According to the information received from Right to Information (RTI), Lekhi said, "About Rs 1,287 crore were collected in the last seven years due to environment cess and out of which the expenditure was Rs 272 crore in 2015-16. Out of this, Rs 265 crore was spent on only one project -- rapid transport system. While everyone knows that environment cess money can be spent only on the issue of environment, not on any other item."

Sydney [Australia], August 8 (ANI): Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi, who is on a three-day visit to Australia, interacted with the Indian community in Sydney.

New Delhi Apr 19 PTI The BJP on Tuesday highlighted the governments measures to boost nutrition among children and asserted that eliminating hunger and malnutrition is Indias goal Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi noted that poshan abhiyaan nutrition campaign was launched on a big scale in March 2018 with focus on the first 1000 days of new-born babies The goal was to first bring stunting rate down to 25 per cent from 384 per cent among children up to the age of six years and the government launched a host of programmes with focus on pregnant women babies and their mothers she said Schemes like free grains nutrition national health mission helped in this regard Lekhi told reporters She was addressing a press conference as part of the BJPs social justice campaign to highlight the governments initiatives specific to certain sectors or groupsThe BJP said over 731 lakh MT of fortified rice has been distributed for children and lactating mothers and over 1135 crore beneficiaries were added to the nutrition campaign PTI KR ZMN

New Delhi [India], April 19 (ANI): Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi on Monday alleged that the violence that broke out in Delhi's Jahangirpuri on April 16 was a conspiracy by those who want to promote enmity.

Bhopal Apr 18 PTI Union minister and BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi on Monday termed clashes in Delhi Jahangirpuri area during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations as a conspiracy by those who want to promote enmity and defy rules of the administration and expressed confidence the ongoing police probe will expose such elementsShe said riots have been place in the national capital in the recent past too and mentioned large-scale violence during the visit of then-US President Donald Trump in February 2020The Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture was in Bhopal to participate in some official programmesThis is a conspiracy of the same people who want to spread enmity by generating such feelings of disharmony on different grounds They want to violate rules of the administration Lekhi said in reply to a question from reporters about the Delhi clashesThe Lok Sabha MP from the New Delhi seat said police investigation into the violence will look into every aspect and present a report to the CentreThe Union minister said she will wait for the completion of police investigation to know who were involved in these clashes which broke out during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in North-West Delhis Jahangirpuri area Eight police personnel and a local resident were injured in the communal clashes So far 23 people from two communities have been arrested in connection with the Jahangirpuri violence the Delhi police said on MondayRiots in Delhi have happened in the past tooduring the visit of then-US President Donald Trump and the results of the investigation were in front of you allnow again such an incident has occurredThe police will investigate and present a report revealing the names behind the conspiracy Some faces have come to the fore but police investigation will reveal those involved in the conspiracy she saidAsked about the MP government action of demolishing the illegal houses and shops of alleged rioters following violence in Khargone city during Ram Navami celebrations the BJP MP said bulldozers should be used to free encroached land which is common asset of the societyAsked about senior BJP leader Uma Bhartis demand to open the ASI-protected Someshwar Mahadev temple located in Raisen fort for public the shrine opens for devotees only on Mahashivratri the culture minister avoided a direct reply and maintained sometimes the remains of history are to be preserved to tell the truthAt times questions are raised in history that some attacks never happened invaders never came and religious conversions never took place So it is necessary to keep relics intact to prove some events of history she saidUnable to pay obeisance at the temple for want of ASI permission Bharti on April 11 decided to give up food for peace of mind till she is allowed to perform a Jalabhishek or water ritual at the fort shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva located around 50km from the state capital BhopalLekhi also called on Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during her visit PTI ADU MAS RSY RSY

New Delhi [India], March 4 (ANI): Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi and Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar welcomed 219 students stranded in Ukraine at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport on Friday.

New Delhi [India], February 26 (ANI): Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi on Saturday participated in a cycle rally in New Delhi along with diplomats and envoys as part of the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' celebrations.

New Delhi Feb 23 PTI Amid rising tension between Russia and the West over Ukraine Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi on Wednesday said India believes in rules-based order and all stakeholders must communicate with each otherOn the evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine Lekhi said the government is doing its best as it has done in the past be it the COVID-19 situation emergency in Libya or other exigenciesIndia stands by its people We urge the citizens to remain in touch with the embassy she assertedIndia believes in rule-based order We pray for harmony and peace all around We seek all the stakeholders must communicate with each other she told PTI here In the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin recognising two breakaway Ukrainian regions as independent states India at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday called for restraint on all sidesIt had stressed that the immediate priority was de-escalation of tensions taking into account legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long-term peace and stability in the region and beyondActing Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India Roman Masarik said the European Union may announce sanctions against Russia We are preparing that Russia will annex the parts of East Ukraine In such a case we should really support Ukraine not only by providing materials but also by accepting refugees he saidThe Czech envoy said said Europe was never closer to war than now We are preparing for the situation We here in India are also taking to Indian officials We are bringing a high-level delegation to India to attend Def Expo in Gandhi Nagar Masarik said PTI VA GVS ZMN

New Delhi [India], February 7 (ANI): Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi on Monday met with Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India and discussed cultural exchanges.

Ludhiana Jan 29 PTI Only a BJP-led double-engine dispensation can restore Punjabs glory Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi said on Saturday asserting that massive development works were carried out by the saffron party-led Union government although it is not in power in the stateDescribing the people of Punjab as hard-working the Union Minister of State for External Affairs said that If good governance is provided then the state can move on the path of progressThat is possible only by a BJP-led government in the state she addedThe BJP has tied up with former chief minister Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Lok Congress and SAD Sanyukt for the Punjab Assembly polls to be held on February 20Elaborating on the works done in the state from the funds received under various missions and schemes of the Union government Lekhi said when the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014 the total length of roads in Punjab was 1114 km which has now increased to 4100 kmAll this development has been done when the BJP is not in power in the state Development will be at a double pace when there is be a BJP-led Government in the state as well Lekhi added PTI COR SUN NSD