‘Over 1 lakh depositors got their money back that was stuck for years’

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that more than one lakh depositors have got their money back that was stuck for years as several banks struggled to stay afloat or sank, thanks to the new law that guarantees timely refunds.

As much as Rs 1,300 crores has been refunded to such depositors in the last few days, he said.

In a major relief to depositors, especially small ones, the government has raised the bank deposit insurance cover to Rs 5 lakhs from Rs 1 lakh earlier. It has also been provided that the depositors will get their money back within 90 days if a bank is restrained by the RBI.

Deposit insurance covers all deposits such as savings, fixed, current, recurring deposits, etc. in all commercial banks, functioning in India. Deposits in State, Central and Primary cooperative banks, functioning in States/Union Territories are also covered.

“Understanding the concern of the poor, understanding the concern of the middle class, we increased guaranteed amount to Rs 5 lakh,” said Prime Minister at a function on “Depositors First: Guaranteed Time-bound Deposit Insurance Payment up to Rs 5 Lakh” here today.

He noted that banks play a major role in the prosperity of the country and for the prosperity of the banks, it is equally important for the depositors’ money to be safe.

“If we want to save the bank, then depositors have to be protected,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister also handed over cheques to some of the depositors.

The Prime Minister said any country can stop the problems from getting worse only by timely resolution of them. However, he said, for years there was a tendency to avoid problems.

“Today’s new India strives for solving problems, today India does not avoid problems,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that over the years, by merging many small public sector banks with large banks, their capacity, capability and transparency have been strengthened in every way. When RBI monitors co-operative banks, it increases the confidence of the common depositor in them, he said.

Modi said that banking had not reached women of the country in any significant way earlier while his government accorded priority to it.

“Of the crores of bank accounts opened under Jan Dhan Yojana, more than half belong to women. The effect these bank accounts have on the economic empowerment of women, we have also seen in the recent National Family Health Survey”, he said. (UNI)

Interacts with Amarnath Shrine Yatra Langar, Bhandara Associations

New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, Sunday said that the Jammu and Kashmir government is committed to providing world class facilities for the pilgrims.

Sinha interacted with the members of various associations of Langars and Bhandaras, which serves the pilgrims during the annual Shri Amarnath Shrine Yatra.

As many as 20 members representing Shri Amarnath Burfani Langars Organization (SABLO) and Shri Amarnath Yatra Bhandara Organization (SAYBO) met the Lt Governor and discussed various aspects of the smooth conduct of the Yatra.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor, Nitishwar Kumar; Additional CEO SASB, Rahul Singh and Dy CEO Vikas Anand.

Speaking on the occasion, the Lt Governor observed that the UT Government is committed to providing world class facilities for the pilgrims, besides facilitating Langars and Bhandaras during the yatra to the Holy Cave.

“The holy Yatra is a symbol of compassion, spirituality, service, and peace. Continuous efforts are being made to make the yatra more comfortable, modern, and safe for the pilgrims”, he added.

The Lt Governor further informed the representatives of the associations about the substantial upgradation of facilities and infrastructure development for the Yatris achieved in the past two years.

He observed that three Yatri Niwas are being created to provide better boarding and lodging facilities to pilgrims on way to the Holy cave. These include Chandarkote Yatri Niwas coming up at District Ramban, which would provide accommodation to around 3200 yatris, besides Jammu Yatri Niwas and Srinagar Yatri Niwas with capacity of accommodation of 3000 and 2250 yatris, respectively.

The representatives of the Langar Associations appreciated the efforts of UT government and confirmed their active participation in the Yatra arrangements. They also offered their help through donations in terms of monetary as well as material resources required for the infrastructure. The associations also made certain suggestions for further improvement in infrastructure and facilities for pilgrims.

Earlier, Additional CEO, SASB, Rahul Singh briefed the gathering on the existing facilities and infrastructure of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that India has won direct wars with Pakistan and will also win indirect one as well.

Singh was speaking after inaugurating ‘Swarnim Vijay Parv’ celebration at India Gate on 50 years of India’s 1971 war.

Singh said, “After the defeat in 1971, Pakistan is continuously fighting a proxy war. Pakistan wants to disrupt peace in India by promoting terrorism and other anti-India activities. The Indian forces foiled their plans in 1971 and work to eliminate terrorism from its root is underway. We have won in a direct war and the victory will be ours in an indirect war as well,” he added.

Talking about strong anti-India sentiment of Pakistan, Singh said, “The anti-India feeling in Pakistan can be seen from the fact that they name their missiles after invaders who attacked India – Ghori, Ghaznavi, Abdali, whereas India’s missiles are named Akash, Prithvi, Agni. Now one of our missiles has also been named Sant”.

Singh congratulated Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) for the successful flight test of indigenously designed and developed helicopter-launcher Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) Missile on December 11.

The Defence Minister termed the 1971 war as among the most decisive after two World Wars. “This war tells us that the partition of India on the basis of religion was a historic mistake. Pakistan was born in the name of one religion but it could not remain one,” he added.

Singh mentioned that the 1971 war is a classic example of India’s morality and democratic traditions. “It will be rarely seen in history that after defeating another country in a war, a country does not impose its dominance, but hands over power to its political representative. India did this, because it is a part of our culture. India has never invaded any country, nor has it ever captured an inch of land of any other country,” he said.

The Defence Minister recalled India’s contribution in the establishment of democracy in Bangladesh and appreciated the fact that it has progressed rapidly on the path of development in the last 50 years, which is an inspiration for the world.

Singh said that the atrocities on the people of then East Pakistan were a threat to the entire humanity and it was India’s responsibility to liberate them of that injustice and exploitation.

He paid rich tributes to the brave Indian soldiers, sailors and air warriors and their families who ensured the victory in the 1971 war, and said that the country will always be indebted to their sacrifice.

Remembering general Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, Singh said that in the untimely death of General Rawat, India has lost a brave soldier, an able advisor and a lively person.

The event will also mark the culmination of the year-long journey of the Victory Flame, the Swarnim Vijay Mashal which, having traversed the length and breadth of the country and collected soil samples from the villages of the gallant soldiers of the war, will converge in New Delhi on December 16, 2021 in a grand ceremony. (IANS)

Srinagar: A newly recruited Jaish-e-Mohammad militant was killed in an encounter with joint team of police and army on Sunday, officials said.

“Based on a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of a (militant) in village Bargam area of Awantipora, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 42RR and 130Bn CRPF in the said area,” a police spokesperson said.

During the search operation, he said, as the presence of the (militant) was ascertained, he was given ample opportunities to surrender. However, he denied the surrender opportunities and fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter, the spokesman said.

“In the ensuing encounter, the trapped (militant) was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter,” he said.  The militant has been identified as Sameer Ahmad Tantray son of Ghulam Mohammad Tantray resident of Bargam Awantipora.

“As per police records, the killed (militant) was a categorized terrorist linked with JeM and was part of groups involved in several cases,” he said, adding, “Before joining (militant) folds he was working as a (militant) associate and involved in providing logistic support to the active (militants) in the area.” As per a police officer, Sameer had joined JeM outfit on 2nd November of this year and was under C- category,

The spokesperson was also involved in pasting threatening posters of the outfits in Awantipora and adjoining areas to threaten the law abiding citizens and keep them away from democratic activities, he said.

“Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition were recovered from his possession. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.”

Deny house detention of Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar: Police on Sunday said that it was not ‘advisble’ to hold any public gathering in high security Gupkar area here amid inputs about “vehicle bound IEDs being used to target civilians and security establishments” even as it denied placing PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti under house arrest.

“It was learnt that PDP was scheduled to hold a Youth Convention at Fairview, a government bungalow which is also the residence of Ms Mehbooba Mufti, on Gupkar Road,” a police spokesperson said in a statement.

“Gathering of at least 1000 people was expected. Given the prevalent Covid situation and larger security implications resulting from allowing such a large number of people and accompanying cars and vehicles into a high security zone, it was not advisable to allow such a large flow of people and unchecked vehicles.”

He said there are “credible inputs of vehicle bound IEDs being used to target civilians and high security installations.”

“The Gupkar Road houses high security buildings of various organisations and security sensitive establishments and intelligence agencies.” He said allowing large number of vehicles to be parked in this high security zone would have jeopardised the security in the area. “It is pertinent to mention that no such gatherings and amassing of vehicles were allowed on the road earlier too.”

Moreover, he said, no official residence has been known to have hosted large political rallies on Gupkar Road in the recent past.

“Legal Orders for necessary restrictions on the convention were passed by the Executive Magistrate, South Srinagar keeping in mind the COVID protocol and security sensitiveness of Gupkar zone,” he said, adding, “It is completely incorrect that Ms Mufti is under house arrest.”

However, he said, local administration had advised PDP to apply for holding this convention in a more open area in view of Covid-19 and security reasons. (GNS)