Page 11 - Anurag Thakur

Anurag Thakur pitches for larger airport at Himachal's Dharamshala

Union minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday made a strong pitch for the expansion of Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala airport to provide direct and seamless connectivity to the region. He made the demand as he and Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Minister of State for Civil Aviation V K Singh flagged off the first Delhi-Dharamshala IndiGo flight. Making a case for a larger airport, Thakur said that currently passengers travelling to Himachal have to go via Delhi and then board connecting flights as smaller airports in the state are unable to handle larger aircraft. Scindia said the Civil Aviation Ministry was already working on a two-phase expansion plan to increase the runway length from 1,376 metres to 1,900 metres to enable turboprop aircraft carry out operations without load penalties. Currently, the turboprop aircraft operating from Dharamshala airport are not allowed to take off with full capacity which leads to under utlisation and higher airfares. Scindia said the

Govt does not interfere with press freedom: Anurag Thakur tells Parliament

Press Council of India (PCI), a statutory autonomous body, has been set up under the Press Council Act, 1978 mainly to preserve the freedom of the Press and improve the standards of newspapers

Will take action to stop vulgarity on OTT in the name of creativity: Thakur

Taking a tough stand on complaints against content on OTT platforms, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday said vulgarity and abusive language was not acceptable in the name of creativity. Addressing a press conference here, Thakur said the government had taken a serious view on complaints of vulgarity and abusive language in content on OTT platforms and will not hesitate to take tough action to stop this trend. "These platforms were given freedom for creativity and not for obscenity and when one crosses the limit, then hurling abuses in the name of creativity cannot be accepted at all," Thakur said. "If there is a need to change the rules, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will not hesitate. It will take tough action to stop vulgarity and abusive language," the minister said. In January, Thakur had batted for creative autonomy and said adequate safeguards were in place to monitor content on OTT platforms. "Creativity should not be reined in, it

TN Sports Minister meets Anurag Thakur, requests release Khelo India fund

Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and the officials of the state sports and youth affairs department held a meeting with Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Thakur held a meeting in Chennai on Saturday.Taking to Twitter, Udhayanidhi Stalin said that Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur visiting Chennai was welcomed with love."We requested that the Union Government release Khelo India infrastructure fund for the state", Udhayanidhi Stalin said.In the meeting, the officials led by Udhayanidhi made a presentation explaining the steps taken by the MK Stalin government to improve the sports sector of the state and the future plans."We insisted on considering Tamil Nadu for the South Indian branch of Sports Authority of India. Also asked for the opportunity to host the National Youth Fest and Asian beach games in 2024", Udhayanidhi said.

Violators are now pretending to be victims: Anurag Thakur to Rahul Gandhi

"We must remember that, unlike Western countries, democracy is not an artificial implant in India. It is an integral and indestructible part of our civilisational history," he said

I&B Minister warns media against narratives that threaten India's integrity

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday urged the media fraternity in the country to remain cautious and desist from giving its space to narratives that threaten the nation's integrity. Unsubstantiated and illogical opinions, delivered freely from within or abroad, could not destroy the democratic nature of the country, he added. "I urge the media fraternity to remain cautious and desist from giving its space intentionally or unintentionally to such voices and narratives that have the potential to threaten the integrity of India," he said. Thakur was speaking while participating as a special guest at the valedictory ceremony of the centenary celebrations of eminent Malayalam daily "Mathrubhumi". He said there is a proverb that states facts are sacred and opinion is free. "I want to emphasise here that the democratic nature of our great nation will always remain a fact, no matter how many unsubstantiated and illogical opinions are delivered freely from withi

Thakur cautions media against narratives that threaten India's integrity

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday urged the media fraternity in the country to remain cautious and desist from giving its space to narratives that threaten the nation's integrity. Substandard and illogical opinions, delivered freely from within or abroad, could not destroy the democratic nature of the country, he added. "I urge the media fraternity to remain cautious and desist from giving its space intentionally or unintentionally to such voices and narratives that have the potential to threaten the integrity of India," he said. The minister was speaking while participating as a special guest in the centenary celebrations of eminent Malayalam daily "Mathrubhumi". He said there is a proverb that facts are sacred and opinion is free. "I want to emphasise here that the democratic nature of our great nation will always remain a fact, no matter how many substandard and illogical opinions are delivered freely from within or abroad," Thakur added.

Only BJP members allowed to speak in Parliament, says TMC MP Mahua Moitra

In a tweet on Thursday, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said that Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla was allowing 'only BJP' ministers to speak in the parliament

'Art Gate' explained: What FATF report says on 'sale of Padma Bhushan'

Union Minister Anurag Thakur, took a dig at Congress and demanded that "Priyanka Gandhi came clean on who Mr. A was mentioned in the FATF case study?"

Govt does not agree with World Press Freedom Index: Anurag Thakur

The government does not subscribe to the views and country rankings of the World Press Freedom Index, published by foreign NGO Reporters Without Borders', Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said on Tuesday. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Thakur said the government also does not agree with the conclusions drawn by this organization for various reasons including very low sample size, little or no weightage to fundamentals of democracy and adoption of a methodology which is questionable and non-transparent. "In pursuance of its policy to uphold the freedom of press, the government does not interfere in the functioning of the press," the minister said in response to a question by YSRCP member Adala Prabhakar Reddy. He said the Press Council of India (PCI), a statutory autonomous body, has been set up to preserve the freedom of the press and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies in the country. PCI considers complaints filed 'by the .

Brand India has arrived, says Anurag Thakur on winning Oscar awards

Lauding India's achievements at the Oscars, Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Tuesday said 'brand India' has arrived as he called for concerted efforts to make the country a content hub of the world. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, he said "RRR's" "Naatu Naatu" has not only won hearts in the country but also across the world. "It is a matter of pride for India that the Indian film industry has won two world awards in Oscars. "Brand India has arrived and it is just a beginning. India has the potential to become the content hub of the world. Let us work together to make India the content hub of the world," he told the House. At the Academy Awards, the foot-tapping Telugu chartbuster "Naatu Naatu", composed by MM Keeravaani and penned by Chandrabose, won the Original Song award and made SS Rajamouli's "RRR" the first Indian feature film production to bring home the Oscar. Tamil documentary "The Elephant Whisperers", directed by debutante Kartiki Gonsalves and produc

National Film Heritage Mission a lifeline to Indian cinema: Anurag Thakur

Information and Broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur has said that nearly 1,300 feature and 1,062 short films and documentaries have been digitised under the National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM). Thakur, who reviewed the progress made under the Mission during his visit to the National Film Archives of India in Pune on Saturday, said an additional 2,500 feature and shorts films and documentaries were in the pipeline to be digitized. Till date, 1,293 feature and 1,062 shorts and documentaries have been digitized in 4K and 2K resolution, an official statement said. It said conservation works on 1,433 celluloid reels have been completed in collaboration with an International Agency, L'immagine Ritrovata, the world's foremost expert in film conservation. NFHM is giving a new lifeline to the heritage of Indian cinema, where many films which were not previously accessible at all, will be made available to audience worldwide in the best quality available, while simultaneously ensuring the

Thakur hails role of youth in India's progress; says Pune ideal for Y20

Pune is the ideal location for the fourth 'Y20' consultation meeting as the city has been a beacon of knowledge and culture for generations, in the process attracting students and scholars from across the world, Union Minister for Youth Affairs Anurag Thakur said on Saturday. 'Youth 20' is an official consultation forum for youth from G20 nations to have a dialogue with each other. The theme of the fourth Y20 consultation meet is 'Peace building and Reconciliation: Ushering in an era of no war- the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and the future of work'. Thakur, who was the chief guest at the meet being held in Symbiosis International University (SIU) here, said, "Young people are equal stakeholders in the present. Their role is today, now and here. Look around, India is making headlines as it is the world's fastest growing large economy. From being among fragile five economies in 2014, we are now among the top five economies of the world." "In a span of eight years, we have ...

Misinformation, lies killed thousands globally: Anurag Thakur on Covid-19

Union minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday described the spread of misinformation and lies during the COVID-19 pandemic as "infodemic", and said thousands of people lost their lives due to it across the world. Thakur was speaking at the Youth 20 (Y20) consultation meeting organised at a private university in Pune city. Y20 is an official consultation forum for youth from all G20 member countries to be able to dialogue with each other. Talking about mental health issues, Thakur said, "More than a pandemic, it was an infodemic because of the spread of lies and misinformation. And it led to the loss of thousands and thousands of lives across the world." Infodemic is a blend of two words - information and pandemic or epidemic. "At times, we have to see whether technology is an enabler or not," the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports said. He also said that India's position in the world has changed positively. "Today, India decides the position of its nat

Anurag Thakur slams NYT, other foreign media for 'defaming' India, PM

He said, "Some foreign media nourishing a grudge against India and our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi have long been systematically trying to peddle lies about our democracy and pleuritic society

Don't betray India, says Anurag Thakur to Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday hit out at Rahul Gandhi for his remarks seeking intervention from the US and European nations over "disappearing" democracy in India and asked the Congress leader not to betray the nation. "Don't betray India, Rahul Gandhi ji. The objections to India's foreign policy is an evidence of your scant understanding of the issue. No one will believe the lies you spread about India from foreign soil," Thakur told reporters here. Speaking at a function in London, Gandhi alleged that the structures of Indian democracy were under "brutal attack" and regretted that democratic parts of the world, including the US and Europe, have failed to notice it. "His party had done it earlier, when it took local issues to the United Nations, and now to ask other countries to intervene in India. They have not yet come out of the thought of slavery," the Information and Broadcasting Minister said. Thakur said Gandhi has resorted to "maligning India" from foreign soil as

Rahul Gandhi unable to accept poll defeats, maligning India: Anurag Thakur

Union minister Anurag Thakur on Friday hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his claims of being under surveillance by intelligence agencies and accused him of maligning India on foreign soil after facing successive electoral setbacks. Thakur wondered what prevented Gandhi and other Congress leaders from submitting their phones to a Supreme Court-appointed technical committee that probed the Pegasus snooping issue. Thakur's remarks came after Gandhi claimed in a speech at the Cambridge University that Indian democracy was under threat and that several politicians, including himself, were under surveillance using Israeli spyware Pegasus. "We can understand his hatred towards the prime minister, but the conspiracy to malign the country on foreign soil with the help of foreign friends raises questions on the agenda of the Congress," Thakur, the information and broadcasting minister, told reporters here. Thakur said Gandhi was aware of the electoral rout the Congress was facing

ED raids on Cong leaders should not be given political colour: Thakur

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur on Saturday said the recent raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the properties of leaders of the ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh should not be given political colour. Those who have "looted" the country would face action, he said, speaking to reporters here. Asked about the Congress accusing the BJP-led Union government of misusing probe agencies against its political opponents, Thakur said, "The probe agencies take action against those who indulge in corruption, and those who have not done corruption should not be scared of them." India is being made "corruption-free" and "the action should not be given political colour," he added. "If anyone has looted the resources of the state and country, then probe agencies take action, the minister added.

New Telecom Bill: National security, consumer safety to be priority

The Department of Telecom (DoT) has resolved issues regarding the possible dilution of the powers of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai)

Anurag Thakur to inaugurate 3-day All-India Taekwondo Championship

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur to inaugurate the 3-day All-India Taekwondo Championship