Cong leader expresses concern over plight of cotton growers
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel today expressed concern over the plight of cotton growers in the country due to lack of buyers and wondered whether these were the “achhe din” that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised. “Very tough yr ahead for cotton farmers.With Chinese market drying up abt 162 lakh bales of cotton finding no buyers.Is this #AchheDin?” Patel posted on micro blogging site Twitter. Cotton is a major crop in Gujarat, the state to which both Patel and Modi belong. According to reports, cotton growers in the country may have to face another year of recession as China, the major consumer of Indian cotton, plans to keep imports of the commodity under control. Chinese demand is an important factor for determining market prices of raw cotton and lint. Due to a fall in Chinese demand, cotton prices have touched the minimum support price of Rs 4,050 a quintal in India, bringing tough times for cotton growers. (PTI)
Willingly opted out of cabinet: Somnath Bharti
New Delhi: After being dropped out of the new Arvind Kejriwal-led cabinet, former AAP minister Somnath Bharti today said he had willingly decided not to take any responsibility because he wants to focus on building his constituency as a model one. “Let me put all speculations to rest. I have willingly opted not to take any responsility in the government and not because I possess any demerit. “I want to focus on building my constituency as a model one and utilise all my time and energy for the same,” the Malviya Nagar MLA tweeted. Responding to Bharti’s tweet, Delhi’s chief ministerial designate Arvind Kejriwal said he was proud of Bharti. “@attorneybharti I am proud of u,” Kejriwal tweeted. Bharti, who was a former law minister, is one of four ministers to have faced the axe. He is also known to be extremely close to Kejriwal. AAP sources said Bharti will be kept away from the cabinet till his name is cleared from the case relating to a midnight raid on the house of African women. Rakhi Birla, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Girish Soni are others who would not be part of the new cabinet, according to the sources. (PTI)
Every hero of politics should tread with caution: Sena
Mumbai: In a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after BJP’s rout in Delhi Assembly polls, Shiv Sena today said a “hero of politics” should not be under the misconception of having unstinted support of the people. “It is impossible to say whose wave will sweep away whom in the future…Every hero of politics should tread with caution…The people of this country are supreme. One should not think that one has an unstinted support of people,” an editorial in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said. “Having an excessive pride of simplicity and honesty is also not right. “(Arvind) Kejriwal’s brand is his muffler. But he should not have any problem in keeping the muffler away when it has no use,” it further said. “According to reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had worn a branded Rs 30-35 lakh suit when (US President Barack) Obama had come to India. Kejriwal should make sure his muffler too does not become branded like the suit,” the Sena said. A day after the BJP was decimated in the Delhi Assembly elections, the Sena had torn into its ally saying that the “broom—wielding” AAP had reduced the BJP to “dirt” in the election and virtually demanded that Modi accept the blame for it. “The entire election campaign was run in the name of Modi. Anna Hazare said this is Modi’s defeat. We too feel the same. The way the party attributed its success in other states to Modi, they should do the same for Delhi,” it had said. (PTI)
‘Cong must fight for implementation of AP Reorganisation Act’
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Congress affairs in-charge Digvijay Singh on Friday said that the party needs to fight with both Centre and the state government for full implementation of AP Reorganisation Act. Addressing Congress leaders and workers at the two-day state level ‘introspective’ meeting here, Singh alleged that though Congress MPs in the past had succeeded in incorporating provisions in the Act, Modi-led NDA government at the Centre has not taken proper initiatives to implement those promises in the newly formed state. The AICC general secretary noted that the Pradesh Congress committee is putting efforts to push forward implementations of the Act and has organised signature campaigns across the state. Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said, “This is the right time for party workers (Congress) to fight against communal forces in the country supporting Modi.” This is the right time and opportunity to strengthen the party under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and prepare socio-economic and political strategy for next four years, he said. (PTI)