Friday, April 04
In June 1991, Manmohan Singh was unexpectedly appointed as India's Finance Minister by PV Narasimha Rao. Singh, along with Rao, initiated major economic reforms that transformed India's economy from a low-growth state to the fastest growing major economy. Singh's first budget abolished the licence-permit raj, liberalized industries, and focused on fiscal consolidation, significantly boosting India's economic outlook.
A private bus fell into a drain near Jiwan Singh Wala village in Punjab's Bathinda district, resulting in 8 deaths and 26 people being injured. The accident occurred while the bus was traveling from Talwandi Sabo to Bathinda. Local residents and authorities promptly initiated rescue efforts, and the injured were taken to a nearby hospital.
Tensions rise in Sambhal following clashes over claims that the Shahi Jama Masjid was built over a demolished Hindu temple. The district administration's excavation efforts and anti-encroachment drives, including actions against Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq, have exacerbated fears among locals. The UP government is focusing on restoring and protecting Hindu temples in the area.
In 2023-24, BJP garnered Rs 2,244 crore in contributions, three times more than in 2022-23, with Prudent Electoral Trust being the largest donor. Congress received Rs 288.9 crore. Electoral bond receipts were excluded as per rules.
The BJP has accused Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar of mistreating women at a Congress event. A video shared on social media shows Shivakumar pushing and making aggressive gestures toward female workers. BJP leaders Amit Malviya and Vishnu Vardhan Reddy criticized Congress, labeling the incident as "shameful" and questioning the party's stance on women's empowerment.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) requests President Droupadi Murmu's intervention regarding the draft national policy framework on agriculture marketing, which faces opposition for potentially resurrecting controversial farm laws. Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's indefinite hunger strike amplifies their demands for legal crop procurement guarantees.
China has approved the construction of the world's largest dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, near the Indian border. Estimated to cost $137 billion, this project raises concerns in India and Bangladesh about water flow control, regional stability, and potential flooding risks. Advanced geological explorations ensure safety amid seismic activity.
Belagavi will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's 1924 Congress session. Nearby Hudali, where Gandhi stayed in 1937, continues his teachings of self-reliance and non-violence. The village thrives on Khadi production, abstains from alcohol and tobacco, and maintains communal harmony, making it a model of Gandhi's vision for rural India.
The Congress party's camaraderie with AAP during the Delhi Lok Sabha polls has turned to rivalry, with Congress leader Ajay Maken criticizing the alliance as a mistake. Maken condemned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, describing him as 'Farziwal' for failing to establish the Janlokpal anti-corruption ombudsman and for the plight of Delhi under AAP's rule.
