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Now farmers can earn even from their barren lands: Here is Modi govt’s 16 point action plan for farmers in Budget 2020

OpIndia Staff
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Now farmers can earn even from their barren lands: Here is Modi govt’s 16 point action plan for farmers in Budget 2020

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her second budget on Saturday. Agriculture is one sector that always occupies a prominent space in the annual budget. And this year during Budget 2020 was no different. The government was expected to deliver on matters of enhancing agricultural exports and increasing the wages of farmers. Much of the provisions in the budget are directed towards the same.

Nirmala Sitharaman said during the budget that the government is committed to doubling the farmer’s wages by 2022. She proposed 16 action points for farmers.

The 16 points announced in Budget 2020 include:

-Encourage states to take up model agricultural laws
-Comprehensive measures for 100 water-stressed districts.
-PM Kusum scheme removes dependence on kerosene and encourages the use of solar power
-The government will encourage the balanced use of fertilizers. This is an important step because the current use of chemical fertilizers is incentivized.
-NABARD will take up an exercise of mapping and geotagging agricultural warehouses, cold storage and other inventory storages
-A village storage scheme is proposed to be managed by SHEs. This will help farmers store more and reduce logistics costs. Women in the village will be responsible for managing this seamless storage mechanism.
-Krishi UDAAN scheme will be launched by the Aviation Ministry.
-The horticulture sector with its current produce exceeds the production of food grains. We will now take it to, One Product One District.
-The financing of negotiable warehousing receipts will be integrating other e-services.
-Agricultural credit availability for 2021 has been set at 15 lakh crore.
-Our govt aims to eliminate the foot and mouth disease in sheep and goat by 2025
-Doubling of milk production of 53.5 million metric tonne of milk to 103 metric million tonnes by 2025.
-Our govt will involve youth in the fishery sector. We hope the rural youth will work as Sagar Mitras and also form Fish Farmer Organisation
-Under the Antodyaya scheme, SHEs will be further taken forward and made stronger.
-Rs 2.83 lakh crore to be allocated for agriculture.
-Rs 1.23 lakh crore to be allocated for rural development and panchayati raj

Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government will help farmers with barren lands convert their land into solar farms which can be used to generate electricity. She also said that the government will help 15 lakh farmers solarize their farms. It will also encourage 20 lakh farmers to set up solar-powered pumps.

Last year, the announcement that Rs. 6000 will be paid to farmers with less than 2 hectares of land annually in three installments was one of the prominent declarations of the interim budget. The scheme came into effect on the 1st of December, 2019 and the annual expenses for the scheme was pegged at Rs. 75,000 crores per year.

Apart from that, a 2% interest subvention for farmers who practice animal husbandry and fisheries was announced. An additional 1% interest subvention was announced if loans were repaid on time. The setting up of Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog was also declared to ensure the welfare of cows, including genetic improvement and sustainable development. Acting Finance Minister Piyush Goyal had said, “Yeh sarkar kabhi Gau mata ke samman mein peeche nahi hategi. (This government will never shy away from honouring our Mother Cow).”

Jamia shooter bought country-made gun, 2 bullets for ₹10,000 from local dealer in UP

OpIndia Staff
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Jamia shooter bought country-made gun, 2 bullets for ₹10,000 from local dealer in UP

On Thursday, a 17-year-old boy shot at an Anti-CAA protestor outside the Jamia Millia Islamia University. A preliminary investigation into the case has revealed that the Jamila shooter, Gulshan (name changed), had bought the gun and two bullets for a price of ₹10,000 from a local dealer in UP’s Jewar district.


It has also been known that he had cited the reason of “celebratory firing” for a cousin’s wedding to acquire the gun from the dealer who also provided him 2 bullets. The unused bullet has been recovered by the police.

Gulshan has been booked under the Arms Act and Section 307 (attempt to murder). He has been sent to preventive custody for 2 weeks. He has been declared a “juvenile” based on his Aadhar card and 10th Class mark sheet. The police had requested the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) to conduct a bone ossification test to verify Gulshan’s age.

A Crime Branch investigator said, “We have identified the supplier of the gun, as well as a friend who helped him get in touch with the supplier. Our teams are looking for them. They will be booked under appropriate sections of the law as well.”

The juvenile’s family alleged that they saw behavioural changes in him from over a fortnight. He was supposed to go to school and then attend a cousin’s wedding in the evening. Instead, he boarded a bus to Delhi and then an auto to Jamia Millia Islamia University area where he committed the crime. His family have stated that of late, he was also shouting slogans around the home and the neighbourhood too.

The Jamia shooter had uploaded photos on social media that showed him brandishing a gun. He wanted to get recognition online. As shocking as it might sound, the Jamia shooter told his sister that she would be proud of him from that day.

Read: ‘Rambhakt’ Gulshan shooting in Jamia: A well-hatched conspiracy? Here are some questions that need answers

He conceded that he had no experience in firing a gun. The boy maintained that none brainwashed him and that he had no accomplice in the act. Sources also suggested that he showed no signs of remorse or regret.

The injured student, Shahdab Farooq, was taken to AIIMS hospital. The latter was discharged from the hospital on Friday.

Police sources have revealed that the boy was self-radicalised. He used to watch inciteful videos online and also share offensive content. Gulshan was seen brandishing a country-made pistol on Thursday, as policemen watched and media persons clicked away his pictures. This has raised questions about the possibility of a well-hatched conspiracy.

Aspirations of people, economy and a Kashmiri poem: Here are initial comments made by Nirmala Sitharaman during Budget 2020

OpIndia Staff
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Aspirations of people, economy and a Kashmiri poem: Here are initial comments made by Nirmala Sitharaman during Budget 2020

On Saturday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled her second Budget in Parliament. Presenting the Budget 2020 in Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the budget is “to boost the income and purchasing power of people.”

“People of India have unequivocally given their support to the policies of the Narendra Modi government. People reposed faith in our economic policies. This Budget aims to address aims, aspirations of people,” Sitharaman said in her address today.

Responding to fears of a recession in the country, Sitharaman said the fundamentals of the economy are strong and that inflation has been well contained. Presenting the budget, the Finance Minister said, “We have added 60 lakh new taxpayers, in GST ambit.”

“Banks saw a thorough cleanup. Of our structural reforms, GST has been the most historic. From 2014-2019, the Modi govt has focused on fundamental structural reforms and inclusive growth,” Sitharaman said in her budget speech and paid homage to former finance minister late Arun Jaitley.

Hailing the passage the Goods and Services Tax (GST), she said that an average household now saves about 4% of its monthly spend on account of reduced GST rates. “Consumers have got an annual benefit of 1 lakh crore rupees by GST. There are 1 million out of poverty and we should be proud of it,” Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today.

“The budget 2020-21 will focus on three themes — Aspirational India, Economic Development For All and A Caring Society.” FM Sitharaman said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also recited a Kashmiri poem written by Pandit Dinanath Kaul as she presented Union Budget 2020. FM also translated the Kashmiri poem into Hindi, which read, “Hamara vatan khilte huey Shalimar bagh jaisa…hamara vatan Dal jheel me khilte huey Kamal jaisa…Naujawaanon ke garm khoon jaisa…Mera vatan, tera vatan, hamara vatan Duniya ka sabse pyara vatan”.

“Our land is like a blooming Shalimar Garden, like a lotus in Dal Lake…With the hot blood of the youth…My land, your land, our land The world’s best-loved land,” the poem reads in English.

Finance Minister Sitharaman is expected to outline the Centre’s plans to deal with the challenges posed by the downward spiral of the economy and achieve the $5 trillion economy target by 2025.

(Read LIVE Updates on Union Budget 2020-21 at Opindia here)

Former AMUSU leader wears Burkha and provokes at Shajmahal anti-CAA protest venue, evades arrest

OpIndia Staff
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Former AMUSU leader wears Burkha and provokes at Shajmahal anti-CAA protest venue, evades arrest

Muslim women have been protesting against the CAA and the NRC at the Shajmahal Eidgah area in Aligarh. As per reports, after the protests inside AMU campus pacified and prospects for local political leaders to gain mileage there started dwindling, they had shifted their focus to the Shajmahal area.

On Friday, 31 January, former AMUSU vice president Sajjad Subhan Rather had arrived at the protest venue in Shajmahal area to incite the women. He demanded a tent to be placed and a stage to be set so he can deliver a speech there. The local police refused to provide permission and this reportedly led to a verbal spat between Sajjad’s supporters and the police.

Amidst the situation, rumours were spread that Sajjad may be arrested by the police. Fearing arrest, Sajjad then went among the women and borrowed a Burkha to cover himself and pass off as a woman protestor.


As per reports, Sajjad’s supporters started spreading the rumour that he may be arrested and called students of colleges to arrive in large numbers in the area to protest against the police.

As per reports, Sajjad then shared a live video through Facebook and called other AMU students, including another AMUSU leader Salman Imtiyaz. Later, with the help of the gathering students, he slipped through the back entrance of the protest venue.

After the video and photographs of the student leader pretending to be a woman, and inciting the protesters against the police went viral, the police ordered his arrest. As per reports, ASP Akash Kulhari has ordered a case to be registered against Sajjad for trying to incite violence.

Reports have stated that the police have registered a case against over 250 people present at the protest venue for inciting violence.

The Shajmahal protests were initially being led by female Muslim students. However, after the Friday prayers yesterday, hundreds of male students had flocked to the venue.

Budget session: Govt plans to bring 45 bills in 31 sittings, Mineral laws, Insolvency Code, and MTP rights on the table

OpIndia Staff
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Budget session: Govt plans to bring 45 bills in 31 sittings, Mineral laws, Insolvency Code, and MTP rights on the table

The central government has listed 45 bills to be cleared during the budget session that started on January 31, Friday. As per reports, 28 of these are new and 17 are pending bills in either of the two houses.

The budget session of the parliament will last till April 3 and will hold 31 sittings. 7 financial items are also to be taken up.

In the all-party meet organised on the eve of the beginning of the session, PM Narendra Modi stated that the parliament will extensively discuss the current economic situation in the country.

“We should focus on how to turn the global scenario to India’s favour. It would be in the best interest of the country to give proper direction to the economy during the session” stated the PM.

Read: Highlights from the Economic Survey 2019-20 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ahead of the Budget

Prahlad Joshi, the minister for parliamentary affairs stated that the government expects the cooperation of all the parties for the smooth functioning of the two houses during the session.

As per reports, the government will seek to replace the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Ordinance 2019 and the Mineral Laws Amendment Ordinance 2020 with bills during the session.

The bill for amendments to the existing 1971 Act on Medical Termination of Pregnancy is also one of the key highlights of the session.

In this session, the first part will conclude on February 11 and the two houses will commence again on March 2. The recess will be used to examine the demands for grants of various ministries and departments by the respective standing committees.

The first part, till February 11, will have 9 sittings and the second part will have 22 sittings.

After the all-party meeting on Thursday, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad had lamented over the government’s “arrogance” over the anti-CAA protests. He stated that the government seemed ‘least bothered’ about people protesting on the streets against the CAA and the NRC.

The Union Budget will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 11 am on Saturday, February 1.

LIVE Updates on Union Budget 2020-21: 20% tax dropped to 10% for 5 to 7.5 lakhs, for Rs 7.5 to 10 lakhs, tax 15% instead of 20%

OpIndia Staff
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LIVE Updates on Union Budget 2020-21: 20% tax dropped to 10% for 5 to 7.5 lakhs, for Rs 7.5 to 10 lakhs, tax 15% instead of 20%

Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting her second budget as Union Finance Minister today. Ahead of the Union Budget 2020, there are great expectations from her to deliver on Narendra Modi’s vision of a $5 trillion economy. The government is expected to enforce major reforms in order to breakthrough the slowdown in the economy.

20% tax dropped to 10% for 5 to 7.5 lakhs, for Rs 7.5 to 10 lakhs, tax 15% instead of 20%.

This page will bring you the latest updates from the Budget 2020-2021. You don’t need to refresh the page to get the latest news. The live blog will load below:

[arena_embed version=”2″ publisher=”opindia-com” event=”7vkn”]

Jammu and Kashmir: 3 terrorists killed and 3 arrested in Nagrota encounter, one among the arrested is the cousin of Pulwama attacker

OpIndia Staff
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Jammu and Kashmir: 3 terrorists killed and 3 arrested in Nagrota encounter, one among the arrested is the cousin of Pulwama attacker

The Central Reserve Police Force gunned down three suspected Jaish terrorists and three workers in an encounter on Friday in Jammu. The incident happened at a toll plaza on the Jammu-Srinagar highway.

The terrorists were gunned down when they intercepted a truck ferrying them to Srinagar. The truck was stopped for inspection at the toll plaza. The policemen noticed the cavity made in the truck to hide terrorists. When the cops opened the cavity, the terrorists opened fire injuring a policeman.

During the operation, one terrorist was killed while five fled to the nearby forest. In the subsequent encounter, two terrorists were killed and three overground workers including a driver and two workers were arrested.

Huge cache of arms and ammunition including wireless sets and US-made M4 carbine is recovered by the police.

Police are suspecting that the group had infiltrated through International Border(IB) in Kathua district to carry out an attack.

“The terrorists were headed to Kashmir, probably as a replacement for the top leadership of Jaish including its chief Qari Yasir killed by security forces last month, It was a group of militants that had recently infiltrated from International Border in Jammu”, Police said.

One of the workers arrested is identified as Sameer Ahmed Dar is the first cousin of Adil Ahmad Dar, the Jaish terrorist and the Pulwama’s suicide bomber who led a deadly attack leading to the killing 40 CRPF men by ramming his jeep including 100 kg of explosives into the CRPF bus on 14 February 2019.

“CRPF personnel did a brilliant job in the encounter. In a sense that they were hit hard by Pulwama attack and today their efforts led to successful encounter and catching of big module,” a top officer in security grid said.

NIA is trying to find the Pakistan link in this arrest. This is said that it can be a huge boost for security forces and investigative agencies in Kashmir.

Patna: Attack on Saraswati puja idol immersion procession leads to fight between students and locals with bullets, bombs and stones, several injured

OpIndia Staff
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Patna: Attack on Saraswati puja idol immersion procession leads to fight between students and locals with bullets, bombs and stones, several injured

Tension has gripped Ashok Rajpath in Patna, Bihar after violent clashes broke out between two groups during the Saraswati idol immersion procession.

The students of Patna College and the people of Lalbagh pelted stones, fired at each other and hurled bombs which led to chaos in the surrounding areas. The brawl, which lasted for over two hours left several injured.

According to reports, the miscreants also attacked the police with bombs and bullets. Several people, including police personnel, were reported to be injured in the attack. According to a report by Jagran, inspector Manoj Kumar and a constable of Pirbahore police station have been injured in the ensuing.

According to sources, two cars have been completely burnt in the incident, while dozens of vehicles parked on the road were damaged. Bricks and stones are scattered on the Ashok Rajpath near Lalbagh. Many passers-by have also been hurt due to the stone-pelting, firing and hurling of bombs.

In what transpired, the students of Patna college had gone for idol immersion after Saraswati Puja on Friday when they were attacked by people of Lalbagh, a nearby locality. When the students of Minto, Nutan and Jackson hostels reached the Lalbagh area, people in that area started hurling stones and bombs at them. The students also retaliated to the attack, which was intensified after students of Saidpur also reached the sport with their idol. The fight was a result of a fallout between the two groups, who resorted to stone-pelting, firing and hurling bombs. Inspector Manoj Kumar was part of the immersion procession, and he was injured when a bomb exploded near him and splinters hit his abdomen. The injured constable was hit on his head.

When police forces arrived from nearby police stations after hearing about the incident, they too were attacked by the mob. After half an hour later hundred of policemen and state RAF men reached the spot and finally brought the situation under control.

Police personnel have been deployed to keep the situation in control while the area still remains tense. The police are tight-lipped and refuse to divulge any details about the incident.

Maharashtra government to bring reservations for Muslims in the state soon: Congress minister Aslam Sheikh

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra government to bring reservations for Muslims in the state soon: Congress minister Aslam Sheikh

Congress minister in Maharashtra Aslam Sheikh has today revealed that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government is preparing to introduce reservations for Muslims in the state. According to the sources, a formal statement on the same may be soon made by the government.


Maharashtra Minister and Congress leader Aslam Sheikh claimed that the coalition government in Maharashtra, formed between Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, had in their minimum common programme to grant reservations to Muslims in Maharashtra, a state in which the reservations have already breached the 70 per cent mark.

Soon after Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray joined hands with NCP and Congress, he was accused of shunning nationalism and embracing Congress version of “secularism”. The Preamble of the CMP said that the alliance of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP are committed to upholding the “secular values” of the Constitution. It also says that on contentious issues that affect either the “secular fabric of the nation”, the three parties will take a “joint view” after holding consultations.

Read- 5% reservations to Muslims to be part of Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress govt in Maharashtra, journalist claims

The politics in Maharashtra has been embroiled in drama after the BJP emerged as single-largest party but had a fallout with its pre-poll alliance partner Shiv Sena after they did not agree to their demands, primarily of having a rotational chief ministerial position. The Shiv Sena then ditched its long-time ally and formed an unholy nexus with ideological rivals- NCP and Congress to grab the Chief ministerial post. However, in doing so, it comprised on the ideals it stood for.

Interestingly, in 2018, it was the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra ruled out the earlier ordinance passed by previous NCP-Congress government granting a 5 per cent reservations for Muslims on the grounds of Supreme Court and High Court rulings barring reservations based on religion. The Bombay high court had allowed reservation in educational institutions for Muslims but dismissed reservations in jobs in 2014.

Delhi police reveals Sharjeel Imam had prepared anti-CAA, anti-NRC pamphlets with misleading information and distributed in various masjids

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi police reveals Sharjeel Imam had prepared anti-CAA, anti-NRC pamphlets with misleading information and distributed in various masjids

The Delhi Police Crime branch investigating the sedition case against Shaheen Bagh blockade mastermind and The Wire columnist Sharjeel Imam have now divulged that  Imam had prepared an anti CAA/NRC pamphlet with misleading and intimidating facts and distributed it in various masjids, copy of which has been recovered.

They have also recovered one laptop and one desktop computer of Sharjeel Imam from his rented apartment in Delhi’s Vasant Kunj. The mobile phone of the accused has also been recovered from his house at Kako, Jehanabad, Bihar.


Previously, the Delhi police interrogating Shaheen Bagh mastermind had revealed that Sharjeel Imam had visited Shaheen Bagh on December 13 and 15, that is two days before and the day when the protest started at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh area.

OpIndia in an exclusive expose on December 31st revealed that Sharjeel Imam was the mastermind of the Shaheen Bagh protests and had severely nefarious designs and Islamist bent of mind.

Moreover, Delhi Police through its investigation has also revealed that Sharjeel Imam was frequently called to give speeches. And when he went to Jamia Nagar to deliver his speech he was approached by the PFI people. The Delhi police have now been investigating Sharjeel Imam’s link to PFI and Islamic Youth Federation.

Read- From The Wire to everything else, the Anatomy of an Islamist: Into the mind of Sharjeel Imam, mastermind of Shaheen Bagh

Crime Branch officials said that what Sharjeel has revealed that he has admitted of giving the seditious speech he is accused of and has said that he was not remorseful.

He wanted the seven north-east states to be separated from India. Police officials said that Sharjeel has done research on how many Muslims live in the country and which are the Muslim dominated areas in the country and what is the exact Muslim population of each such areas.

While the video of his seditious speech has been sent for forensic analysis the Police are also probing Sharjeel Imam’s links to PFI and Islamic Youth Federation. His bank accounts are also being investigated to check how much money is in his accounts and where the money used to come from.

During interrogation, it was revealed that Sharjeel Imam is highly radicalized and wants to turn India into an Islamic state.

Assam police have also reached Delhi on Thursday morning to interrogate Sharjeel.

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