Nation fast changing into developed one; Karnataka will drive this: Union Minister Piyush Goyal
Bengaluru, Feb 4: Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Saturday said the country is on the path of rapid transformation into a developed nation and Karnataka is the "jewel" that would drive that change.
He expressed confidence that BJP would come back to power in Karnataka with a big majority after the upcoming Assembly polls.
"India is on the path of rapid transformation into a developed nation. Karnataka, of course, is the jewel that will drive this transformation and the growth faster and more efficiently," Goyal said.
Speaking to reporters here on the Union Budget, he said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made sufficient provision of Rs 7,561 crore for expansion of railway network in Karnataka, and also adequate allotment to speed up the work on the suburban rail system for Bengaluru.
He said he was happy about the Rs 5,300-crore assistance announced in the budget for the Upper Bhadra lift irrigation project in central part of Karnataka, benefiting people of the region.
Stating that the Finance Minister under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come out with the budget which lays the foundation for a developed nation, which would take prosperity to every single person in the country, Goyal said, "Our vision is inclusive growth, sustainable growth, holistic development of the entire country and prosperity for all."
"This budget has brought series of steps, the outcome of which will naturally be the growth of the economy, more jobs, economic opportunity for youth, which will help every section of society. All of this will be on the back of green or sustainable growth," he said.
Listing out pro-people initiatives of the BJP government, the Minister said this budget is the first step in the journey of the nation to a developed one.
Highlighting the multiplier effect of infrastructure funding proposed in the Union budget, which would help propel economic growth, he spoke about ease of doing business and ease of living steps that have been initiated through the budget.
Youth power of the country is aspiring for better and more, he further said, this budget would give strong message to "Young India."
Responding to a question on Karnataka State Contractors' Association's allegation of '40 per cent commission' for awarding contracts and clearing Bills in the State where BJP is in power, Goyal said the Prime Minister is totally committed to make the nation corruption-free, so are State governments run by the party.
"Any allegation is investigated into, action taken, whoever is guilty will not be spared. We have heard about allegation that you have mentioned. I can assure you and the people of Karnataka that BJP government in the State will provide a transparent and honest government, and anybody found indulging in wrongdoings will not be spared," he added.
Asked about action not taken by Modi despite contractors' writing to him twice, Goyal said action is taken on "specific allegations" when brought to notice, and the action would be strict.
Reacting to Congress's poll promises of free power among others, the Union Minister said short-term election-related policies are detrimental to the country, and people are aware of it.
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19-yr-old woman found hanging from tree in UP village; juvenile held
Lucknow/Pratapgarh (UP) (PTI): Police have apprehended a 16-year-old boy for his alleged involvement in the rape and murder of a 19-year-old woman whose body was found hanging from a tree in a village here, officials said on Monday.
Additional Superintendent of Police (West), Brijnandan Rai, said that the body of a 19-year-old woman was found hanging from a tree in an orchard in the Manikpur police station area on Sunday morning. A post-mortem examination subsequently confirmed that she had been raped.
Police registered a case against unidentified persons under sections 103(1) (punishment for murder) and 70(1) (gangrape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and initiated an investigation.
During the course of the investigation, the police found that the deceased was in contact with a juvenile who was also her relative.
Acting on this information, during a joint checking operation, sub-inspector Amit Kumar Singh of Manikpur police station and SOG In-charge Amit Kumar Chaurasia, along with their team, apprehended the 16-year-old near the Lehdari Ganga River bridge.
The search for other accused persons is ongoing, police said.
According to the police, the woman had gone to sleep after dinner on Saturday night but was found hanging in an orchard nearly 400 metres away from her home the following morning.
Additional Superintendent of Police (West), Brijnandan Rai, had earlier said that the circumstances suggest foul play.
"The victim's slippers and undergarments were recovered 50 metres away from the spot where the body was found. There are visible injury marks on her body," Rai said.
While locals have alleged that the woman was murdered after being raped, the ASP said that it is "prima facie a case of murder."
"Based on the complaint filed by the victim's brother, a case of murder has been registered against unidentified persons," the officer added.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, in a post on X in Hindi on Monday, said, "The news of the heinous murder of a Dalit daughter in Pratapgarh is deeply tragic and condemnable."
"The question remains: why does the spate of murders of 'PDA daughters' continue unabated in Uttar Pradesh? Are the BJP government's claims regarding women's safety merely hollow rhetoric, or is there, in fact, discrimination even in the provision of security for women?" he said.
"Whenever the 'wandering Honourable (ghumantu maananiye)' finds a moment of respite from election campaigning, he should cast a glance at the plight of the daughters of his own Uttar Pradesh. In any case, apart from injustice and oppression, no sister, daughter, or mother of this state holds any hope from you," Yadav added.
