Tag: thesamikhsya

Uttar Pradesh government defended its act to stop Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on his way to Prayagraj on Tuesday.

In his defence, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath questioned Mr Yadav that why he was adamant to go to the Prayagraj when the district authorities of the holy city have denied permission to him.

“Was he going to create violence there?” the UP CM questioned.

Mr Yogi said that Akhilesh had gone to Prayagraj ten days back and suddenly he again wants to go there when the authorities had said that it can create law and order problem. “We will not compromise with law and order at any cost and whoever he might be,” the CM told mediapersons here.

“SP should refrain from its anarchist activities. Allahabad University claimed that Akhilesh’s visit may create law and order problem because of the dispute between student organisations. Hence the government took this step,” he asserted.

State parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, too in the state assembly, said that Mr Yadav was informed accordingly about the decision of the Prayagraj authority. “He still went to the airport just to create politics and to gain mileage,” he claimed.

On SP’s allegation that the BJP was strangulating democracy by preventing Akhilesh from going to Prayagraj, Mr Khanna said that it was the SP leaders who were violating law to create disturbances in the state.

He said in 2017, the Allahabad University students union had issued a direction that no politicians would be invited for any programme.

The BJP leader also denied the reports that Akhilesh was manhandled at the airport. “We are committed to maintain law and order and will do whatever is required,” he asserted.

BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak blamed the SP for trying to ‘create’ violence on the name of going to Allahabad University union function.

“It is the old habbit of the SP leaders and their rowdy acts to create law and order problem. But when BJP was trying to maintain law and order at any cost, these SP leaders were trying to take political mileage over the issue,” he alleged.(UNI)

The members of the Upper House on Tuesday sought Government’s attention over the plight of the retired Delhi University teachers who are yet to get their pension while salaries of primary teachers in coalfield areas are held back due to paucity of fund.

Raising the issue of the retired Delhi University teachers’ pension during zero hours, BJP member Rakesh Sinha said that around 600 retired teachers of DU, which is a central university, are yet to get their pension because of which they are under great financial stress.

“Some of them have died waiting for their pension which is very painful”, Mr Sinha said.

The bureaucrats and auditors are apparently responsible for this inordinate delay, he said and demanded immediate intervention of the Government on this issue.

While raising the issue of primary teachers of the Coalfield areas school, Shiv Sena member Sanjay Raut also demanded the Government’s intervention as these teachers were hired on contract basis and being paid a very low salary.

“These primary teachers are not getting their salary for months and they have been hired on contract basis”, Mr Raut said.

He also said that these schools are run by the Government Public Sector Unit Coal India and its subsidiaries like BCCL, Mahanadi Coalfield Ltd, Eastern Coalfield Limited.

“The poor children of coal miners are studying in these schools and teachers are not getting their dues since many months”, he further said.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee has also recommended to regularise these teachers immediately and must be given equivalent salary of government teachers, he added.(UNI)

A Delhi Court on Tuesday reserved its order on the bail application of Rajiv Saxena in AgustaWestland case.

The businessman was extradited to India on January 31 in connection with the alleged scam in the Rs 3,600 crore deal for the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland Company. He was allegedly operating a number of bank accounts in Switzerland in which huge amounts of money were deposited.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), after completion of ED remand of Saxena, produced him before the Court and submitted that it does not require extension of his remand.

In his bail plea Saxena said he has been providing all necessary information to the investigating agency and always cooperated in the investigation so he is not required for further custodial interrogation.

Seeking bail on medical grounds, his counsel said he is an extremely sick person with advanced terminal diseases. He has coronary heart disease with four stents in his heart and hypertension.

The Counsel further submitted that Saxena is battling an advanced stage of blood cancer and radiating back pain.

Upon hearing arguments on behalf of Directorate of Enforcement and Defence Counsel, Special Judge Arvind Kumar reserved the order on the bail application.(UNI)

The Delhi Government cancelled a grand and glittering cultural function to celebrate its completion of four years in office due to the tragic fire incident in a hotel here at

Karol Bagh in which 17 people lost their lives, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Tuesday.

‘Due to the tragic fire incident in Karol Bagh where several people have lost their lives, today’s Vishal Dadlani’s program scheduled for this evening in Delhi, stands cancelled. Our heartfelt condolences for the grieving families,’ Mr Sisodia tweeted.

To mark the completion of four years of the Delhi Government, the Department of Art, Culture and Languages was schedule to organise the function that was to be presented by Bollywood singer Vishal Dadlani at 1730 hrs at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Government has ordered magistrate probe into the fire incident. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain inspected the Arpit Palace hotel in Central Delhi’s Karol Bagh where the fire incident took place.

The death toll in the massive fire broke out at the hotel here mounted to 17, while three others sustained injuries, fire officials said here.

According to the officials, the incident occurred at around 0435 hrs.(UNI)

The Vintage John Morris Fire Engine, manufactured in the year 1914, which was originally used by Nizam State Railway in the city of Hyderabad, got a prominent exhibit at the National Rail Museum, New Delhi.

The Fire Engine participated in the prestigious 53rd Statesman Vintage Car Rally held in the National Capital, New Delhi on Sunday and secured the Challenger Trophy, SCR said in a release here on Monday.

John Morris Fire Engine was the oldest participant in the rally which saw around 160 Vintage vehicles taking to the roads.

Grabbing attention of the huge Sunday crowd of Delhiites who thronged to witness one of the most prestigious Vintage car rally event in the country, the John Morris Fire Engine completed the full rally distance of 45 kms.

Only about 60 vehicles could cover the full length, while 100 dropped enroute owing to mechanical failures.

For the John Morris Fire Engine, the Challenger Trophy it bagged, marks a proud come back, since it earned the honors after a gap of 5 years.

The Vehicle is over 100 years old, having been procured in the year 1914 by the HEH Nizam State Railway for use in Hyderabad.

It is the only Vehicle in the World fitted with the original Shrewsbury and Challenger Solid Tyres and still retains all the original parts of its fire equipment.

It holds the Ajax Gun-Metal Turbine Pump as a part of its fire equipment. The Fire Engine graces the precincts of one of the best Railway Museums in the World, the National Rail Museum at New Delhi.

However, it is the SCR’s team of Technical personnel from Carriage Workshop, Lallaguda who are the experts in undertaking its regular maintenance.

The John Morris Fire Engine had participated in the car rally last year too, but could not complete the full distance owing to the engine condition.

This year, during the process of restoration of the John Morris Fire engine, private agencies were consulted who quoted an amount of Rs 50 lakhs for the restoration work.

But an 08 member team of Carriage Workshop, Lallaguda who are experts in the maintenance of the John Morris Fire Engine took up thechallenge and restored the vehicle using the resources available in-house and spending an amount of just Rs 2.3 lakh.

This fantastic job of the team earned recognition with the Ministry of Railways declaring an award of Rs 50, 000 for good maintenance.

SCR General Manager Gajanan Mallya, congratulated Vijay Kumar, Chief Workshop Manager, Carriage Workshop, Lallaguda for the laurels, the Vintage John Morris Fire Engine brought to the Zone and Indian Railways.

He was also appreciative of the 8 member maintenance team which successfully ensured that the Fire Engine takes to the road without any glitch.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the government has encouraged private participation across the entire oil and gas value chain.
“India is becoming an attractive FDI destination. Companies like Saudi Aramco, ADNOC, TOTAL, Exxon-Mobil, BP and Shell are looking to increase their investments across the value chain,” said the PM while addressing large gathering of delegates from over 70 countries here at the second day of the 3-day Petrotech 2019. He also added, “India is making rapid strides towards a gas based economy. Over sixteen thousand kilometres of gas pipeline has been constructed and an additional eleven thousand kilometers is under construction.”
“Execution of three thousand, two hundred kilometers of gas pipeline in Eastern India has begun. This will connect North East India with the National Gas Grid.

“The 10th bid round for City Gas Distribution will be complete in a month’s time. This will cover over four hundred districts. It will extend coverage of City Gas Distribution to 70 percent of our population,” he stated.

The Tata Motors Group global wholesales in January 2019, including Jaguar Land Rover, were at 100,572 nos., lower by 12 pc, as compared to January 2018.

Global wholesales of all Tata Motors’ commercial vehicles and Tata Daewoo range in January 2019 were at 40,886 nos., lower by 9 pc over January 2018, a release said

Global wholesales of all passenger vehicles in January 2019 were at 59,686 nos., lower by 15 pc, compared to January 2018.

Global wholesales for Jaguar Land Rover were 41,676 vehicles (JLR number for January 2019 includes CJLR volumes of 2,712 units).
Jaguar wholesales for the month were 12,904 vehicles, while Land Rover wholesales for the month were 28,772 vehicles.

Several BJP leaders including party chief Amit Shah and Union Ministers

on Tuesday hoisted party flags at their respective residences and tried to share their and the parties’ association with the saffron party.

In fact, BJP president Amit Shah kicked off his party’s ambitious “Mera parivar, Bhajpa parivar” campaign in Ahmedabad by hoisting the party flag at his residence in Gujarat.

BJP sources have said that the party wants to cover over five crore houses under the drive ahead of the announcement of the schedule of Lok Sabha polls.

The exercise is slated to continue till March 2 across the country.

“This BJP flag is a symbol of development, belief and nationalism,”   Shah said at a simple function.

Among others Union Commerce and Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu hoisted the BJP flag at his residence.

“Celebrated and joined the #MeraParivarBhajapaParivar campaign. My family considers it an honour to have hoisted the BJP flag in front of our home. Supporting the cause of good governance,” he tweeted.

BJP lawmaker in Rajya Sabha Vinay sahashrabuddhe also took to micro blogging site and wrote:

“Joined #MeraParivarBhajapaParivar campaign and hoisted BJP flag in front of our home in Delhi with family and associates”.

He further wrote- “Patriotism in the heart, National spirit filled in our home and BJP everywhere”.

Several net savvy citizens also took to the micro blogging sites and expressing their support to the BJP’s unique style of outreach programme.

“Jai BJP, Jai Bharat Shri Ram. Ghar Ghar Alakh Jagayenge, Bhajpa ko hi laeyenge (Jai BJP, Jai Bharat, with the blessings of Sri Ram, we will ensure BJP returns to power,” went one missive from an enthusiastic BJP supporter.(UNI)

Global aircraft maker giant Airbus will have a large presence in biennial Aero India 2019 defence aerospace flight display and exposition beginning at IAF Yelahanka Air Station on the outskirts of the city from February 20 to 24.
The centrepiece of Boeing’s flying displays will be the A330neo – the latest addition to the leading Airbus widebody family. It features advanced materials, new optimised wings, composite sharklets and highly efficient engines that together deliver 25 per cent reduced fuel burn and CO2 emissions. Demonstration flights will be performed by the new generation tactical airlifter C295 which can perform multi-role operations under all weather conditions.
On static display will be Airbus’ most versatile twin-engine rotorcraft – the H135 & H145. The H135 is known for its endurance, compact build, low sound levels, reliability, versatility and cost-competitiveness. The H145 is a member of Airbus’ 4-tonne-class twin-engine rotorcraft product range – with designed-in mission capability and flexibility, especially in high and hot operating conditions.
Visitors at the Airbus exhibit – Hall E 2.8 & 2.10 – can witness the company’s continued commitment to supporting the growth of India’s aviation, defence and space sectors, particularly in the areas of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Startup India’. Aerospace fans can also savour interactive virtual and augmented reality experiences at the Airbus stand.
“Aero India is the jewel in the crown of the world’s largest defence and third-largest commercial aviation market,” said Anand E Stanley, President and Managing Director of Airbus India & South Asia. “Airbus’ large-scale commitment to the show demonstrates that India is more than a market, it’s a core base for us.”
On display will be scale models of the C295 – medium transport aircraft; the A330 MRTT – Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft; the A400M – the most versatile airlifter currently available; the SES-12 – a geostationary communications satellite and a holographic display of the Hybrid SAR Earth observation radar satellite, a company release said here today.
In helicopters, scale models of the H225M– the military version of Airbus’ H225 Super helicopter; the AS565 MBe – the all-weather, multi-role force multiplier; along with the H135 and H145 will be on display. Commercial aircraft scale models will include A330-900, the member of Airbus’ A330neo new generation widebody, the A321neo and ATR 72-600.
Airbus will also demonstrate a wide range of service offerings, including through its fully owned subsidiaries Satair and Navblue, with particular focus and demonstrations of Skywise-based digital services. Also, on display will be Airbus’ Advanced Inspection Drone which accelerates and facilitates visual checks, considerably reducing aircraft downtime and increasing the quality of inspection reports.
It is Airbus’ firm belief that technology and talent are the key to unlocking the enormous potential of the region. In India, it has sought to foster innovation and entrepreneurial spirit through Airbus BizLab, which will be present at Hall E 2.9. Visitors will get a first glance of the opportunities that the startup accelerator has created in the Indian innovation ecosystem. Airbus Bizlab will also partner with Invest India to organise the ‘Startup Day’ at Aero India, the release said.
Airbus will also leverage the event to acquire talent. On February 23 and 24, it will offer members of the public the opportunity to explore career prospects with Airbus India in Avionics Software, Aircraft System Simulation and Airframe Structures as well as in API Development, Full Stack Development, Big Data, Cloud and DevOps.

Internet services were suspended and prohibitory orders were issued in Imphal since last midnight, ordering all to remain indoors as protestors against the stir opposing Citizenship Bill decided to fight till the end.
Most students were preparing to hand out their Hindi text books to the Governor and the Chief Minister as a mark of protest and the MANPAC the apex body of those against Citizenship Bill decided to observed today, February 12, 2019 as the ‘North East Peoples Doomsday in India’.
There was confusion as SIM based internet services were suspended. Sounds of protests, raising of slogans against BJP and burning of effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh were seen in many areas.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh along with Chief Ministers and Union Ministers of other north eastern states made last minute effort in New Delhi to urge the Union Minister Rajnath Singh not to introduce the Bill in the Rajya Sabha as the entire north east was burning, however, the Narendra Modi government has decided to present the Bill today in Rajya Sabha.
Since the announcement of introducing the Bill by Prime Minister Narendra Modi the region has been passing through a tense phase. Manipur has been witnessing blocking of roads using stones, wood and burning objects since yesterday as the MANPAC imposed a 36 hour shut down from 5 am of Feb 11 till 5 pm of Feb 12. Hundreds of women were sleeping on the roads specially in the market areas . A police crack down led to injury of six women. Inspite of the police firing and snatching of all clothes used to sleep on the roads hundreds of women came out and slept on the roads defying the government order.
Most of the political leaders have rushed to New Delhi to meet their central leaders. The government has called out all available forces and a high alert has been sounded. Security personnel guarded residences of legislators and offices of BJP . Fearing a mass uprising barricades were put up at various locations to stop movement of people.
The Congress party has decided to stage a protest in New Delhi today. Congress leader, O Joy said the introduction of CAB will lead to wiping out of the Mongoloid race in the north east.
MANPAC leaders said the indigenous population of Tripura was wiped out and in Manipur the population of illegal immigrants has reached 30 percent in the last census and it is increasing. The region is facing heavy influx from Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Ningombam Bhupenda Meitei, Congress Spokesperson has asked BJP & NDA parties’ MPs and MLAs from North East to resign before Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 gets introduced in Rajya Sabha by Modi government.
He also urged all those IAS and IPS officers, in All India Services, who are from the community of the indigenous people of North East India, to resign and voluntarily leave their services.
He further said the only way to defeat Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 and the ideology behind the bill is by removing Prime Minister Modi and defeating his political party, BJP – that has made to destroy the entire indigenous people of North East India in our own land . 

Legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika’s son Tez Hazarika opposing the citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 has said that award of Bharat Ratna to his father “is a display of short lived cheap thrill”.
In a statement Mr Tez said, ” I believe that my father’s name and words are invoked and celebrated publicly while plans are foot to pass a citizenship bill which is hugely unpopular and that is undermining his documented position on the issue.”
Protest against the citizenship bill has spread across Assam as the bill which was passed in Lok Sabha will be presented in Rajya sabha for approval.

President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday unveiled a portrait of former Prime Minister and BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpyee in the Central Hall of Parliament at a ceremony attended among others by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President M. Venkiah Naidu and Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
Also seated on the dais were Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Narendra Singh Tomar. Members of Parliament from both the Houses attended the ceremony.
The Central Hall, which is the famous venue for the meetings of the Constituent Assembly to frame the Constitution, burst into applause as the President unveiled the statue donated by Lok Abhiyan Sanstha and done by artist Krishna Kanhai. The artist was facilitated on the occasion.
The portrait is placed next to that of freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai.
The decision to install the portrait of Mr Vajpayee was taken by the Parliamentary Committee on Installation of Portraits of National Leaders and Parliamentarians chaired by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan. The 13-member panel has representation of leaders from various parties.
Mr Vajpyee’s family members , his daughter, son-in-law and grand-daughter were also present and heard the glowing tributes paid to the late leader.
Mr Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of the country thrice. The first two terms were curtailed but he served full term from 1999 to 2004. He was the founder of Bhartiya Jana Sangh which was merged into Janata Party in 1977.
He was later amongst the founders of the Bhartiya Janata Party.(UNI)

The death toll in the massive fire broke out at a hotel here mounted to 17, while three others sustained injuries, senior fire officials confirmed on Tuesday.

According to officials, the incident occurred at Arpit Palace hotel in Centre Delhi’s Karol Bagh, around 0435 hrs.

Around 25 people have been evacuated safely from the spot, they added.

At least 20 fire tenders were pushed into service and the blaze was put to a stop around 0830 hours, while the rescue operation by the police was still underway.

The victims also include a child and a woman, senior fire officials told UNI.

Some people were seen jumping off the terrace and windows. Most of the deaths took place due to suffocation, officials confirmed.

However, the cause of fire is yet to be ascertained.(UNI)

A total of 70 civilians were killed and wounded on Tuesday by a US-led airstrike in eastern Syria, local media reported. The airstrikes targeted a camp for displaced people in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour.
The airstrikes have intensified recently on Islamic State (IS)-held areas in the eastern Euphrates river region.

On Saturday, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) started on the final stage of attacks against the IS in the eastern Euphrates river region in eastern Syria.

Following the evacuation of over 20,000 civilians from the town of Baghouz in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour, the SDF started on Saturday night the operation against the remaining IS-held pocket in the eastern Euphrates region, according to Mustafa Balli, the head of the SDF media office.

The SDF managed, with the help of the US, to defeat IS in much of the areas it had controlled in the eastern Euphrates area.(UNI)

A woman among six Rohingiyas have been detained by the SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal) when the aliens were trying to cross over to Nepal from Indian side of Panitanki outpost,   The Border Interaction Team of 41 Bn. SSB, Ranidanga, intercepted the foreigners in the evening of February 7 Panitanki while they were trying to cross over to Nepal from India.

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology on Monday held a meeting here on the subject of ‘Safeguarding citizens rights on social or online news media platforms’.

The panel is headed by BJP lawmaker Anurag Thakur and has among others members such as Prasun Banerjee (Trinamool), Hema Malini, Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, L K Advani and Virender Kashyap (all BJP), P Karunakaran (CPI-M), Raj Babbar (Congress) and K G Kenye (NPF) as members.

According to sources, Twitter has nominated its Director, Policy for South Asia to make appearance at the panel meeting on Monday.

The meeting was convened to enlist “views of the representatives” of the Union Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology and Twitter on the subject.

Monday’s deliberations would be important as Twitter had earlier provoked members and chairman of the Parliamentary panel Mr Thakur by stating that its global CEO Jack Dorsey cannot come due to paucity of time between the date of summoning and the date of hearing.

Sources said the stance taken by Twitter top brass is ‘surprising’ as the notice was issued on February 1 and in view of the request from Twitter – the February 7 meeting of the panel was deferred to February 11 to allow the Twitter CEO or senior officials more time.

A section of the ruling dispensation was not happy over the fact that the Twitter has reportedly encouraged left leaning and anti-government tweets in recent past.

Ventilating his anguish at the conduct of Twitter, Mr Thakur had tweeted saying – “The Parliamentary Committee on Information Technology takes very serious note of this. We will take appropriate action on 11th February.”

He also invited citizens to send or convey their concerns and issues via email to the 31-member Parliamentary Committee.

In fact, Indian Parliament is the fourth legislature globally after Singapore, European Union and the US Congress to probe into the issue of abuse of political content and conduct of the popular and globally acclaimed micro blogging site.

Displeased at its perceived pro-Democrat stance, US President Donald Trump had recently slammed Twitter for “shadow banning” Republicans.

BJP lawmaker and former Law Minister Dr Subramanian Swamy has on Saturday that the Twitter declining to come before the parliamentary committee is a “very serious matter”.

Another BJP MP and chairperson of Lok Sabha Privilege Committee Meenakshi Lekhai also said that the micro blogging site can face ‘repercussions’.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said under Saubhagya scheme we aim to achieve hundred per cent electrification of households in India by this year.

He added electricity has reached all our rural areas.

The Prime Minister further said, “As we raise production, we also aim to reduce losses in transmission and distribution. Under our UDAY scheme, we are working towards this objective.”

He also said India’s World Bank Ease of Getting Electricity Ranking, improved from one hundred and eleven in 2014 to twenty-nine in 2018.

“LED bulbs distributed across the country under the UJALA scheme, have resulted in an annual saving of seventeen thousand crore rupees, or nearly 2.5 billion dollars,” he stated.

“Access to clean cooking fuel provides major benefits, especially to women and children at risk of exposure to smoke pollution,” he stated.

Mr Modi said LPG connections have been given to over sixty four million or 6.4 crore households in just under three years under the Ujjwala Scheme. A ‘Blue Flame Revolution’ is underway. LPG coverage has reached more than ninety percent, from fifty-five percent five years ago.

He also told the gathering of more than 7000 delegates at the Petrotech 2019 that clean transportation is getting a boost.

“We are jumping directly from BS four to BS six fuel by April 2020. This is the equivalent of EURO six standards.”

“Achievements such as hundred percent electrification, and increased LPG coverage, are possible only through people’s involvement. Energy justice can be done only when people believe in their collective power. Government is only an enabler in converting that belief into a reality,” he stated.

A major security breach occurred during Congress leaders– Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi’s– roadshow on Monday, when the VVIPs were rescued from electric wires which came in contact with a specially remoduled bus atop which they were standing.

The SPG sleuths, who were unaware about the electric wires, immediately sprung into action and asked the leaders to alight from the bus. They then completed the road show in an SUV.

The road show came to standstill at Burlington Crossing near the Asembly, when suddenly electric wires touched the bus rooftop where Priyanka, Rahul and others were standing.

The security personnel, were not aware about these electric wires leading to a almost chaotic situation. But immediately the leaders were shifted to the SUV.

Congress MLC Deepak Singh, who had a talk with Rahul Gandhi about the security breach, said that the district officials were responsible for the chaos.

” It was a conspiracy by the Lucknow district authorities to disrupt the road show,” he alleged .

He said that Bhaiyya (Rahul) was very annoyed about the incident.

Meanwhile, after the incident the road show has been curtailed and the proposed maiden speech of Priyanka postponed.

In between the road show, Priyanka, Rahul and others had tea from the famous Sharma tea stall in Lalbagh area.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said there is a shift in energy consumption from West to East and we are entering an era of greater energy availability.

Mr Modi welcoming 7000 delegates from over 60 countries at PETROTECH-2019, the 13th edition of India’s flagship hydrocarbon Conference here, said, “Several decades of public life have convinced me that energy is a key driver of socio-economic growth. Suitably priced, stable and sustainable energy supply, is essential for rapid growth of the economy. It also helps the poor and deprived sections of society, to partake of economic benefits.”

“At the macro level, the energy sector is a pivot and key enabler of growth. Energy supply, energy sources and energy consumption patterns are changing. Perhaps, this could be a historic transition. There is a shift in energy consumption from West to East,” said the Prime Minister.

The Rafale issue is yet to die down and even Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s road show in Lucknow had its glimpses here on Monday.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, on top of a bus, held a cardboard cut-out of Rafale jet and was showing it to the crowd reminding them about the corruption of the BJP led government at the Centre.

On showing the cut-out of Rafale, the Congress workers on the road raised anti-BJP and anti- Modi slogans.

Meanwhile, huge swarm of party workers and Congress supporters that flogged around the bus of Priyanka Gandhi caused a huge traffic jam at all the points.

At Transport Nagar metro station, Amethi leaders displayed placards to welcome the trio – Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday served food to underprivileged schoolchildren in this sacred city, marking the three billionth meal offered by NGO Akshaya Patra.

BJP’s Mathura MP Hema Malini, ministers of Uttar Pradesh government, including Anupma Jaiswal, Minister of State (Independent charge) for basic education, child development and nutrition, local MLAs and Mukesh Arya Bandhu, Mayor – Mathura-Vrindavan Nagar Nigam were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the commemoration, the Premier said, “I am happy that Akshaya Patra which started its mid-day meal programme in 2000 serving 1,500 school children has reached new milestone today serving over 1.76 million children from 14,702 schools across 12 states in India.”

“The first meal was served during late PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s regime and today I am delighted to serve three billionth meal which will add another feather in the NGO’s cap”, added Mr Modi.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “Around 1 crore 77 lakh school children are being served mid-day meal in the most populous state Uttar Pradesh. I believe that the nutritious food being served to the children everyday is an exemplary task initiated by Akshay Patra”.

In 2012, Akshaya Patra reached its first major milestone of serving one billion cumulative meals since the inception of the programme in 2000, the Foundation Akshay Patra claimed.

“By 2016, the organisation had already served cumulative two billion meals. This milestone was commemorated in the presence of Pranab Mukherjee, the then President, on August 27 that year in Bengaluru,” the NGO said, adding that they are eyeing to serve meals to 5 million children every school by 2025.

As the implementing partner of the Mid-Day Meal Programme, Akshaya Patra has received the support and encouragement of the Ministry of Human Resource Development and various state governments all along its journey.

Today, Akshaya Patra is the world’s largest (not-for-profit run) mid-day meal programme serving wholesome food every school day to over 1.76 million children from 14,702 schools across 12 states in India,” the Foundation said.