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<title><![CDATA[Digvijaya Singh Says Jitu Patwari's 500-Acre Land Charge Against MP CM Was Incorrect]]></title>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh on Monday said the allegation made by Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari regarding the allotment of 500 acres of land was not factually correct, adding that the party had revised its stand after verifying official records.
Addressing a press conference, Singh said he personally examined the documents after the issue came into public discussion. He said the inquiry revealed that the land had been allotted to a government trust and not to any private individual or company.

"After examining the records, it was found that the land was allotted to a government trust. The Chief Minister is its ex officio chairman, the Culture Minister is the ex officio vice-chairman, and a government officer is its secretary. After the facts became clear, we clarified our position," Singh said in a press conference during his visit to Barwani on Monday.

The clarification comes days after Patwari alleged that around 500 acres of government land had been allotted to a trust linked to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, and he sought an explanation from the Chief Minister. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had rejected the allegation, maintaining that the allotment was made to a statutory government trust in accordance with the rules.

Singh said correcting the party's stand on one issue should not be interpreted as giving the government a clean chit on other matters.

"I am not saying there is no corruption in Madhya Pradesh. There are several issues, including illegal sand mining, illegal liquor trade, land-use conversion and road construction, on which the government should place the facts before the public," he said.

Referring to his recent visit to Barwani district, Singh alleged that illegal sand mining was continuing in the Sardar Sarovar submergence area despite repeated complaints from local residents. He also raised concerns about alleged irregularities in land-use conversions, saying such decisions should be transparent, as they fall within the government's jurisdiction.

The former Chief Minister also questioned the financial transparency of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Referring to its claim of spending around Rs 7 crore on Covid-19 relief, he said details regarding the source and utilisation of the funds should be made public.

"If the source and utilisation of the funds are not disclosed, the matter should be examined under the relevant legal provisions," Singh said.

On the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Singh reiterated the Congress' stand that such a law should be introduced only after consultations with all religious communities and social organisations.

"In a democracy, governments are accountable to the people. Every serious issue raised in public life deserves a factual response, and the Chief Minister should clarify the government's position on these matters," he added.&nbsp;--IANS]]></description>
<link>https://www.theweekendleader.com/Headlines/81227/digvijaya-singh-says-jitu-patwaris-500acre-land-charge-against-mp-cm-was-incorrect.html</link>
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<title><![CDATA[AIADMK Loses Another MLA as Former Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar Resigns, Likely to Join TVK]]></title>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[The AIADMK suffered another setback on Monday after Karur MLA and former Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabaskar resigned from the Tamil Nadu Assembly, adding to the growing list of opposition legislators who have quit the party following the 2026 Assembly elections.  

According to reports, Vijayabaskar submitted his handwritten resignation letter to Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar, formally relinquishing his membership of the House.

Political sources said he is expected to join the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) shortly, although there has been no official confirmation.

The resignation comes amid continuing political realignments in Tamil Nadu after the 2026 Assembly elections, which produced a fractured mandate.

The TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats but fell short of a majority, eventually forming a coalition government with its allies.

During the election campaign, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had projected the contest as a direct fight between the TVK and the DMK. The final results saw the DMK emerge as the principal Opposition, while the AIADMK was pushed to third place. Following the election results, uncertainty gripped the AIADMK, with its newly elected MLAs being housed at a resort in Puducherry amid fears of defections.

Around the same time, senior leaders and former ministers, including S.P. Velumani, C.V. Shanmugam and Vijayabaskar, were seen functioning as a separate group within the party. The faction led by Velumani later reconciled with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and returned to the party fold. However, Shanmugam and Vijayabaskar did not immediately meet the party leadership, triggering speculation over their political future before returning to their respective constituencies.

In the weeks that followed, several AIADMK legislators resigned from the Assembly and later joined the TVK. Among them were Maragatham Kumaravel, Jayakumar, Sathyabama and Isakki Subbiah, reducing the party?s strength in the House. With M.R. Vijayabaskar?s resignation, the AIADMK has now lost another prominent legislator and former minister, underlining the continuing political churn within the party.

His expected move to the ruling TVK is likely to further strengthen the government?s position in the Assembly while posing fresh organisational challenges for the AIADMK leadership.&nbsp;--IANS]]></description>
<link>https://www.theweekendleader.com/Headlines/81226/aiadmk-loses-another-mla-as-former-minister-mr-vijayabhaskar-resigns-likely-to-join-tvk.html</link>
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<title><![CDATA[Gujarat's Regional Vibrant Conferences Attract Rs 13.30 Lakh Crore Investments]]></title>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[Gujarat's three Regional Vibrant Conferences have attracted investment commitments worth Rs 13.30 lakh crore through 9,499 memoranda of understanding (MoUs), Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Monday, describing the regional conference model as a "key driver" of balanced industrial development across the state.
Speaking at the inauguration of the fourth Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) for Central Gujarat in Vadodara, Patel said the initiative had built on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of ensuring that economic growth reached every region of Gujarat.

"PM Modi introduced the new concept of balanced growth, which we have taken forward through the Regional Conferences," Patel said.

He noted that after the successful regional conferences in Mehsana, Rajkot and Surat, the fourth edition was being organised for the 10 districts of Central Gujarat.

"So far, through the three Regional Conferences, 9,499 MoUs have brought investments worth Rs 13.30 lakh crore into various industries across the state," Patel said.

The Chief Minister said the success of the regional conferences reflected the evolution of Gujarat's investment strategy, which began with the launch of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2003 under PM Modi's leadership.

"With the determination to transform Gujarat's image from merely being a trading state to becoming an investment destination, PM Modi launched the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2003," he said.

Patel said the summit was conceived at a time when international investment summits were uncommon and was based on PM Modi's vision of bringing global investors to Gujarat.

"At that time, he had said that his dream was to bring investors from across the world to Gujarat. Owing to the remarkable success of two decades of the Vibrant Summit, his dream has been realised, and Gujarat has today become the Global Gateway to the Future," he said.

According to Patel, the sustained success of the Vibrant Gujarat initiative has helped establish Gujarat as the country's growth engine.

Turning to Central Gujarat, Patel described the region as the development heart of the state, with districts such as Vadodara, Anand, Kheda, Panchmahal, Chhota Udepur and Dahod making significant contributions to manufacturing, engineering, pharmaceuticals, agri-food processing and MSME development.

"Vadodara is emerging as a major centre for petrochemicals, speciality chemicals, electric vehicle equipment and aerospace manufacturing through the Tata-Airbus C-295 aircraft project," he emphasised.

Patel also recalled Prime Minister Modi's observation that Central Gujarat had undergone a remarkable industrial transformation.

"Anand had earned global recognition through the Amul brand, while Kheda had developed strengths in food processing and small-scale industries," he added.

He also referred to the industrial network extending from Vadodara, Halol, Kalol, Godhra and Dahod towards Madhya Pradesh as evidence of the region's expanding manufacturing ecosystem.&nbsp;--IANS]]></description>
<link>https://www.theweekendleader.com/Headlines/81225/gujarats-regional-vibrant-conferences-attract-rs-1330-lakh-crore-investments.html</link>
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<title><![CDATA[Yamuna Water to Reach Rajasthan's Shekhawati Region After Three-Decade Wait]]></title>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[In what is being hailed as one of Rajasthan's most significant water security milestones, the long-pending Yamuna Water Agreement finally became a reality on Monday. 

After remaining trapped in official files for 32 years despite six governments and repeated Congress promises, Rajasthan has secured its rightful share of Yamuna water. The agreement marks more than just the resolution of a decades-old dispute, it is being projected as a victory of political will, decisive leadership, and governance over years of inaction.

The supply of 1,917 cusecs of Yamuna water through a nearly 295-kilometre pipeline promises to transform the water landscape of Shekhawati.

The project is expected to provide lasting relief to Jhunjhunu, Sikar, and Churu, reducing dependence on rapidly depleting groundwater, improving drinking water availability, supporting farmers and industries, and laying the foundation for sustained regional growth.

For lakhs of families who have endured chronic water scarcity, tanker dependence, and falling groundwater levels for decades, the project is expected to be life-changing.

The development has also revived a major political question: If Rajasthan's share of Yamuna water was agreed upon in 1994, why did successive Congress governments, both in the state and at the Centre, fail to secure it for more than three decades?

For the people of Shekhawati, this is not merely an administrative agreement but a transformational decision that promises to change everyday life.

The project will bring 1,917 cusecs of Yamuna water through a nearly 295-kilometre pipeline, ensuring reliable drinking water, strengthening irrigation, supporting industries, reducing dependence on groundwater and laying the foundation for long-term economic growth, said CMO officials.

By providing a sustainable source of surface water, the project is expected to significantly improve water security while helping recharge groundwater reserves and reducing pressure on over-exploited aquifers.

While the agreement for sharing Yamuna water was signed in 1994, Rajasthan never received the benefits it was promised. During these 32 years, governments changed repeatedly in both Jaipur and New Delhi. Congress ruled Rajasthan multiple times and also governed at the Centre for a decade. Yet the project remained trapped in files, negotiations failed to move forward and Rajasthan's rightful claim remained unfulfilled.

The obvious political question now being raised is: If the agreement existed since 1994, why did successive governments fail to convert it into reality? According to the state government, the answer lies in the absence of sustained political commitment.

The issue repeatedly surfaced during elections, particularly in the water-scarce Shekhawati region, but never translated into concrete action. Soon after assuming office, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma identified the Yamuna water issue as one of Rajasthan's top priorities. Rather than allowing the matter to remain buried in official correspondence, the government initiated sustained negotiations with the Centre and neighbouring Haryana.

Over the past two-and-a-half years, continuous coordination was maintained with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil and the Haryana Government.

Through persistent dialogue and cooperative federalism, the decades-old deadlock was eventually resolved. The government maintains that the agreement demonstrates how political determination and consistent engagement can resolve even long-pending interstate issues.

The significance of the project extends far beyond drinking water. The Yamuna water supply is expected to ensure reliable drinking water in Jhunjhunu, Sikar and Churu, provide long-term support to farmers, meet growing industrial water demand, accelerate urbanisation and economic development and strengthen Rajasthan's long-term water security.

For lakhs of families who have lived through chronic water scarcity, this project promises relief from one of the region's biggest challenges. The agreement has also reignited criticism of the Congress over its handling of Rajasthan's water interests. The BJP argues that despite holding power repeatedly in Rajasthan and at the Centre, Congress failed to secure implementation of the 1994 agreement. The criticism has been sharpened further by referring to the Congress manifesto during the recent Haryana Assembly elections, which reportedly opposed the release of Yamuna water to Rajasthan.

According to the BJP, this reflected a contradiction between the party's commitments in Rajasthan and its political stance in Haryana. It has also questioned why Congress leaders from Rajasthan remained silent on the issue while campaigning in the neighbouring state.

The state government is presenting the Yamuna Water Agreement as a defining example of the difference between political promises and administrative delivery. According to the BJP, while the previous three decades were marked by announcements and unresolved files, the current government converted a long-pending commitment into an executable project through sustained negotiations and decisive leadership.

Supporters of the government argue that the agreement reflects a governance model focussed on outcomes rather than announcements, demonstrating that long-standing disputes can be resolved through political will and continuous engagement.

Beyond addressing immediate drinking water needs, the project is expected to play a strategic role in Rajasthan's long-term development and enhance the quality of life across the Shekhawati region.

More importantly, the agreement signals a shift toward long-term planning for water security in one of India's most water-stressed states.

After waiting for 32 years, Rajasthan has finally secured what it was promised in 1994. For the present government, the Yamuna Water Agreement represents more than an infrastructure project, it is a statement that decisive leadership, sustained negotiations and political commitment can achieve what remained unfinished for decades.&nbsp;--IANS]]></description>
<link>https://www.theweekendleader.com/Headlines/81224/yamuna-water-to-reach-rajasthans-shekhawati-region-after-threedecade-wait.html</link>
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<title><![CDATA[IUML's First Woman MLA Fathima Thahiliya Sets Sights on Transforming Perambra]]></title>
<pubDate><![CDATA[Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000]]></pubDate>
<description><![CDATA[A month after scripting history as the first woman ever to enter the Kerala Assembly on an Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) ticket, 32-year-old advocate Fathima Thahiliya is already looking beyond the symbolism of her victory. 

Her focus, Thahiliya says, is firmly on transforming her constituency, Perambra, into a model constituency driven by tourism, better healthcare and quality education.

Her election was remarkable on more counts than one.

Wearing the traditional headscarf associated with many Muslim women in Kerala and hailing from a party often perceived as socially conservative, Thahiliya shattered a glass ceiling that had stood for several decades of the IUML's existence.

She also wrested Perambra from the CPI-M, ending the Left party's uninterrupted hold over the constituency since 1980.

"It was not an easy beginning because Perambra was unfamiliar territory for me. I was based in Kozhikode, and naturally there were apprehensions," Thahiliya told IANS.

"But as the campaign gathered momentum, people from every section of society embraced me. Today, after the victory, I only feel the weight of the responsibility they have entrusted to me."

That acceptance, she says, has continued after the election.

"Over the past month, I have received support from all sections of society. There is nothing that is hampering my work," she said.

An advocate practising at the Kozhikode District Court, Thahiliya has prepared what she describes as a development blueprint for the predominantly agrarian constituency.

"My priority areas are tourism, health and education. Perambra has several pristine tourist destinations that remain largely unexplored. If developed responsibly, tourism can generate sustainable income for local communities while preserving the region's natural beauty," she said.

Thahiliya believes healthcare and education require equally urgent attention.

"Both sectors are lagging and need a major overhaul. These are the areas where I will devote all my efforts," she added.

If her election broke a glass ceiling, her performance inside the Assembly has reinforced that breakthrough.

In the legislature, often viewed as a male bastion, Thahiliya has impressed members across party lines with her meticulously prepared and eloquently delivered speeches, winning admiration even from the Opposition.

Born in Kozhikode in 1993, Thahiliya rose through the ranks of the Muslim Students Federation before becoming a founding leader of Haritha, the women's wing of the IUML.

In 2024, she became the first woman to serve on the state committee of the Muslim Youth League, another milestone in a political career built on breaking conventions.

Her 2026 Assembly victory represented an even bigger leap.

The IUML had fielded a woman candidate only once before, and that experiment ended in defeat.

Thahiliya, however, went on to defeat veteran CPI-M leader and former minister T.P. Ramakrishnan by 5,087 votes, signalling that voters were willing to look beyond traditional political and social boundaries. For many in Kerala, her victory is more than an electoral upset.

It marks the arrival of a new generation of leadership within the IUML, one that could reshape both the party's image and the role of women in Muslim politics.&nbsp;--IANS]]></description>
<link>https://www.theweekendleader.com/Headlines/81223/iumls-first-woman-mla-fathima-thahiliya-sets-sights-on-transforming-perambra.html</link>
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