Assam Clears Illegal Forest Encroachments
Assam’s Water Resources Minister, Pijush Hazarika, announced that the state government is evicting people living illegally in forests. He stated that an area as large as Chandigarh has already been cleared and the efforts will continue until all encroachments are removed.
Opposition Boycotts NITI Aayog Meeting
Hazarika criticized opposition parties for boycotting the upcoming NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He claimed that the opposition has not contributed positively in the last decade and questioned the purpose of their boycott.
Union Ministers’ Reactions
Union Minister Piyush Goyal accused the opposition of personal animosity towards PM Modi, stating that it prevents them from addressing the needs of their people. He noted that eight states, including Telangana, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, boycotted last year’s NITI Aayog meeting.
Another Union Minister, Bhupender Yadav, expressed disappointment over the boycott, emphasizing that NITI Aayog is a non-political institution promoting cooperative federalism. He accused the opposition of sidelining public issues for personal interests.
Doubts Revealed
Assam -: Assam is a state in the northeastern part of India, known for its rich culture, tea gardens, and wildlife.
Illegal Forest Encroachments -: This means people are living in forest areas without permission, which is against the law.
Opposition -: In politics, the opposition is the group of people or parties that are not in power and often challenge the decisions of the ruling government.
Boycotts -: To boycott means to refuse to participate in something as a way of protesting or showing disapproval.
NITI Aayog -: NITI Aayog is a government institution in India that helps plan and develop policies for the country. It replaced the Planning Commission.
Pijush Hazarika -: Pijush Hazarika is a politician and the Water Resources Minister of Assam.
Chandigarh -: Chandigarh is a city in India that serves as the capital of two states, Punjab and Haryana. It is known for its modern architecture and urban design.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi -: Narendra Modi is the current Prime Minister of India, the head of the government.
Union Ministers -: Union Ministers are members of the central government in India who are in charge of specific departments or ministries.
Piyush Goyal -: Piyush Goyal is a politician and a Union Minister in the Indian government.
Bhupender Yadav -: Bhupender Yadav is a politician and a Union Minister in the Indian government.
Democratic Processes -: These are the ways in which a democracy functions, including voting, debates, and decision-making by elected representatives.