News18 India Chaupal: To become prime minister is not my aim, says Nitin Gadkari

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Nepotism in politics is wrong in my opinion, says Nitin Gadkari.

The politics of handouts is not good for the country's economy, says Nitin Gadkari.  I have even broken down my own relative's property for national interest, Nitin Gadkari said.

Politicians who can't win elections based on their work talk about religion says Nitin Gadkari. I don't think there is discrimination against Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, added Nitin Gadkari.

The government’s objective is not to divide the country but to address issues like poverty, development and housing, says Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

I was a bit disappointed that I lost some of my lead in terms of votes in the Lok Sabha elections, says BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.

Will make up for lost seats in the Lok Sabha in the upcoming elections in Maharashtra, says Nitin Gadkari. "I am hopeful BJP will win upcoming state elections in Maharashtra," Nitin Gadkari added.

Toll collection is not a punishment, customers need to realize for good quality service they have to pay a fee, says Nitin Gadkari. Government is not collecting tolls from two-lane roads, the minister said.

Nitin Gadkari while speaking at the News18 India Chaupal event said,"Our government in this third term will work towards making India the 3rd largest economy in the world, will break the record for total highway construction in FY25"

To become the prime minister is not my aim, says BJP leader Nitin Gadkari

Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said on the stage that there is no factionalism in Congress, all are Congress candidates.

Why did BJP change its chief ministerial candidate months ahead of polls? asks  Bhupinder Singh Hooda. "I supported the wrestlers because they were wronged.

Kangana Ranaut said that Rahul Gandhi's words have no basis.

“What a shame…we are accountable to our conscience….we need to get into correction mode.” “We cannot allow people day in and day out to overlook national interest. We need to secure gender justice,” Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar said

“There will be more women in Parliament and will participate in the process of policy-making, decision making and governance.” “Democracy is made for those who are vulnerable, challenged and those who need hand holding. There was a time when men and women were equal, they were on the same pedestal…somewhere we lost the way but we are finding that way to regain the past glory”

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar spoke on the RG Kar rape and murder case and stated, “What a shame…we are accountable to our conscience….we need to get into correction mode.”

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar said,"Gender discrimination has vanished in its previous forms, but it has recurred in newer forms. Subtle forms of discrimination is far more dangerous than overt forms."

Democracy must ensure that the most vulnerable sections of our society can benefit from this political structure, says Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar

VP Jagdeep Dhankar while addressing  the She Shakti event said that women's empowerment should approached in a holistic way. VP Dhankar also said that the participation of women in parliament will go a long way to enrich our public discourse

“The 4G stack is ready, and all four core networks are functional. By mid-next year, BSNL will deploy 1 lakh 4G towers to offer new quality service to its subscribers,” he said.

SheShakti 2024 LIVE Updates: “I tried archery very briefly and then went to shooting. I did not enjoy it first. My coach encouraged me, them my father brought the autobiography of Abhinav Bindra. It really inspired me,” said Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara.

Jyotiraditya Scindia said in News18 India Chaupal event," Our telecom tariffs are lowest in the whole world. There is an important role that BSNL plays in India"

There needs to be three players in telecom. There are less players in other markets.

By mid-next year BSNL will install 1 lakh 4G towers for subscribers. 98% of India is covered with 5G. 1 GB data used to be Rs 285 in 2014. it is now Rs 9.85. There is 90% reduction.

Chief Justice Of India DY Chandrachud said, “Talking about women’s rights is not a women’s thing. Some of the great life lesson, I have learnt from my female colleagues.” “I believe equal participation of women is important for a better society. Before we adopted the Constitution of India, the Indian Women’s Charter of Life was drafted by Hansa Mehta, who was feminist,” he added.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman said that a new tax regime was brought in to simplify compliance, thus exemptions were removed. More than 78% people moved from the old to the new tax regime. We are looking at various ways to benefit the middle class.

The GoM is working on rate rationalisation, and simplifying the rates by putting essential goods under one tax rate.

Important to take care of small retailers, and traders. Because of predatory pricing, their interest needs to be preseved.

Commerce Ministry is looking into it.

Since 2019 an attempt is to simplify direct taxation. After much discussion new direct tax regime brought in with lower rates. No direct tax rate has been increased in Budget. In fact standard deduction was increased keeping middle class in mind.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman said that every state, Centre will have to understand what their budgets are capable of. They announce schemes, and freebies and then struggle to implement as they do not have resources. Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh are examples of it.

Central party takes a call on alliance. It will be done for Tamil Nadu also, says FM.  On the temples in Tamil Nadu  Nirmala Sitharaman said that wherever temples are with the govt, it should be managed by devotees and not be under govt control.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman said that it is important to take care of small traders and retailers. Not because they are BJP sympathisers. This country needs support for small traders. If because of predatory pricing their business is getting affected, we will need to step in.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman said on taxation," Since 2019, the attempt has been to simply direct taxation. Attempt has been to make the process simpler, which is why a new regime was brought in and rates kept low." We gave the option to assessees that if they want exemptions, they could continue with the old scheme. The new scheme was without any exemptions. Later we added standard deductions after hearing the people. In the July budget, we again had more discussions and brought more rates down for the middle class. Standard deduction was also increased. So if anything, keeping the middle class in mind, PM had said rates be brought down. We have kept the middle class in mind. I understand there are those who feel the rates being brought down for the new scheme should be applied for the old scheme. But our intention with the new scheme was to simplify. More than 70% of people have moved to the new regime, although we have not compelled anyone. Tax slabs in the new regime will apply to everyone who opts for the scheme regardless of their incomes, and those drawing salaries also benefit from it. We are carefully looking at each option before applying it.

Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sebi chair" I think a few of the allegations are being answered by the Buchs. Putting out facts to contradict allegations by Congress, I think the facts are to be taken on board."

We will have to encourage markets to be robust. But when speculative activties are too much, there needs to be a sense of caution. We need to make sure people don't go to high risk ventures with their life savings.

"Because of elections, the capex could not happen much in Q1; as a result impact of capex was muted in Q1. Expenditure will pick up and trigger the GDP growth in coming quarters," says FM Nirmala Sitharaman

During interim Budget, we said that 4 classes of people are in focus including women, youth, farmer. We will give development a priority rather than castes

FM Nirmala Sitharaman said," Any party aspiring to power should understand what that state/centre be able to take up. Will it be able to fund the schemes being announced. What I find is that freebies are given for temptation. And then states struggle to meet the bills. Classic examples are Karnataka and Himachal. Look at their conditions now. State govts are not able to pay current salaries. In Karnataka, an unbelievable number of promises were made. Now they are themselves saying they can't meet their responsibilities."

Easy to cherrypick numbers and make claims. Did not incur big expenditure in Q1 due to elections etc. Expenditure will pick up in Q2 and Q3, and boost the 'slowing down' being alleged.

'We have put up a good alternative for the OPS/NPS debate. Employees unions have welcomed this,' says Sitharaman

'Bold reforms will continue. No need for any apprehension. Like we had done systemic reforms and welfare schemes for the people, we will continue to do so,' says Nirmala Sitharaman

Consultation is over on ONOP. The public agrees that we are spending too much on various elections. Also development activities are held up due to model code. These are avoidable expenses

Talking to Rahul Joshi, Group Editor-in-chief, Network18, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hit back at the charges of 'rollback government.' Sitharaman, who is speaking at the News 18 Chaupal event, questioned those who are 'pushing the u-turn narrative.'

FM Nirmala Sitharaman said,"In Budget we brought schemes to train 1 crore people to help towards employment. After Budget we meet the industry across India." "Corrections are made after suggestions from people. The asset classes were targeted for same treatment in Budget. It's not a U turn but accomodating indexation benefit in real estate after receiving suggestions from people."

'There should be no apprehension about implementation of bold reforms,' says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. All reforms are on track as per plan says FM

"Complete lack of implementation of POSH is resulting in cases against women across sectors," says Justice (retd) Indu Malhotra.

"Ministry of women empowerment should take a more proactive role," says Justice Malhotra

"Internal mechanisms do not work, there has to be an external member in the committee to ensure fairness," says Justice Malhotra

Justice Indu Malhotra, Retd judge Supreme Court at News18 Sheskakti: There are enough laws and policy guidelines on women safety that have been framed. But the system has broken down in terms of implementation. In RG Kar case, infrastructural inadequacies have come to light in govt hospital which gets govt funds. NOT even a fraction of Nirbhaya fund was spent on improving safety of women, which is a disappointment.

"Not even a fraction of Nirbhaya fund was spent on improving safety of women, which is a disappointment," says Justice Indu Malhotra.

"There are enough laws and policy guidelines on women safety that have been framed," says Justice Indu Malhotra, Supreme Court's retired judge. She further added that "But the system has broken down in terms of implementation." On RG Kar Case, Malhotra said, "infrastructural inadequacies have come to light in govt hospital which gets govt funds."

Without PM Modi, I would not have existed, said Chirag Paswan at News18 India Chaupal. He also said that he will never end ties with PM Modi. On his role as the politician, he said that he has both political and personal responsibilities.

On the monsoon offer remark that Akhilesh Yadav had made over purported rift between CM Yogi and Keshav Prasad Maurya, the SP president said that the monsoon is gone and there is no offer anymore. However, he added that there is a 'taqrar' in Lucknow.

On bulldozer policy of Yogi government, Akhielsh Yadav said that bulldozer can't be a symbol of justice. On reservation remark by Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav said that only the first line of that statement was not correct, rest all the remark was fine.

Akhilesh Yadav cited the NCRB data and said that Uttar Pradesh has witnessed several 'fake encounters.' He also said that had there been no irregularity, SP would have won 50 seats in the General Elections.

On encounter of Mangesh Yadav, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed the Yogi Adityanath government saying that in Uttar Pradesh, STF stands for 'Special Thakur Force.'

Former Indian Ambassador to the UN Ruchira Kamboj said at News18 SheShakti," My mantra has always been to move on and to concentrate on my work. It was my greatest honour to serve the Government of India with distinction."

It was failure of the BJP that they lost the seat of Ayodhya in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. After the loss, the railway alignment has been changed in Ayodhya, claims Akhilesh Yadav. On asked when he will visit Ayodhya, Yadav said that when the construction of temple will be completed, he will visit the area.

BJP government will be formed once again in Haryana, says BJP leader  Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

When questioned about why Arvind Kejriwal didn't resign at the time of arrest, Atishi said that unlike Manish Sisodia, Kejriwal is a CM and his resignation would have meant resignation of the entire Delhi government. She claimed that if Kejriwal had resigned, the Centre would have come after other leaders. 'Mamata Banerjee would have been arrested,' claimed the Delhi education minister. She also said that the decision of Kejriwal not resigning as CM was to save the democracy in the country.

Delhi Education Minister Atishi speaks extensively on arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kjeriwal and his subsequent release from Tihar Jail. Talking about last two years, Atishi said that this was a very tough period for the Aam Aadmi Party

On Rahul Gandhi, Mansukh Mandaviya said that every leader should remain in a behaviorial correctness. He said that the way Gandhi spoke in the US, it's an 'irresponsible behaviour.'

On the June 4 mandate, Mandaviya said that no speed breaker can prove to be a hindrance for those who are focused on work. When asked about reduced numbers and alliance politics, Mandaviya said that "we are not arrogant."

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the Modi government is here to implement the schemes in a timely manner. He said that the Centre is working with a vision. On working with PM Modi, Mandaviya said that the Prime Minister is a 'visionary.' He said that PM had envisioned the social media boom decades back. He said that PM Modi has led to the change in work culture.

'Rules are to make our lives, not to keep us inside a box. Eradicate what restricts you. Society made an image of a woman as someone who's "selfless". But no! Tell your kids that it's normal to be vocal,' said motivational speaker Jaya Kishori

Action shifts to the electric session of Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. What's his take on India's performance and Olympics and beyond? Stay tuned to find out.

Radhikaraje Gaekwad, Maharani of the erstwhile Princely State of Baroda, shared her views on overcoming societal pressures and embracing one’s passions during a discussion at News18's SheShakti.

"It’s important to be fearless. When I was 20, I was concerned about societal expectations. Self-belief and passion for what we love are crucial. We should focus on our own interests and not be swayed by societal opinions," Gaekwad said.

Bansuri Swaraj further added, "18th Lok Sabha is the last Lok Sabha to have this level of women representation. 19th Lok Sabha is going to see 33% women reservation".

Speaking at the SheShakti event, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, said, “Law will always remain my profession……My parents insulated me from politics. If not politics, I would have worked in the education sector”.

President Murmu also added, "The time has come for us to awaken a public consciousness where respect for women is increased, and no woman feels unsafe at any time, in any place. It has become essential for all of us to come together and pledge to protect the honor and dignity of the women in our

country and ensure their progress".

The President, speaking at the event, further noted, "Although many changes have occurred, some social prejudices still remain deeply rooted, creating barriers to women's equality. As a society, we all need to look within ourselves and ask some hard questions. Where have we gone wrong? What can we do to improve? The safety and dignity of women are crucial for the development and success of any nation".

President Droupadi Murmu, today, addressing the Network18 SheShakti inaugural event, said, Women are considered the embodiment of power in our country....Women are, in fact, the true manifestation of power. The real strength of our nation lies in the empowerment of women. Our women have always demonstrated resilience, strength, and courage, moving forward despite all obstacles".