Page 2 - Anurag Thakur

Rahul Gandhi enjoyed power without liability so far: Anurag Thakur in LS

BJP leader Anurag Thakur on Monday listed out various economic achievements of the NDA government in the last 10 years and took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, saying he was enjoying power without responsibility till he became the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Initiating the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on President's Address, Thakur said the Lok Sabha elections have kept those against the Constitution in the Opposition benches for the third time. While congratulating Gandhi on becoming the Leader of Opposition, Thakur said the Congress leader now has power with responsibility and "absentee landlordism will not work". For the last many years, Gandhi was enjoying power without responsibility, Thakur said and asserted that it was an "agnipariksha" for the Congress leader now. "Will he sit in Lok Sabha all day?... he is not there (even) now," the BJP leader remarked. Gandhi was not in the House when Thakur made the remarks and there were protests from the Opposition ...

JP Nadda sworn in as Cabinet Minister; who will be BJP's next president?

Modi Government 3.0: Previously speculated candidates including Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Bhupender Yadav, and CR Paatil also joined Modi's Cabinet. Here are some probable candidates for the position

Will keep working as BJP worker: Outgoing Union minister Anurag Thakur

His name not on the new BJP-led NDA government's list of ministers, outgoing Union Minister Anurag Thakur said Sunday he would keep working as a BJP worker and contribute to fulfilling PM-designate Narendra Modi's resolve to make India a developed country. Thakur congratulated Modi and his "team of ministers" and said all those who have been picked for ministerial positions in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government are "very competent". They will make "every possible effort" to take the country on the path of progress, the outgoing information and broadcasting minister said. In the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, Thakur was reelected to the Lower House of Parliament from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh. "I am a party worker first. The people of Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh have elected me to the Lok Sabha for the fifth consecutive time. Being elected to the Lok Sabha for the fifth time is itself a great honour," he told reporters here when asked if he would be .

LS polls highlights: PM Modi begins 'dhyan' at Kanyakumari Vivekananda Rock Memorial

LS polls LIVE: From Anurag Thakur's claim of BJP crossing 400 seats in the 7th phase to JP Nadda's claim of winning 30 plus seats in West Bengal, catch all the latest updates on elections here

Amit Shah's remarks boost Thakur's campaign, stakes high for Sukhu

Stakes are high for Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Union minister Anurag Singh Thakur in Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency where revolt in the Congress and four simultaneous six assembly byelections have made the parliamentary contest exciting. Thakur won the 2019 elections by 3,99,572 votes, 2014 polls by 98,403 votes, 2009 by 72,732 and 2008 byelection by 1,74,666 votes. Union Home minister Amit Shah's remarks that Hamirpur has got a ready-made minister and will not get an MP like him even if the people search with a lamp have given a boost to Thakur's campaign. It is also likely to benefit the BJP in the assembly byelections. Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri are intensively campaigning in the constituency and accusing Thakur of making tall promises and claiming that the Congress will wrest the seat this time. The Hamirpur parliamentary constituency is considered a bastion of the BJP. Out of the 17 elections including two byelections hel

Former Indian Newspaper Society President Naresh Mohan passes away

Union Minister Anurag Thakur and industry leaders paid tributes to the late media veteran and remembered his invaluable contribution to the field

People like Kejriwal, Sisodia, Jain never welcome in BJP: Anurag Thakur

Amid a recent influx of opposition politicians into the BJP, Union minister Anurag Thakur said that while the party continues to attract rivals, it will never accept Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, who are facing serious charges of corruption. Hours after Kejriwal was released from jail on interim bail in the liquor scam case, Thakur said in an interview with PTI late Friday that Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal has not been absolved of the charges against him and will have to return to jail after June 1 and face trial. He also accused Kejriwal of "crushing" the Constitution by not resigning from his post despite being in jail pending trial on serious charges in the liquor excise policy case. Thakur said people of the country have seen his alleged corruption and will not support him anymore as he stands exposed before them now. Kejriwal was granted bail by the Supreme Court and came out of Tihar Jail on Friday evening and sought people's ...

LS polls: Congress accuses Anurag Thakur of violating model code, moves EC

The Congress on Saturday complained to the Election Commission against Union Minister Anurag Thakur for his "outrageous" remarks made at a poll rally and alleged that it violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the party has sent a complaint to the Election Commission against Thakur and has sought "immediate and meaningful" action against him, failing which they will "name and shame the offenders". The Congress also said that Thakur was following the footsteps of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. "Today, Anurag Thakur followed in the footsteps of the PM and the UP Chief Minister and made a most outrageous speech that violates all standards of decency and truth, apart from the EC's Model Code of Conduct itself. "@INCIndia has written to the ECI to take note of the speech and issue Mr. Thakur a notice immediately. The ECI must realise that a lack of meaningful action emboldens these bad .

Congress' fight is only to cross 40: Anurag Thakur slams 'INDIA' bloc

Union Minister Anurag Thakur also alleged that Congress is thinking in the direction of abolishing nuclear weapons in the country, which will lead to the weakening of the nation

Anurag Thakur accuses TMC in WB of providing shelter to anti-govt forces

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal of providing protection and shelter to 'anti-government forces' and supporting those committing atrocities against women. Speaking to reporters during his election campaign in Siliguri, the Union Information and Broadcasting minister questioned why actors of terror activities, committed in the state or elsewhere in the country, "find protection and shelter in West Bengal." "Why is this so?" he asked. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested two key accused, including the mastermind, in Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe blast case from West Bengal, a development that triggered a war of words between the BJP and the state's ruling TMC. While the BJP alleged that the TMC has turned West Bengal into a "safe haven for terrorists", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the accused were arrested due to the state police's prompt action. "Under the nose of Mamata Banerjee, ...

AIFF forms panel to probe alleged physical assault of two women footballers

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Saturday asked its executive committee member Deepak Sharma to refrain from game-related activities till the conclusion of a probe by a panel into his alleged physical assault of two women footballers in Goa. Two footballers of Himachal Pradesh-based Khad FC, taking part in the Indian Women's Football (IWL) League second division, had alleged that Sharma, the owner of the club, had barged into their room and physically assaulted them on the night of March 28. They filed a complaint with the competition committee of the AIFF and the Goa Football Association (GFA), which was hosting the tournament, also lodged a complaint at the Mapusa police station on the basis of the complaint of the two women footballers. In the complaint, according to sources, the two players said Sharma was in an inebriated state for most of the time and they were "scared of their lives". Sports Minister Anurag Thakur earlier in the day asked the AIFF to take "quick"

Financial inclusion important for economic empowerment of women: Thakur

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday urged women entrepreneurs to use digital technology to help small businesses become resilient and champions of change. Addressing the 40th Annual Session of the FICCI Ladies Organisation, Thakur said financial inclusion and going digital was critical to achieving the economic empowerment of women. "Women must be a larger part of the economic development. Empowering women, addressing their concerns and amplifying their voices is a priority for the present government," Thakur said. He said India has the third largest start-up ecosystem in the world with 1.2 lakh start-ups and 110 Unicorns. "Women's contribution will be much more when India will move to become the 3rd largest economy in the next three years," he said. "Adoption of advanced technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) by women can serve as a tool for growth for small businesses in building their resilient capacity," he said. Adoption of digitalisation by small businesses means

New age-based ratings for films in Cinematograph (Certification) Rules 2024

The Cinematograph (Certification) Rules 2024 were notified by the Centre on Friday, introducing an updated mechanism for film certification process in India

Defence exports to more than double to Rs 40,000 cr by 2026: Anurag Thakur

Swedish think-tank SIPRI's recent report revealed India was world's biggest arms importer in 2019-23, with a 9.8 per cent share of all arms imports

Shah informing people about CAA from different platforms: Anurag Thakur

"Home Minister Amit Shah has been briefing people about the CAA from Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and other platforms that no one should get worried about it. It is a law that gives citizenship," he said

Cabinet approves Rs 8,400 cr for two corridors of Delhi Metro under Phase-4

The corridors, which are already at pre-bid stages by DMRC, are expected to be completed by March 2026

I&B minister Anurag Thakur launches 'Swaraj' series on OTT platform

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday launched the first season of "Swaraj" on OTT platform Amazon Prime. Speaking on the occasion, Thakur said, the launch of the series on the over-the-top (OTT) platform was a true tribute to all those unsung great heroes of our independence who sacrificed everything for the country. He said the series was commissioned taking inspiration from the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" national campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and captures the stories of bravery in India's freedom struggle about which very few people know. "These are the wars which got lost somewhere in the pages of history. I am confident that this series will instil a sense of pride in our youth towards the history of our nation," Thakur said. He said the series will help the national and international audience understand the spirit of the country's 500-year-long relentless struggle to gain independence from colonial rulers. Produced by Contiloe Pictures, the

Anurag Thakur announces two National Centre of Excellence for women

Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Friday announced the establishment of two National Centres of Excellence (NCOE), exclusively for women on the occasion of International Women's Day. The NCOE cover 23 focused and priority disciplines where Indian athletes have a chance to win medals in global competitions like the Asian Games and the Olympics. "Sports is a state subject but still the central government is keen to look at the upliftment of sports in the country. We have to spend a lot of money on infrastructure and coaches," Thakur said reacting to lack of trainers, coaches and infrastructure at the state level. "We are collaborating with state governments and asked them to identify three key sports so that we have a roadmap and information on which state will promote hockey, boxing and athletics etc. "I have already started consolidating our NCOEs and in association with the national sports federations, will greater emphasis on producing good coaches," he added. The Sports Authorit

Khelo India medal winners now eligible for government jobs: Anurag Thakur

Medal winners in all Khelo India competitions will now be eligible for government jobs as per a revised criteria, Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said on Wednesday. Thakur said the move is in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "vision of a robust sports ecosystem, nurturing talent at grassroots level and turning sports into a lucrative and viable career option." He said the department of personnel and training, in consultation with the sports ministry, has made "progressive revisions to the eligibility criteria for sportspersons seeking government jobs." "This groundbreaking step now extends eligibility to medal winners from the Khelo India Games -- Youth, University, Para and Winter Games -- to be eligible for government jobs. Additionally, games and events have been clearly defined to ensure inclusivity across various sports," Thakur said in his post on X. "These revised rules mark a significant stride in supporting our athletes in making Bharat a sporting superpower," he

Registered athletes to be issued digital certificates: Anurag Thakur

Sports minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday announced that the government will issue digital certificates to registered athletes across the country, a move which would ensure a transparent account of their participation and performance. The digital certificate will have dates of the athletes' participation in competitions and serve as proof of their achievements. "With athletes at the heart of our progressing and growing sporting ecosystem, the sports ministry has made a crucial decision to promote the 'issuance of digital certificates to athletes'," wrote Thakur on 'X'. The minister had first announced his plan to simplify things for athletes and National Sports Federations (NSFs) during the National Sports Day on August 29 last year. On the occasion, the NSF portal was launched for ensuring ease of business and good governance. It is a unified single window for processing annual renewals and elections in NSFs. On Thursday, the minister said, "Keeping up with our policy of ...