HYDRAA demolishes illegal real estate layouts in Peerzadiguda cemetery
Tension prevailed in Peerzadiguda area on Thursday, as officials from the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), moved in to demolish illegal structures built on government land designated as a minority cemetery in Kancha Parvathapur village.
Following public complaints, officials demolished three illegally constructed shops, foundations for 15 residential plots and two-meter-high compound walls built within the demarcated cemetery premises. The cemetery, situated on government land for over four decades, had been encroached upon during the Covid-19 lockdown period, with plots sold, foundations laid, fences erected, and shops constructed, informed a HYDRAA official.
The illegal activity, complainants said, had not only desecrated graves but also involved manipulation of legal documentation and collusion with former municipal officials. The complainants alleged that Sukhender Reddy, identified as one of the main encroachers, conspired with former Peerzadiguda mayor, Jakka Venkat Reddy and municipal co-opt member Jagdishwar Reddy to carve out the unauthorised layout. They are accused of misrepresenting government land under survey number 1 as part of their private property in survey number 12.
HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath reviewed the complaints using satellite imagery, Google Maps, and official revenue records. A subsequent field visit by HYDRAA and local revenue authorities confirmed the encroachments. Following a thorough inquiry, Commissioner Ranganath ordered the removal of all unauthorised structures.
Officials clarified that the action was not against ordinary citizens but against those who had illegally seized burial land with the aid of former public representatives. One of the plots was reportedly sold to one Rajinikanth Reddy, who went on to build shops and collect over ₹50,000 in monthly rent, despite knowing about the dispute.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Repeal anti-worker amendments, labour unionists tell Punjab govt
Ludhiana: Factory workers and labourers have called for the immediate repeal of recent amendments to labour laws that they allege strip them of their fundamental rights and protections. The unions have urged the Punjab govt to uphold and enforce workers' legal entitlements, expand the labour department, and raise the minimum wage in the state. Lakhwinder Singh, president of Karkhana Mazdoor Union, recently said, "The workers are protesting against amendments made to the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1958, which exclude establishments with fewer than 20 workers from the scope of basic labour protections. They argue that, if enforced, these changes will leave a large section of workers, particularly in shops and small businesses, without legal safeguards related to working hours, minimum wages, attendance records, or workplace safety. " The labour unions are also demanding the reversal of amendments made to the Factories Act during the Covid-19 lockdown by the previous govt, and again in Sept 2023 by the current govt. These amendments allow for extended overtime, up to four hours per day and 144 hours per quarter in commercial establishments, and up to 115 hours per quarter in factories. They fear that these changes legalise exploitative practices and normalise excessive work without addressing workers' core needs, especially decent wages. Another major point of their concern is the introduction of four new labour codes by the Centre. The unions want the Punjab legislative assembly to pass a resolution rejecting the implementation of these codes in the state. They said the new codes dilute long-standing worker protections under the guise of simplification and ease of doing business. The unions are also pressing for an increase in the monthly minimum wage to Rs 26,000, based on an eight-hour workday. They argue that many workers are currently forced to depend on overtime just to make ends meet. "Instead of creating conditions that force labourers into longer hours, the state should ensure a living wage that eliminates this compulsion altogether," said one union representative. In addition to repealing recent amendments, the workers have called for a comprehensive strengthening of the labour department, including hiring more officers and inspectors, expanding the number of labour courts, and improving the inspection framework for industries, shops, and commercial establishments. They emphasised the need for effective enforcement to stop ongoing violations of labour laws. The unions also alleged widespread corruption in the labour department and demanded strict action to eliminate bribery and red tape that has been affecting workers' access to justice.
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- The Hindu
Inward ground, outward bound
A few weeks ago, Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairperson of telecom major Bharti Enterprises and president of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at the time, stepped on stage at a gathering of India's top industrialists and government officials, and spoke his mind. While a lot of what he said was to exhort his fellow corporate leaders — listening with rapt attention in a vast packed hall in Delhi's Taj Palace hotel — to do better, a sizeable portion was aimed at the government and how it could make doing business in India easier. Mittal's comments — at the gathering of India's 130-year-old business association — came at a significant moment. The Department of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Finance had, just a few days earlier, noted that corporate India's increased investments abroad, at a time when it was turning cautious about investing within India, was something that 'warrants attention'. 'Industry will do everything possible to generate more employment, spend more on research and development, create import substitution, and expand its export basket. But we need your (the government's) help. We need enabling policies, especially in the area of ease of doing business,' Mittal emphasised. This kind of help from the government, he added, could be in corporate affairs, the easing of processes surrounding the listing of companies, and floating bonds in the international market. He also drew attention to costly and time-consuming litigation. 'There are lakhs and lakhs of crores stuck in litigation in direct taxes, indirect taxes, and other regulatory matters,' Mittal lamented, adding that the government should come up with a scheme like 'Vivad se Vishwas', which provides dispute resolution with respect to pending income tax litigation, for corporates as well. The scheme by the Ministry of Finance is currently aimed at individual taxpayers. It allows them to pay a certain portion of the tax amount that is currently in litigation and have the rest of the dues waived. 'The government will get very large amounts of money released by such a scheme (for corporates),' Mittal asserted. 'More money in the hands of the government today will give the necessary desired fillip to infrastructure and the various social programmes that are vitally needed and, importantly, release the industry from its past litigations and problems and allow it to reset and look into the future,' he said. It is this future of corporate investments in India that has come into question recently. The latest data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) show that outward investment by Indian companies has risen sharply over the last decade or so — from $4 billion in 2014-15 to more than triple that amount ($13 billion) just before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Although this outward direct investment (ODI) dipped in the pandemic-affected year, 2020-21, it surged again thereafter, reaching $29 billion by 2024-25. To put this in context, while Indian investments abroad jumped by nearly 625% since 2014-15, foreign investments coming into the country grew by 79% since then. This trend continues in 2025-26, with data for April showing outward investment surging to $6.8 billion, exceeding the entire year's investment in 2014-15, and marking a significant increase from $3.5 billion in April last year. Big pull factors So, is this a push factor: where conditions in India are pushing companies to invest elsewhere? Or a pull factor: where opportunities abroad are so enticing that Indian companies can't help but take advantage of them? The answer depends on whom you pose the question to. Opportunities abroad, the need to acquire resources, and gaining access to technology and know-how are motivations for Indian companies. 'In recent times, we have had a lot of economic diplomacy,' says Delhi-based Ranjeet Mehta, CEO and secretary general of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 'India is an emerging economic power. Today, it is the fourth-largest economy in the world and our companies are also growing bigger. In this process, Indian companies are globalising for market diversification.' The second reason for Indian companies to invest abroad, he explains, is resource acquisition. This is something that has now acquired a certain urgency, with China in April banning the export of critical minerals and rare earths as part of its trade tiff with the U.S. Resources are important for technology-related products, including electronics and batteries. 'There was a time when China was growing strongly and it acquired critical minerals in various parts of the world. Today, it is reaping the benefits,' Mehta says. 'If we do not have companies that are truly global, how can India hope to be a global power or, for that matter, truly 'Viksit (Developed)'?' He says only companies that have grown to a certain size and scale within India are thinking of acquiring foreign assets and expanding further. RBI data confirm this. For example, in 2024-25, Tata Steel invested $3 billion in its financial services subsidiary in Singapore, accounting for about 10% of all the outward corporate investment from India that year. Vedanta Limited, another multi-billion dollar company, with mines across India, was the second-largest outward investor, pumping $1.7 billion into its financial services subsidiary in Mauritius and manufacturing subsidiary in Saudi Arabia. In fact, Mauritius has seen the fourth-largest ODI from India (8%) from April 2023 to May 2025, as per the Department of Economic Affairs data. Singapore was the top destination (24%), followed by the U.S. (14%), and the UAE (9%). Other companies investing abroad include automotive components manufacturer Samvardhana Motherson International, earlier called Motherson Sumi; petroleum refining Bharat Petroresources, a subsidiary of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited; the biopharmaceutical Biocon Biologics; and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries — all multi-billion dollar corporations. Sector-specific gains There are also sector-specific factors that encourage Indian companies to look abroad. 'In the auto components sector, many companies have invested abroad,' Vinod Sharma, Noida-based chairperson of CII's National Committee on Electronics Manufacturing, explains. 'The industry works in that manner. If Volvo, for example, sets up a plant in a particular country, then the auto ancillary sector will move there too. If you see an opportunity, you go there.' RBI data show that transport, storage, and communication services together accounted for $2.3 billion of all ODI in 2024-25, placing it in the top five sectors in which Indian companies invested abroad. The top spot went to financial services, which accounted for $16.5 billion of ODI. Manufacturing — which includes auto ancillaries — took the second spot with $10.1 billion of ODI. Sharma adds yet another pull factor to the mix: that of Indian companies being wooed to take over ailing foreign ones. 'Some foreign companies may have gone bankrupt or not done very well. This is where an opportunity arises for Indian companies to make their move,' he explains. 'That country's government says this land and building are available, and invites other companies to come and invest. This is a case where a foreign investment becomes opportunistic as you are getting these assets at a cheaper price.' According to both Sharma and Mehta, the pull factors from abroad were the more important drivers of outward investment by Indian companies than the push factors from within India. 'I don't think that they are seeing that opportunities in India are limited and that's why they have to go abroad,' Sharma points out. 'Of course, there are places that are easier to do business in than India, but the Indian companies that are investing abroad have been operating here for a long time and are used to the system here.' The government, too, is of the opinion that greater foreign investment by Indian companies is an indicator of their increasingly global ambitions. 'The greater outward direct investment over the past few years demonstrates that Indian industry also realises that they have to grow and that if they need to scale up, they need to acquire technology, resources, and gain greater market access in other countries,' Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, said while speaking at a business summit a few weeks ago. 'The greater ODI flows are an indicator of what is happening on account of that,' he said. Pushed to invest Not everybody is as sanguine about the situation in India. In a plush office in a high-rise corporate building in Noida, a senior executive of a multinational corporation laments that manufacturing in India is difficult and 'needlessly costly'. 'Look, it's not easy doing business here,' he says. 'Yes, things are getting better, but progress is slow. It is very difficult to scale up factories here, since buying land is very difficult. If you can't scale up, then you have to face higher costs,' he adds, not wishing to be named. He also points out that India's labour laws are 'extremely restrictive', which makes it more economical for companies to open several small factories in different States rather than a single large one. He agrees with Mittal about long litigation dampening business enthusiasm. 'Then there's tax-related harassment,' he says, with his voice dropping inadvertently to a slightly hushed tone. 'There's almost no company in India that is safe. You never know when a tax demand will come, and then you have to spend lakhs and sometimes crores fighting the case for years. Companies that have no choice will of course continue to do business here. But for those that can expand abroad, why would they not?' Separately, Anil Trigunayat, president of the Millennial India International Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture, which works as a bridge between industry and the government, adds that investment goes where there is security and scope of good returns. 'While India has done extremely well in undertaking significant economic and legal reforms and its rankings in the Ease of Doing Business Index has improved greatly, archaic laws, retrospective implementation in some cases, taxation issues, land and labour laws, and bureaucratic hurdles are often cited as wrinkles in an otherwise promising landscape,' he explains. Trigunayat wants to see India in the top 10 in the Doing Business rankings, brought out by the World Bank since 2003. He hopes for economic reforms and robust arbitration mechanisms. Edited by Sunalini Mathew
The Hindu
12 hours ago
- The Hindu
How PM Modi celebrated International Yoga Day since 2015
Yoga has become a cultural link that unites individuals from different continents, with the yearly celebrations of International Yoga Day evolving into a worldwide phenomenon. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word 'yuj' and means to 'join' or to 'yoke'. It is a pathway to positive changes in body and mind. After coming to power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations General Assembly. Recognising its universal appeal, on December 11, 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131. This year marks the 11th International Day of Yoga, and PM Modi led the celebrations from Visakhapatnam. Here's a look at how Mr. Modi celebrated International Day of Yoga from 2015 to 2025: 2015: Rajpath (Kartavya Path) A massive yoga demonstration was held at Rajpath with Mr. Modi calling it 'Yogpath'. Barring the 'vrikshasana', he followed the entire Common Yoga Protocol that had been put together for the record attempting event on Rajpath to mark the worldwide celebration of the first International Yoga Day. 'Yoga for Harmony and Peace' was the slogan for the first International Day of Yoga. 2016: Chandigarh Leading the second International Day of Yoga in Chandigarh, Mr. Modi pitched the ancient Indian discipline as a viable solution for countries with low health budgets. Over 30,000 people took part in a 45-minute yoga session at the Capitol Complex. 2017: Lucknow Massive yoga practice sessions and demonstrations took place across the country and the world on the third yoga day with Mr. Modi leading from Lucknow. Addressing a huge gathering at the Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, Mr. Modi said, 'The traditional practice has now become part of every person's life.' 2018: Dehradun Mr. Modi performed yoga with over 50,000 enthusiasts at the Forest Research Institute (FRI) campus in Dehradun and said the ancient Indian discipline has emerged as a 'powerful unifying' force in a strife-torn world. 'Dehradun to Dublin, Shanghai to Chicago, Jakarta to Johannesburg, Himalayan highlands or sunburnt deserts, yoga is enriching millions of lives all over the world,' he said. 2019: Ranchi India celebrated the fifth International Yoga Day on June 21, 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with other Ministers and key BJP leaders , led yoga demonstration which was attended by thousands of citizens at Prabhat Tara ground in Ranchi, Jharkhand. 2020: At home celebrations amid COVID-19 In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, International Yoga Day 202 was celebrated on digital media platforms, and there were no mass gatherings. The theme was 'Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family'. In his nearly 15-minute address, Mr. Modi said that due to the pandemic, the world was feeling the need for yoga more than ever. 'If our immunity is strong, it is of great help in defeating this disease. For boosting immunity, there are several methods in yoga, various 'asanas' are there. These 'asanas' are such that they increase the strength of the body and strengthen our metabolism,' he said. 2021: Yoga a 'ray of hope' amid COVID-19 Mr. Modi termed yoga a 'ray of hope' and a source of strength in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in 2021. He also spoke of the M-Yoga application, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). The app has videos of yoga training based on a Common Yoga Protocol and is available in different languages. 2022: Mysuru Yoga brings peace to our universe, Mr. Modi said, as he led the main event of the International Day of Yoga in the backdrop of the iconic Mysuru Palace. Thousands of people joined the Prime Minister in the mass Yoga demonstration. 'This whole universe starts from our own body and soul. The universe starts from us,' he said. 2023: U.N. Headquarters Mr. Modi-led Yoga celebration at the U.N. headquarters in New York created a Guinness World Record for the participation of people of most nationalities. The historic event was attended by top U.N. officials, diplomats and prominent personalities. 2024: Srinagar Addressing the 10th International Day of Yoga event in Srinagar's Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), with the Dal Lake in its backdrop, the PM said those who practice yoga could use any incantations 'whether it's Allah, Ishwar or Waheguru'. Mr. Modi also said that 100 institutes in India and 10 major foreign institutes have been recognised by the Yoga Certification Board instituted by the Ministry of AYUSH. 2025: Visakhapatnam The Prime Minister led the 11th International Day of Yoga celebrations and participated in a Yoga session at an event in Visakhapatnam, in Andhra Pradesh. Speaking about this year's International Day of Yoga theme, 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health', the Prime Minister said it conveys a fundamental truth: the well-being of all life on Earth is interconnected. International Yoga Day 2025 — In pictures 1 / 21 He made an appeal to the global community, proposing that 'this Yoga Day marks the beginning of Yoga for Humanity 2.0, where inner peace becomes global policy.'
