellite Centre and Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Together they need Rs. 516 crores for assembling and testing facilities and development of the spaceport respectively.

Government confirms ISRO’s demand

Sources in the central government have confirmed that ISRO has demanded more funds to meet its expenditure. The Department of Economic Affairs deals with ISRO has started the process of clearing the fund. And the department has assured that ISRO would get fund for both the projects.

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