Pioneer in short
BJD committed to Odisha: Naveen
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Friday said the party is committed to fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Odisha and claimed that the regional outfit will continue to serve them for the next 100 years. Patnaik said this while addressing party leaders and workers on the occasion of the BJD’s 29th Foundation Day. The party was formed on December 26, 1997, and named after Biju Patnaik, former Odisha CM and father of Naveen Patnaik. Referring to the statements of certain BJP leaders and rumours about the future of the party, Patnaik, without naming anyone, said, “Now some people, some parties are spreading misinformation about us that the Biju Janata Dal will break. “Such rumours are going on. I want to make it clear that Biju Janata Dal is not about one or two leaders — it is a people’s movement, deeply rooted in Odia aspirations and pride. BJD is there and will be the voice of the Odisha people for the next hundred years.” At least two BJD Rajya Sabha MPs — Mamata Mahanta and Sujeet Kumar — have quit the regional outfit after the 2024 polls and joined the BJP.
We must strive for socialist India: D Raja
CPI General Secretary D Raja on Friday called for Left unity, as he stressed creating a “socialist India” and saving the country from “fascist” forces. Addressing an event at Ajoy Bhawan, the headquarters of the Communist Party of India (CPI), to mark the 101st foundation day of the party, Raja said big challenges lie ahead and stressed the need to intensify the struggle to “save the nation”. “One must understand the challenges we are facing today very seriously. In the last 100 years, the party faced many setbacks. Many groups emerged, and the Communist movement stands split today,” he said. “How long this can continue? The Left movement stands divided... During the British time, we were fighting and putting in efforts together. In the present political situation, how long can the Communists remain like that,” Raja asked.
Fertile failures in fertile farms
Every now and then, even the smartest of political rivals of Prime Minister Narendra Modi seem to miss the irony behind some of the grand official intentions and announcements. Recently, Modi toured West Bengal and Assam to woo voters for the forthcoming assembly elections. In Assam, he talked about a new, upcoming million-tonne fertiliser plant in Dibrugarh district. He flaunted the project as one of the major achievements of his three regimes, and among the Make-in-India success stories. Strangely, his rivals failed to point out a simple fact that at least when it comes to the successes of agriculture production, and the Make-in-India scheme, fertilisers are a loose end. Modi, BJP, or NDA cannot take credit.
