NEW DELHI, June 25:
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday observed brief silence as a mark of tribute to the victims of the Emergency and resolved to commemorate and honour their sacrifices.
At a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet observed a two-minute silence as a tribute to those whose constitutionally guaranteed democratic rights were taken away and who were then subjected to unimaginable horrors.
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The Union Cabinet resolved to commemorate and honour the sacrifices of countless individuals who valiantly resisted the Emergency and its attempt at subversion of the spirit of the Indian Constitution which began in 1974 with a heavy-handed attempt at crushing the Navnirman Andolan and Sampoorna Kranti Abhiyan, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
“The Union Cabinet paid tribute to their exemplary courage and valiant resistance to the Emergency’s excesses,” Vaishnaw said.
He said the year 2025 marks 50 years of the Samvidhan Hatya Diwas – an unforgettable chapter in the history of India where the Constitution was subverted, the Republic and democratic spirit of India was attacked, federalism was undermined, and fundamental rights, human liberty and dignity were suspended.
“The Union Cabinet reaffirmed that the people of India continue to repose unflinching faith in the Indian Constitution and the resilience of the country’s democratic ethos,” Vaishnaw said.
“It is as important for the young as it is for the old to draw inspiration from those who resisted dictatorial tendencies and stood firm to defend our Constitution and its democratic fabric,” the Minister said.
Vaishnaw said India, as the Mother of Democracy, stands as an example of preserving, protecting and safeguarding constitutional values. “Let us, as a nation, renew our resolve to uphold our Constitution and its democratic and federal spirit,” Vaishnaw said.
The Union Government also approved a proposal to set up the South Asia Regional Research Centre of the International Potato Centre (CIP) in Agra entailing financial support of Rs 111.5 crore.
The major objective of this investment is to increase food and nutrition security, farmers’ income, and job creation by improving potato and sweet potato productivity, post-harvest management and value-addition, an official release said.
The potato segment has the potential to generate significant employment opportunities in production, processing, packaging, transportation, marketing, and value chain.
In order to explore the huge potential in this sector, the International Potato Centre (CIP)’s South Asia regional Centre is being established at Singna, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, the release said.
The Government also approved the Rs 5,940-crore revised master plan to deal with Jharia coalfield fire in Jharkhand and rehabilitation of affected families.
The decision on the same was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs… has approved the Revised Jharia Master Plan (JMP) for addressing issues related to fire, land subsidence, and the rehabilitation of affected families in the Jharia Coalfield,” an official statement said.
The total financial outlay for the implementation of the revised plan is Rs 5,940.47 crore, it said.
The phase-wise approach will ensure that handling of fire and subsidence and rehabilitation of the affected families will be done on priority basis from the most vulnerable sites.
The revised plan stresses on sustainable livelihood generation for families being resettled under the plan. Targeted skill development programmes will be undertaken and income-generating opportunities will be created for the economic self-reliance of the rehabilitated families. (PTI)
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