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Jaipur, "I sometimes think of leaving it, but the chief minister's post doesn't leave me," <keyword id="49103" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ashok-gehlot" source="Orion">Ashok Gehlot</keyword> famously said earlier this year, in part as a signal to the Congress top brass not to pick someone else for the job if the party wins the assembly polls. Over the past several months Gehlot, 72, tried every trick up his sleeve -- he has his magician father's blood running through his veins, after all -- to retain the post. Last year, MLAs loyal to him even defied the party high command by boycotting the Congress Legislature Party meeting summoned in Jaipur to possibly pave the way to the CM's post for Sachin Pilot, who in 2020 led a rebellion against the older colleague. The Gandhis wanted Gehlot to quit state politics and become the next national president of the Congress. But Gehlot succeeded in staying put. He then set himself on the task of trying to get the Congress back in a state that for the last three decades has never returned the same party to office twice in a row. Gehlot introduced a slew of welfare measures, including cheaper cooking gas for the poor and a Rs 25-lakh medical insurance scheme. The old pension scheme was back for government employees. And the Congress stalwart ensured that he was identified with each scheme. Had the Congress won, most observers feel, it would have been forced to pick Gehlot over Pilot again as CM. But the 'kursi' did leave him this time. On Sunday evening, Gehlot conceded defeat even as the final results of the counting in Rajasthan were yet to come in but it was clear that the BJP was set to cross the majority-mark. Polling was held in 199 of the 200 seats in the assembly. Gehlot's "failure", however, cannot erase his past successes, attributed mainly to his mass connect. He has been the state's chief minister thrice, in 1998-2003, 2008-13 and 2018-23. Only three other leaders have done this -- Mohan Lal Sukhadia of the Congress was the CM four times, while Haridev Joshi (Congress) and Bhairon <keyword id="3468188" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="singh-shekhawat" source="Orion">Singh Shekhawat</keyword> (BJP) were chief ministers thrice. Gehlot began with student politics. He became the president of the Rajasthan unit of the National Student Union of India (NSUI) in 1974, a post he held up to 1979. He has represented Jodhpur in the Lok Sabha five times. In Jodhpur's Sardarpura assembly segment, he had won five times in a row since 1999 before these elections -- and was on course for the sixth success. Gehlot, the story goes, came to then prime minister Indira Gandhi's notice for his work with refugees from East Bengal. He remained in the good books of Rajiv Gandhi as well. The party acknowledged his leadership as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Gujarat, when he led a tough fight on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home turf in 2017. Next year, he was appointed AICC general secretary (organisation). Earlier at the AICC, he has been in charge of the Seva Dal and the party's Uttar Pradesh and Delhi units. Gehlot has been the <keyword id="5569832" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rajasthan-congress-committee" source="Orion">Rajasthan Congress Committee</keyword> president thrice, the first time when he was just 34. In 1980, Gehlot became a Member of Parliament for the first of his five times. At the Centre, he has been the junior minister for <keyword id="9363621" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="tourism-and-civil-aviation" source="Orion">Tourism and Civil Aviation</keyword>. He has also led the Sports and Textiles ministries. He is married to Sunita Gehlot and the couple has a daughter and a son. His son <keyword id="578912" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="vaibhav-gehlot" source="Orion">Vaibhav Gehlot</keyword>, who is the president of the <keyword id="73403" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rajasthan-cricket-association" source="Orion">Rajasthan Cricket Association</keyword>, contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Jodhpur but lost to BJP's Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who later became Jal Shakti minister in the Modi government. Gehlot and Shekhawat don't tire of running each other down. The outgoing CM has accused the Union minister of trying to topple his government, and of being involved in the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society 'scam', an allegation over which Shekhawat has taken him to court. As the counting trends came in, Shekhawat alluded to Gehlot's early days as his magician father's assistant, and also to the politician's reputation for out maneuvering his rivals. "The magic has ended and Rajasthan has come out of the spell of the magician," he said.

Ashok Gehlot: Magician leaves centre stage in Rajasthan

<ul><li>Congress leader Avinash Pande on Monday said 109 MLAs have signed a letter of support to the chief minister. </li><li>Pande, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan, said some other MLAs are in touch with Gehlot and they will also sign the letter. </li><li>He said a whip has been issued to all the party MLAs, asking them to attend the Congress Legislature Party meeting at 10.30 am.</li></ul> Hours after Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister <keyword id="71345" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sachin-Pilot">Sachin Pilot</keyword> declared open rebellion and claimed that the <keyword id="49103" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ashok-Gehlot">Ashok Gehlot</keyword> government in the state is in minority, Congress leader Avinash Pande on Monday said 109 MLAs have signed a letter of support to the chief minister. Pande, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan, said some other MLAs are in touch with Gehlot and they will also sign the letter. He said a whip has been issued to all the party MLAs, asking them to attend the Congress Legislature Party meeting at 10.30 am. "Action will be taken against those who skip the meeting," Pande said. "As many as 109 MLAs have signed the letter to express full confidence in the Congress government led by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and in the leadership of <keyword id="689" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sonia-Gandhi">Sonia Gandhi</keyword> and <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>. Some other MLAs have spoken to the chief minister over the phone and they will also sign the letter," he told reporters at the CM's residence here in the wee hours. Pilot on Sunday claimed that the Gehlot government is in minority as over 30 Congress MLAs have "pledged support" to him. In the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly, the Congress has 107 MLAs and the BJP 72. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/amazon-reportedly-told-employees-they-have-to-delete-tiktok-from-their-phones-due-to-security-risks/articleshow/76900325.cms">Amazon told employees to delete TikTok from their phones — then walked back the policy and said it was an 'error'</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/photographer-of-the-viral-black-panther-images-from-india-shares-his-story/articleshow/76830618.cms">INTERVIEW: Shaaz Jung opens up about the blood, sweat and years behind the viral images of a rare black panther</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/intel-will-speed-up-mukesh-ambanis-5g-run-power-him-with-ai-and-possibly-a-jio-laptop/articleshow/76780290.cms">Intel will speed up Mukesh Ambani’s 5G run, power him with AI and possibly a Jio laptop⁠— all in return for massive amount of data</a>

Rajasthan Congress led by Ashok Gehlot claims support of 109 MLAs

<ul><li><keyword id="71345" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sachin-Pilot">Sachin Pilot</keyword> along with two other Rajasthan cabinet minister — Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena— were removed from their respective post on July 14, reported ANI citing Congress. </li><li>The development came after Congress Legislature Party held its second meeting on July 14 morning with no sign of Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot making an appearance. </li><li>Pilot has been upset since he was denied the Rajasthan chief minister's post after the December 2018 assembly elections.</li></ul> The Indian National Congress has reportedly sacked Sachin Pilot as Deputy CM of Rajasthan and Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief, reported ANI citing Congress leader RS Surjewala. Along with Pilot, Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena were also removed from the Rajasthan Cabinet. <div type="twitter" handle="ANI" handlename="ANI" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1497864299/ani_mic_logo_normal.jpg" favoritecount="3177" retweetcount="560" status="Sachin Pilot removed as Deputy Chief Minister, announces Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala #Rajasthan https://t.co/5tj3TJxZe8" createdat="1594714048000" id="1282949822396239874"></div> " I regret that Sachin Pilot and some of his associates have been swayed by BJP's plot and are now conspiring to topple the Congress govt elected by 8 crore Rajasthanis. It is unacceptable," RS Surjewala, Congress told ANI. <div type="twitter" handle="ANI" handlename="ANI" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1497864299/ani_mic_logo_normal.jpg" favoritecount="360" retweetcount="39" status="#WATCH: I regret that Sachin Pilot and some of his associates have been swayed by BJP's plot and are now conspiring… https://t.co/vmzGqS66M7" createdat="1594715255000" id="1282954887181942784"></div> The development came after Congress Legislature Party held its second meeting on July 14 morning with no sign of Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot making an appearance. Ahead of the meeting, Congress general secretary Avinash Pande issued another appeal to Pilot, who had skipped the first CLP meeting at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's home on Monday. Eighteen other Congress MLAs also did not attend Monday's meeting, according to sources. But independents and MLAs from other parties participated, expressing support for Gehlot. Tuesday's meeting was said to be a second chance for Pilot, who is also the president of the state unit of the party. But MLAs considered close to Pilot were again not seen there. Some of them have indicated that they would prefer a show of strength in the 200-member state assembly. The Congress meeting was held at a resort where Gehlot and other MLAs are camping since Monday. "I appeal to Sachin Pilot and all his fellow MLAs to join today's Legislature Party meeting, Avinash Pande, who is the Rajasthan in-charge at the AICC, tweeted Tuesday morning. While expressing your faith in the ideology and values of the Congress, please make your presence felt and strengthen the hands of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi," he said. He told reporters that a second chance is being given to Pilot and hoped that all MLAs come and extend solidarity with the leadership for which people voted to ensure the state's development. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Monday night announced the summoning of second CLP meeting, amid attempts by the party's top leadership to woo back dissidents led by Pilot. Former party president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are among the senior leaders who had been in touch with Pilot, sources said. Party leaders had said 106 of 122 MLAs from Congress and the allies -- attended Monday's meeting, a claim contested by the Pilot camp. Pilot and his supporters claimed to have the backing of 30 Congress MLAs and some independents. Pilot has been upset since he was denied the Rajasthan chief minister's post after the December 2018 assembly elections. (With inputs from PTI) SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/photographer-of-the-viral-black-panther-images-from-india-shares-his-story/articleshow/76830618.cms">INTERVIEW: Shaaz Jung opens up about the blood, sweat and years behind the viral images of a rare black panther</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/intel-will-speed-up-mukesh-ambanis-5g-run-power-him-with-ai-and-possibly-a-jio-laptop/articleshow/76780290.cms">Intel will speed up Mukesh Ambani’s 5G run, power him with AI and possibly a Jio laptop⁠— all in return for massive amount of data</a>

Congress removes Sachin Pilot as Deputy CM of Rajasthan and as the chief of party's state unit

<ul><li><keyword id="12587" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Priyanka-Gandhi">Priyanka Gandhi</keyword> Vadra marks her entry into politics by joining <keyword id="6362140" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="All-India-Congress-Committee">All India Congress Committee</keyword> as general secretary. </li><li>She will campaign in Uttar Pradesh East which includes Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi and Yogi Adityanath's constituency in Gorakhpur </li><li>Her entry into politics is expected to add vigour to <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword>' recovering cadre, which had a demoralising defeat in 2014. </li></ul>Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has been appointed as the general secretary at All India Congress Committee, marking her formal entry into politics. According to an official statement, Vadra will be general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East, taking charge in the first week of February. Jyotiraditya Scindia will head Western UP. Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in India by population and has the most number of seats in the Parliament. Uttar Pradesh East includes the constituencies of Varanasi, which is the constituency represented by the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and also Gorakhpur, which belongs to the state’s incumbent chief minister Yogi Adityanath who is also a strongman from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Her strengths Priyanka Gandhi, 47, is the daughter of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, and the granddaughter of Indira Gandhi. In the past, she was mostly seen supporting brother <keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> in campaigning efforts, but stayed away from actively participating in politics. She might entering active politics just now but Priyanka has been under the media spotlight over the years. Her official foray into politics has been speculated about for a long time, more so around elections. She carries political weight at least in constituencies which are considered to be the Gandhi family bastions. Her entry into politics is expected to add vigour to Congress, recovering cadre, which had a demoralising defeat in 2014. The incumbent United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by the Congress was routed out, and the grand old party itself was left with 44 seats in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Priyanka's focus on eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP)-- aside from the appointment of another party heavyweight Jyotiraditya Scindia's focus on western part of the same province-- also signals the party's focus on a state that is politically significant than most others and currently in the grasp of rival BJP. Her weak point The Gandhi scion is no stranger to controversies either. The Central Bureau of Investigation had <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/cbi-registers-18-cases-of-fraud-against-company-linked-to-robert-vadra/articleshow/60299238.cms">filed </a>18 cases against <keyword id="12593" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Robert-Vadra">Robert Vadra</keyword> for alleged fraud in land acquisition, and the Enforcement Directorate is probing Vadra’s firms for alleged money laundering. On Monday (january 21), the Rajasthan high court <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/hc-asks-robert-vadra-mom-to-appear-before-ed/articleshow/67633162.cms">asked</a> Robert Vadra and his partners in Skyline Hospitality Limited, including his mother Maureen Vadra, to appear before the Enforcement Directorate on February 12 to respond to allegations of money laundering by the firm. The allegation around her husband, Robert Vadra, and his businesses are likely to raked up now more so than ever before by rivals.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra enters active politics and will take on Modi and Yogi on their home turf

<ul><li>Following the meeting, Pilot stressed that his fight was ideological and not personal.</li><li>Pilot also said that he believed that all these issues will be resolved after <keyword id="689" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sonia-Gandhi">Sonia Gandhi</keyword> heard all their concerns and the governance issues that they had raised. He also welcomed the formation of the three-member committee. </li><li>Pilot also said that he didn't want to raise the issues discussed in front of the media..</li></ul>Indicating an end to the rebellion in the Congress' Rajasthan unit, a meeting took place between <keyword id="71345" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sachin-Pilot">Sachin Pilot</keyword> and his loyalists and the three-member panel formed by interim party chief Sonia Gandhi to look into their grievances, at the war room in the Congress headquarters here on Monday evening. The three-member panel comprises senior party leaders Ahmed Patel, <keyword id="12587" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Priyanka-Gandhi">Priyanka Gandhi</keyword> and K.C. Venugopal. Following the meeting, Pilot stressed that his fight was ideological and not personal. "Since the past few days, some MLAs were in Delhi, there were some issues of the state which we wanted to highlight and I have done that by raising the issues clearly. I have been saying since the beginning that all these things were based on principles. I always thought these things are essential to be raised in the party's interest," he told mediapersons. Pilot also said that he believed that all these issues will be resolved after Sonia Gandhi heard all their concerns and the governance issues that they had raised. He also welcomed the formation of the three-member committee. "I heard a lot of things. I was surprised by a few things that were said. I think we should always maintain restraint and humility. We had formed a government in Rajasthan after five years of hard work," he said. Pilot also said that he didn't want to raise the issues discussed in front of the media. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/trump-was-rushed-from-the-briefing-room-by-secret-service-after-a-shooting-outside-of-the-white-house/articleshow/77474005.cms">Trump was rushed from the briefing room by Secret Service after a shooting outside the White House</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/mckinsey-facebook-amazon-nokia-and-some-other-companies-looking-for-a-product-manager-right-now/slidelist/77464438.cms">McKinsey, Facebook, Amazon, Nokia — and some other companies looking for a product manager right now</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/how-karan-bajaj-sold-his-less-than-18-month-old-startup-white-hat-jr-to-byjus/articleshow/77415329.cms">A WhatsApp message, six weeks of talks and a $300 million deal – how Karan Bajaj sold his less than 18-month old startup White Hat Jr to Byju’s</a>

Sachin Pilot says "his fight was ideological and not personal"

Data from nine different elections show that Congress can be on the winning side but not the winner

<ul><li>India’s Ministry of <keyword id="66017" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Statistics">Statistics</keyword>, in conjunction with government think tank, Niti Aayog, released a back-dated series of <keyword id="35050" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="gdp">GDP</keyword> data on 28 November. </li><li>The data showed that growth under the previous <keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> government between 2004-05 and 2013-14 was less than what the current BJP-led administration has achieved over the last four years. </li><li>The government has said the latest data takes into account wider changes in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> as well as different data sources and methods of calculation. </li><li>The timing of the release is significant as India prepares to go to polls next year, and crucial state elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are underway. </li></ul>India’s Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), in conjunction with government think tank Niti Aayog, released a <a href="http://www.mospi.gov.in/sites/default/files/press_release/Press-Note-28Nov2018.pdf">back-dated series of GDP data</a> on 28 November. The report has raised more than a few eyebrows as it showed that growth under the previous Congress government between 2004-05 and 2013-14 was less than what the current BJP-led administration has achieved over the last four years. The average annual growth under the first four years of the Congress government’s first tenure between 2004-05 and 2008-09 was pegged at 6.7%, compared to an original estimate of 8.1%. In addition, growth under the Congress government’s second tenure between 2009-10 and 2013-14 was also downgraded to 6.7%, this time from an original estimate of 7%. Meanwhile, growth under the <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> government between 2014-15 and 2017-18 has been estimated at 7.4%. The move comes three years after the government <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/new-gdp-data-with-201112-as-base-year-in-january/article6557219.ece">changed the base year </a>for calculating GDP growth from 2004-05 to 2011-12 in order to “better reflect the economy by adding more sectors”, according to the Pronab Sen, the former chairman of the National Statistical Commission (NSC), which is housed under the MoSPI. The latest report actually contradicts a set of data released <a href="http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=181956">in August 2018</a> by the Committee on Real Sector Statistics, which was appointed by the NSC. In its report, the committee found that growth under the Congress government’s two tenures, at 8.4% and 7.7%, respectively, was higher than under the BJP-led government in the last four years. As expected, these findings proved to be <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/10-1-gdp-growth-report-moved-out-of-ministrys-main-site/articleshow/65497024.cms">controversial</a>, with the Rajiv Kumar, the vice-chairman of Niti Aayog, reiterating that the data was <a href="https://niti.gov.in/content/gdp-series-revision-clarifications-vice-chairmans-desk">“unofficial”</a>. In response to these numbers, Kumar said that the latest report was more in sync with the international system of economic accounting. What explains the revision of data? Like most things, there a number ways to approach the calculation of statistics and hence, it isn’t a stretch to imagine that methodologies can be tailored to suit certain outcomes. The government has said the latest data takes into account wider changes in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy as well as different data sources and methods of calculation. For example, growth estimates in the agriculture and mining industries, which fall under the primary sector, were less than what had originally been calculated. In addition, the benchmark estimate for the telecom sector was changed from the number of telecom subscribers to the total minutes of usage, while the RBI’s contribution to growth in the financial services sector was given lower weightage. This served to reduce estimated growth in the tertiary sector during the Congress’s tenure. Election ploy? The timing of the release is significant -- India is preparing to go to the polls next year, and crucial state elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are underway. The participation of Niti Aayog, which usually doesn’t dabble in the calculation of economic growth, has also raised concerns that the release of the latest GDP data is politically-driven. P. Chidambaram, the former Finance Minister during the Congress years, made his distaste for the new data quite clear: 
 
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 Whether the report is politically-driven or not, the central government will likely tout its superior management of the economy in an attempt to sway voters. Barbs will be traded over the accuracy of the data and people will choose to believe what they want to believe. What should be noted, however, is that the new data has no bearing on the direction the economy is headed in currently. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/indias-gdp-growth-forecast-just-got-downgraded-by-moodys-heres-why-that-matters/articleshow/64397592.cms">India’s GDP growth forecast just got downgraded by Moody’s. Here’s why that matters</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india-was-the-worlds-fastest-growing-economy-for-first-3-months-of-2018-but-theres-a-catch/articleshow/64413852.cms">India was the world's fastest growing economy for first 3 months of 2018, but there’s a catch</a>

India’s BJP-led government has released a set of revised GDP data that dramatically reduces growth during the previous administration’s tenure

Beijing, <keyword id="1334" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="China">China</keyword> will build a <keyword id="10353766" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="major-hydropower-project">major hydropower project</keyword> on Brahmaputra river in Tibet and a proposal for this has been clearly put forward in the 14th Five-Year Plan to be implemented from next year, the official media on Sunday quoted the head of a Chinese company tasked to build the dam as saying. <keyword id="10352993" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="yan-zhiyong">Yan Zhiyong</keyword>, chairman of <keyword id="10353764" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-power-construction-corp-of-china">the Power Construction Corp of China</keyword>, said China will "implement hydropower exploitation in the downstream of <keyword id="10353765" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="the-yarlung-zangbo-river">the Yarlung Zangbo River</keyword> (the Tibetan name for Brahmaputra) and the project could serve to maintain water resources and domestic security, the Global Times reported. Speaking at a conference on Thursday, Yan said the project was clearly put forward in the proposals for formulating the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) and its long-term goals through 2035 made by the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), it quoted an article on the WeChat account of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China on Sunday. "There is no parallel in history it will be a historic opportunity for the Chinese hydropower industry," Yan told the conference organised to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of the China Society for Hydropower Engineering. The 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 were adopted by Plenum - a key policy body of the CPC - last month. Details of the plan were expected to be released after the formal ratification by National People's Congress (NPC) early next year. Proposals for dams on the Brahmaputra have evoked concerns in India and Bangladesh, the riparian states, and China has downplayed such anxieties saying it would keep their interests in mind. As a lower riparian State with considerable established user rights to the waters of the trans-border rivers, the Indian government has consistently conveyed its views and concerns to the Chinese authorities and has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream States are not harmed by any activities in upstream areas. China has already operationalised the USD 1.5 billion Zam Hydropower Station, the largest in Tibet in 2015. About the new dam, the Global Times report said that speculation about China planning to build a "super hydropower station" in Medog county, where the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is located, have circulated for years. Medog is the last county in Tibet which borders Arunachal Pradesh. In his address, Yan said that the hydropower exploitation of the Yarlung Zangbo River downstream is more than a hydropower project. It is also meaningful for the environment, national security, living standards, energy and international cooperation. According to the report, the mainstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River has the richest water resources in Tibet Autonomous Region, about 80 million kilowatt hours (kWh), while the 50-kilometer section of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon has 70 million kWh that could be developed with a 2,000-meter drop, which equals more than three Three Gorges power stations in Hubei province. Tibet has about 200 million kWh of water resources, accounting for 30 per cent of the total in China. The 60 million kWh hydropower exploitation at the downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River could provide 300 billion kWh of clean, renewable and zero-carbon electricity annually. The project will play a significant role in realising China's goal of reaching a carbon emissions peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality in 2060, he said. "It is a project for national security, including water resources and domestic security," he said, noting that the project will also smooth cooperation with South Asia. The hydropower station could generate income of 20 billion yuan (USD three billion) annually for the Tibet Autonomous Region, he said. India and China established Expert Level Mechanism (ELM) in 2006 to discuss various issues related to trans-border rivers. Under existing bilateral Memorandums of Understanding, China provides hydrological information of Brahmaputra River and Sutlej River to India during the flood seasons. Under the arrangement, China provides flood season data of the Brahmaputra river between May 15 and October 15 every year. SEE ALSO - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/rajasthan-government-imposes-night-curfew-from-8-pm-to-6-am-these-are-the-districts-under-restriction/articleshow/79484267.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/rajasthan-government-imposes-night-curfew-from-8-pm-to-6-am-these-are-the-districts-under-restriction/articleshow/79484267.cms</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/from-whitehat-jr-big-basket-and-unacademy-to-dunzo-these-are-the-indian-startups-that-reported-data-leaks-over-the-past-few-months/slidelist/79467618.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/from-whitehat-jr-big-basket-and-unacademy-to-dunzo-these-are-the-indian-startups-that-reported-data-leaks-over-the-past-few-months/slidelist/79467618.cms</a>

China to build a major dam on Brahmaputra river: Official

<ul><li>Political parties are promising massive financial support for farmers ahead of elections</li><li>Congress president Rahul Gandhi has raised the stake by offering farm loan waiver across India</li><li>The economic distress in rural India has become a political issue </li></ul> India is headed for an election in the upcoming summer and political parties are placing their bids to bag the biggest and the most distressed section of the country's polity-- the farmers. Both the ruling government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its biggest national rival, the Indian National Congress (INC), are raising the stakes at every turn to woo the country's rural votes. Congress president Rahul Gandhi pre-empted a move by the Narendra Modi government by promising a minimum income guarantee for the country's farmers, but without any details, just days before the annual budget. So, when the ruling government took the stage on February 1, to announce the budget, it offered a minimum income of ₹6,000 a year to the country's small and marginal farmers. Within a couple of days, Gandhi raised the bar one more time and offered a pan-India loan waiver for farmers. "I have said that if the Congress party forms a government in Delhi, we will do what we did in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in the entire country," Gandhi <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rahul-gandhi-signals-will-waive-farm-loans-across-country-5567456/" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">said</a> at a political rally on February 4. "You didn’t do anything in the four-and-a-half years, you didn’t waive the loans of farmers," he said accusing the government. Farmers matter India's rural distress has been worsening over the last few years. The farm sector supports about half of the country's population and makes less than a fifth of the gross domestic product (GDP). Despite good monsoons and good crop output, the farmers have been struggling to make ends meet. The prime minister promised in 2017 that the government would ensure the farmers' income doubles in the following five years, but the crisis has only worsened since then. A report of the Committee on Strategy for Doubling Farmers' Income by 2022 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/you-may-pay-a-steep-price-but-does-the-farmer-make-any-money--62364">stated </a>that “The WPI (wholesale price index) of food articles was lower than that of agricultural inputs for most years, indicating that farmers received lower market prices for agricultural commodities than the prices paid for the purchase of inputs.” Meanwhile, rural wage growth has slowed down significantly while the debt has been piling up. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype=""><cdata><![CDATA[
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 Over 12,000 farmers committed suicide in 2015 mostly due to bankruptcy and indebtedness, according to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). <a href="https://www.news18.com/news/india/no-data-on-farmer-suicides-since-2016-agriculture-minister-informs-lok-sabha-1978933.html" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">No similar record</a> has been published since then. India's farmers are still at the mercy of local moneylenders as opening of new bank accounts has not led to more loans. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype=""><cdata><![CDATA[
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 In 2017, some of the farmers from the southern state of Tamil Nadu protested in the national captial New Delhi by drinking urine and eating <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/tamil-nadu-farmers-suspend-stir-till-may-25/articleshow/58328430.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">faeces</a>. In <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/why-maharashtras-farmer-are-protesting-and-why-mumbaikars-are-supporting-them-10-points/articleshow/63263394.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">2018</a>, nearly 50,000 farmers marched for five days on foot, 180 kilometres from Nasik in Maharashtra to the state capital, Mumbai, demanding rights over the land they till. The opposition has been able to sway the unrest in some states by offering farm loan waivers. In Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the rural outrage was a big factor in the incumbent governments getting voted out in December 2018. The government is aware of the political risks of not assuaging the concerns of the farmers. So aside from assuring minimum income to the small farmers, the latest budget also proposed to allocate a record amount for the rural employment guarantee scheme. <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype=""><cdata><![CDATA[
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 Currently, the total central and state subsidies going for agriculture sector are <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/farm-loan-waivers-can-derail-india-s-growth-story/story-6anu1JCiDtN9RxIvtLuyTM.html" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">estimated</a> to be over ₹2.2 trillion, constituting close to 10% of agricultural GDP and 12% of average farm income, Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand wrote in the Hindustan Times last month. However, at this point, the last bid has come from the opposition, once again in the form of a farm loan waiver. Will the Modi government seeking re-election raise one more time? SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/what-is-minimum-income-guarantee-and-how-it-may-work/articleshow/67727733.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">What is minimum income guarantee and how it may work</a>

There is a bidding war for farmer votes in India

New Delhi, Nov 20 () Five opposition-ruled states on Wednesday hit out at the Centre over delays in releasing GST compensation saying their finances are in dire strait due to delays.
 AAP-ruled Delhi, TMC-run West Bengal, Congress-ruled Punjab and Rajasthan and Left-run Kerala in a joint statement said compensation since August is pending, making running administration difficult in the states.
 When the Goods and Service Tax (GST) subsumed 17 different central and state levies from July 1, 2017, states were promised that they will be compensated for any loss of tax revenues for five years due to the introduction of the new levy. The compensation was to be paid on a monthly basis but the same has not bee released so far for the months of August and September and that of October would be due soon.
 In all, some Rs 10,000 crore is due to the five states, the finance ministers of the opposition ruled states said.
 BJP-ruled states too would not have got compensation but they haven't yet spoken about it.
 The central government has so far commented on the issue nor has it given out reason for the delay.
 Speaking to reporters, West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra said, "We thought we will make an appeal to Union Finance Minister (Nirmala Sitharaman) saying that she must personally look into this and not violate the constitutional provisions as passed by Parliament of India."
 All the states are in distress if this compensation which is due to them is not given, he said.
 "It is a dangerous situation, there is no precedence before," he said, adding this is the first time in history that there has been a delay.
 "States have not received GST compensation for August and September which is against constitutional amendment where it was stated clearly that states when they fall below 14 per cent rate of growth of their GST (revenue), they will get compensation by the Centre. So far we have been receiving compensation," he said.
 As far as West Bengal is concerned, the pending amount stands at Rs 1,500 crore, he said.
 Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said the state was supposed to get Rs 1,600 crore.
 "Kerala (is) under overdraft for almost one week now. This is Centre-engineered crisis in the state finance. It has never happened in the history of India. Something drastic has to be done," Issac said.
 Punjab is also under threat of overdraft if the dues are not released immediately, state Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said.
 Punjab is awaiting Rs 2,100 crore as compensation while arrears stand at Rs 2,000 crore, Badal said.
 Echoing similar concerns, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said due to delay in payment, finances of states are under pressure. The GST compensation due to Delhi is Rs 2,355 crore.
 In their joint statement, the ministers said no explanation whatsoever has been furnished for this delay and as a result, states are facing acute pressure on fiscal health and some are already resorting to overdrafts.
 "GST comprises nearly 60 per cent of the tax revenues of states. Many states are already facing deficits up to 50 per cent of the total GST. Such huge deficits have the potential to disrupt the budget and planning processes in a host of areas literally bringing activities of the States to a grinding halt," it said.
 It was recalled that the assurance of GST compensation was a necessary enabler in states agreeing to subsume their fiscal sovereignty into GST. This was preceded by long deliberations within the Empowered Committee where many states had apprehensions about being able to obtain uninterrupted compensation, it added.
 "It was only after the required provisions for compensation were incorporated in the Constitution that States agreed to join the GST. The current delay has shaken the confidence of the States who have so far supported GST in a spirit of rare bonhomie. Despite many challenges from time-to-time States have extended their support to all major decisions of the GST Council," the statement said.
 They also suggested that the matter should be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the GST Council and a healthy mechanism be evolved to provide compensation in future with due urgency and judiciousness. DP ANZ
MKJ

Five state finance ministers lash out at Centre over delay in GST compensation

Scared of losing guests and business, <keyword id="20324" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Hoteliers">hoteliers</keyword> in <keyword id="54507" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ranthambore">Ranthambore</keyword> used their influence to relocate park’s most-watched tiger, T24. 
 
As per sources, the operation of relocating T24 to Udaipur zoo was so secretive that even Forest Minister Raj Kumar Rinwa was kept in dark. 
Sources told Times of India that T24 was shifted on Saturday as hoteliers felt it may frighten away guests as it apparently killed a forest guard recently. 
 
A wildlife expert said that hoteliers were divided as majority were in favour of keeping the tiger at the park as it was the most sighted one but there was also a dispute among the forest staff about the identity of the tiger that killed the forest guard. 
 
"Forest officials were confused between T72 and T24," the expert told TOI and added, "However, a handful of lobbyists supporting T24's shifting were more powerful and succeeded in their design." 
 
The shifting came at a time when Rinwa was in the process of constituting a committee to verify whether it was T-24 or some other tiger which had attacked humans. But all of a sudden, he was told about the futility of the exercise since T-24, fondly known as 'Ustaad', was already half way towards Udaipur. 
 
Sources told TOI that Rinwa had requested Rajya Sabha MP VP Singh Badnore to head the committee, who had reportedly recommended conservationists Valmik Thapar and Rajpal Singh Shekhawat as other members. 
 
Insiders told the news daily that experts had suggested to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje that even if T24 was attacking humans, it could be shifted to the Sariska reserve or Mukundra, a new forest zone adjacent to Ranthambore identified for tiger reserve expansion. 
 
Experts say carnivores have a natural tendency to fear humans. "But you can't say that T24 was a man-eater as it never chased humans," the expert said. 
 
Congress party MLA from Kumher, Vishvendra Singh, cited the instance of T7, which was shifted from Ranthambhore to Sariska after it attacked a few humans, including forest ranger Daulat Singh. 
 
"T7 is now happily settled as ST6 at Sariska. Why should there be different treatment for similar incident?" Singh told TOI and added that he sighted T7 thrice at Bharatpur, where it had strayed in 2010. "It never attacked anybody at Bharatpur," he said. 
 
Rinwa said that Kumbhalgarh and Mukundra forests have also been identified for expansion as tiger reserves, where T24 could be shifted if experts so recommended. 
 
Conservationist Thapar supports T24's caging, saying: "In my 40 years of experience of Ranthambhore tigers, T24 is the most dangerous one. He killed four people including two forest guards and two locals. The forest department and the government of Rajasthan have done a successful job in relocating a man-killing and eating tiger.”

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