Farmers, Agriculture news, MDH, Rajendra Prasad, Kashmir snow, Punjab, Akali, farm law

3 December 2020

• PM Modi to inaugurate 30K MW renewable energy park on Dec 15 

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating the world's largest renewable solar and wind energy park in Gujarat's Kutch and another desalination plant, on December 15. Informing about the development, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said: "PM will be arriving in Gujarat on 15th to inaugurate two works. One is the inauguration of the world's largest renewable energy park with a capacity of 30,000 megawatts (MW) from solar and wind energy. 

• Accepting less than scrapping farm laws will be deceit to farmers says, Rahul Gandhi 

  Congress has stepped up the demand for immediately scrapping the farm laws in the wake of the farmers' protest in the national capital. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet, "Accepting less than the scrapping of three black farm laws will be deceit to farmers and the country." 

  The Congress leader's reaction comes even as the meeting between the farmers and the government is going on to resolve the issue. Talks between the Centre and over 34 farmer union representatives have started here, even as the farmers protest entered the eighth straight day with thousands sitting on different Delhi borders blocking essential supply chains to the city. 

• Punjab CM announces Rs 5L each for farmers who died during stir 

  Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday expressed grief over the death of two farmers, Gurjant Singh and Gurbachan Singh while participating in the ongoing protests against the new agricultural laws. The Chief Minister also announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the farmers. 

  Notably, farmer Gurjant Singh, from Bachhoana village in Mansa district, died in Delhi during the agitation against farm laws, while Gurbachan Singh (80), from Bhinder Khurd village in Moga district, died due to massive heart attack during a protest at Moga on Wednesday. 

• Light snow likely in Kashmir & Zojila Pass area on Friday 

  The local weather office forecast on Thursday light snow at isolated places in the Kashmir Valley and the Zojila Pass area on Friday and another spell of rain and snow in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on next week."As of today, weather is likely to remain mainly dry till tomorrow. Light snow is expected at isolated to scattered places of Kashmir and Zojila area tomorrow evening. 

  "There is more than 70 per cent chance of a spell of light to moderate snow at many places of Kashmir, Drass-Zojila area and the hilly areas of Jammu during December 7-8," Sonam Lotus, director of the MET department said. 

• Akali patron Badal returns Padma award, says govt. betrayed farmers

  Expressing solidarity with the agitating farmers over the Centre's farm laws, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday returned his Padma Vibhushan award in protest against "the betrayal of the farmers by the government".

  91-year-old Badal, in a missive to President Ram Nath Kovind, said he was returning the award due to "the shocking indifference and contempt with which the government was treating the ongoing peaceful and democratic agitation of the farmers against the three farm Acts". The Akali stalwart had received the country's second-highest civilian honour in 2015.

• Amarinder urges Centre to resolve farmers' issue, says nothing in his hand

  With the farmers' protests escalating day-by-day, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday said 'there was nothing for him to resolve'. He urged the Centre, which is holding discussions with the farmer representatives, to the resolve issue quickly.

  Singh's statement comes after he discussed the farmers' issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in the about half-an-hour meeting. The meeting happened before the fourth round of talks between the Central government and over 34 farmer union leaders started at the Vigyan Bhawan around 12.30 p.m.

• Cyclone Burevi: Shah dials TN, Kerala CMs, assures support

  Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday spoke with Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the wake of Cyclone Burevi and assured them of all the possible support from the Centre. "Have spoken to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in the wake of Cyclone Burevi. (Narendra) Modi government is committed for all possible support to help people of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. "Several teams of NDRF are already deployed in both the states," Shah said in a tweet.

• President of India Pays Homage to Dr Rajendra Prasad on his Birth Anniversary

  The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, paid homage to Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, on his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 3. The President and officials of Rashtrapati Bhavan paid floral tributes before a portrait of Dr Rajendra Prasad.

  Dr Rajendra Prasad was a professor of English at a college in Bihar but later he pursued a degree in law. While studying law, Dr Rajendra Prasad also taught at a college in Kolkata. Later, he did his doctorate in Law from Allahabad University. He was the President of India from 1950 to 1962. After being the president for two terms, stepped away from the highest post in 1962. 

• MDH owner, Masala King Mahashay Dharampal passes away at the age of 97

  Owner and face of MDH (Mahashian Di Hatti) Masala ads, Dharampal Gulati passed away at the age of 97, on December 3, 2020. Popularly known as "Mahashay" and “Spice King”, of India and was also featured in the brand's '100 years' celebration campaign.