Modi govt stops funding of Rajiv Gandhi’s dream pilot training institute

The Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy hasn’t received any grants from the government since 2015-16, reveal documents

The Narendra Modi-led government has not released any money to Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Akademi (IGRUA), India’s only central government-owned pilot training institute, since 2015-16. The institute was established in 1985 by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Fursatganj in the Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh.

Currently held by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) Smriti Irani, the Amethi constituency was represented in Parliament by Rajiv Gandhi from 1981 until his death in 1991. Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi represented it from 1999 to 2004, and former Congress President Rahul Gandhi from 2004 to 2019. Rahul Gandhi has also served as a member of the IGRUA governing council in the past.

IGRUA’s financial statements show that the last grant (Rs 5 crore) it received from the government was in 2014-15. According to Budget documents, the government made token provisions for the institutions but never released the money. For instance, in 2017-18, it made a nominal allocation of Rs 10 lakh for “creation of capital assets”. The money was never released. A similar provision was made in the previous Budget, too…

Sena has history of allying with Congress, ideologically opposite parties

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray took oath Thursday evening at the historic Shivaji Park supported by the Congress and the NCP

Shiv Sena may have shared power with ideologically-opposite Congress for the first time, but the saffron party is known to have cosied up with it before and posters with old pictures of bonhomie between their leaders Bal Thackeray and Indira Gandhi taken in the seventies were put up in different parts of the city.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray took oath Thursday evening at the historic Shivaji Park supported by the Congress and the NCP. Besides late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and former prime minister Indira Gandhi, NCP President Sharad Pawar also figured in the posters. Those aware of its past, the Shiv Sena, known for its firebrand Hindutva politics, seeking support of the Congress and the NCP does not come as a surprise.

From backing Congress candidates in presidential polls to not fielding any contender against Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule to even tying up with ideologically opposite Muslim League, the Shiv Sena has had a history of flirting with ‘frenemies’. In the assembly polls held last month, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena bagged 56, followed by the NCP (54) and the Congress (48) in the 288-member House. The Shiv Sena, founded by Bal Thackeray in 1966, in its more than five decades long journey has allied with the Congress, formally and informally.

In its initial days, it was often supported directly or indirectly by many Congress leaders and its different factions. Noted political analyst Suhas Palshikar in an article in the Economic and Political Weekly writes that senior state Congress leader Ramrao Adik was present at the first ever Shiv Sena rally…

Rajiv did not use his 1984 mandate to create an atmosphere of fear: Sonia

She also lauded her son Rahul Gandhi’s act of quitting as the party chief after the Congress’ loss in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls

Politics News: In a critique of the Narendra Modi government, but without naming it, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said that her husband Rajiv Gandhi did not use the strength of the massive mandate he had won in 1984 to create an atmosphere of fear, to intimidate and threaten or to crush dissent and different points of views.

She also lauded her son Rahul Gandhi’s act of quitting as the party chief after the party’s loss in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. She said Rajiv Gandhi believed if India had to occupy a special status on the world stage, it itself will need to be an inclusive society, which cannot be achieved with arrogance and sloganeering, but with action and conduct.

Addressing an event of her party to kick off the 75th birth anniversary celebrations of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi at the national capital’s KD Jadhav Stadium, Sonia Gandhi said electoral ups and down are inevitable and the challenges that the Congress confronts today are formidable.

“But we must continue our ideological struggle against the forces of divisiveness, the forces that are out to change the very nature of our society, the very Idea of India that is enshrined in our Constitution,” she said. The Congress has come for criticism, including from within the party, for its stand on Article 370 of the Constitution…

Lok Sabha polls: Gandhis used INS Viraat for holidaying, says PM Modi

Apart from Delhi, the PM also addressed public meetings in Haryana’s Fatehabad and Kurukshetra on Wednesday

Tending to his first open gathering in Delhi amid the Lok Sabha decision crusade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday persevered with his assault on previous head administrator Rajiv Gandhi. Turning the clock back by 30 years, an issue that was more an idea amid the 1989 Lok Sabha survey crusade, the PM blamed the Gandhi family for utilizing warship INS Viraat as its “own taxi” for a vacation when Rajiv Gandhi was in charge. Prior, Modi had called the previous PM “Bhrashtachari no. 1”.

Reacting to that thorn, Rahul Gandhi had tweeted on Sunday, “Modi Ji, the fight is finished. Your karma anticipates you. Anticipating your internal convictions about yourself onto my dad won’t ensure you. All my affection and a colossal embrace.” In this period of races, the PM has propelled a supported assault on the Gandhi family. Aside from Delhi, the PM additionally tended to open gatherings in Haryana’s Fatehabad and Kurukshetra on Wednesday. Haryana’s 10 and Delhi’s 7 Lok Sabha seats go to the surveys on May 12.

Click Here : Lok sabha electoins 2019

“Ever envisioned that a chief  warship of the Indian military could be utilized as a taxi for an individual occasion? One line did it,” Modi inquired. He said the Navy was made to have the Gandhi family and Rajiv Gandhi’s in-laws, and a helicopter was likewise conveyed in their administration. “INS Viraat was offended by utilizing it as an individual taxi. This happened when Rajiv Gandhi and his family was out for a 10-day get-away. INS Viraat was sent for verifying our sea limit. In any case, it was redirected to take the Gandhi family which was out for a get-away,” Modi said. “Rajiv Gandhi was joined by his in-laws who had originated from Italy. Question is whether the security of the nation was not undermined by taking outsiders installed a warship,” Modi inquired.

PM Modi insulted a martyr, says Rahul on ‘Rajiv Corrupt No 1’ remark

Rahul Gandhi will campaign in Bihar, Amit Shah in West Bengal and Priyanka Gandhi in Haryana for the 6th phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi is set to campaign in Bihar today for the 6th phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019. He will address a public rally in Chaibasa and later hold a roadshow in Dhanbad. Meanwhile, AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit Ambala, Hisar and Rohtak. Priyanka will seek votes for party candidates Kumari Selja and Bhavya Bishnoi. Later in the evening, she will hold a roadshow in Rohtak in support of party candidate, three-time MP Deepender Singh Hooda.

This would be Priyanka Gandhi’s first visit to the state after her entry into active politics. BJP President Amit Shah will address four public meetings in West Bengal and Bihar today. His first rally will be in Ghatal Lok Sabha constituency, follwed by a public meeting in Medinipur and Bishnupur in West Bengal. In the evening, Shah will campaign in Pataliputra Lok Sabha constituency.

Click Here: Lok Sabha Elections 2019

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for showing disrespect to his mentor LK Advani. Addressing a public rally in Sadar under the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat during campaigning for party candidate JP Agarwal, Gandhi said being a Congressmen, he has only “love for Modi” despite the Prime Minister having insulted his father Rajiv Gandhi.

Gandi said that Modi insulted everyone — from youths to farmers. “Respect is part of our culture and Modi does not respect anyone but Modi himself.” The Congress President said Modi spoke about and insulted his father in a political rally. “He is a PM, but insulted a martyr. I am a congressman, a Congress leader. The more you hate me, the more would I love you,” he said. At a rally in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, Modi had targeted the former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi by calling him “bhrashtachari No.1” (Corrupt No.1).

Govt's stand on driverless cars akin to opposition to computers in 1980s

Before India simply shuts the door on driverless cars, it needs to see the opportunities it offers

The Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has gone all out to declare, “No driverless cars will be allowed in India". The National Institute for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) was established under the incumbent National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in January 2015 as a premier policy think tank to encourage innovation in India and promote the country as a knowledge hub. Therefore, is Gadkari saying that innovation is not welcome in India?

Let’s rewind a little. When Rajiv Gandhi first introduced computers in 1985 to revolutionise India’s communication, he met with much criticism and opposition. Similar concerns were raised back then too. People feared the introduction of computers in offices and departments would kill thousands of jobs. (economy policy)

However, though thousands of jobs were killed, the introduction of computers also ended up creating millions of other jobs. Back then, nobody had imagined the number of jobs computers would create in the world. In fact, they continue to create jobs even today, for not just managing computers, creating software, analysing data but even in the area of information curation and dissemination. And the same will happen when, if ever, driverless cars come to India.

The present government, under its various innovative moves, introduced Digital India mission and has been pushing for Smart Cities, Green Cities, Skill India and Make in India since it came to power in 2014.

Even the previous government had taken some key steps in the direction by laying down the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy in 2013, aimed at strategically transforming various sectors. Around this time, last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had even called for “transformative changes” (rather than incremental) “with drastic policy reforms”.(READ MORE)