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Don’t make public statements over future leadership: Karnataka Congress to leaders

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Don't make public statements over future leadership: Karnataka Congress to leaders

Bengaluru: The disciplinary committee of Karnataka Congress has urged its leaders and workers to desist from making public statements about the party’s future state leadership after some of them aired divergent views on who would head the government if the party comes to power.

Expressing concern over such discussions in public, the committee felt it would be advisable to leave this matter to the time when the question of leadership would arise, a party release said here on Sunday.

Recently, a few leaders had issued statements proposing names of party’s state unit president D K Shivakumar and legislature party leader Siddaramaiah as their Chief Ministerial candidates on coming to power. The tenure of the current BJP government is till 2023.

“In a meeting held on November 5, the KPCC Disciplinary Action Committee noted with concern the differing views being expressed by leaders of the party on the question of future leadership of the legislature party,” Committee Chairman K Rahman Khan said in the release.

He said that the committee requested all the elected representatives, leaders, office-bearers and workers of the party to desist from such public statements in the interest of party unity.

“It would be better if party leaders and workers engage themselves in organising the party and work with an aim to bring the party to power in the interest of our state.

Siddaramaiah will be the Chief Minister once again while a few of his party colleagues, including Rajya Sabha Member G C Chandrashekhar, MLA Sowmya Reddy, and Hanumantharayappa had reportedly claimed that Shivakumar will occupy the top post on Congress coming to power.

Declining to comment on him being projected as the next chief minister by some party colleagues, Shivakumar had said “first, our party should come to power. Then, the high command and legislators will decide who the CM should be….”

On 4th anniversary of DeMo, PM Modi says helped reduce black money, increase tax compliance

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On 4th anniversary of DeMo, PM Modi says helped reduce black money, increase tax compliance

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said demonetisation has helped reduce black money, increase tax compliance and given a boost to transparency as the BJP and the Congress sparred over its outcome on the fourth anniversary of withdrawal of high value currency notes.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that Modi’s move was aimed at helping a few of his “crony capitalist friends” and had “destroyed” the Indian economy, prompting a strong response from the BJP which said the exercise was an “attack” on corruption and black money that were rampant during the “lost decade” of the Congress-led UPA government.

Gandhi and the Congress have been alleging that demonetisation was not in the interest of the people and had adverse effects on the economy, a charge the government has dismissed repeatedly.

On November 8, 2016, Modi announced on national television his government’s decision to ban all currency notes of higher denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 from midnight on the same day.

Taking to Twitter, the prime minister listed the beneficial outcomes of demonetisation.

“Demonetisation has helped reduce black money, increase tax compliance and formalisation and given a boost to transparency,” he said.

“These outcomes have been greatly beneficial towards national progress,” Modi said using the hashtag ‘DeMolishingCorruption’.

Along with his tweet, the prime minister also shared a graphic on how demonetisation has ensured better tax compliance, improved tax and GDP ratio, made India a lesser cash based economy and gave a boost to national security.

But in a video released as part of the Congress’ online ‘SpeakUpAgainstDeMoDisaster’ campaign, Gandhi said the question is how the economy of Bangladesh “surpassed” the Indian economy as there was a time when India used to be one of the most high performing economies of the world.

“The government says that the reason is COVID but if that is the reason, there is COVID in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the world also. The reason is not COVID, the reason is ‘Notebandi’ and GST,” Gandhi said in Hindi.

“Four years ago Prime Minister Narendra Modi began an assault on the Indian economy. He hurt farmers, labourers and small shopkeepers. Manmohan Singh ji said the economy will lose two per cent and that is what we saw,” the former Congress chief said.

The prime minister had stated that it is a fight against black money, but it was not so, he added.

“This was a lie. The attack was on you, Modi wanted to take your money and give it to his 2-3 crony capitalist friends. You stood in lines, not his crony capitalist friends. You put your money in banks and PM Modi gave that money to his friends and gave them a loan waiver of Rs 3,50,000 crore,” Gandhi alleged. Gandhi did not provide any evidence to support his claim on loan waiver

Hitting back, the BJP said demonetisation was good for the country and resulted in cleaning up of the economy, formalisation of the informal sector and revenue aggregation.

“Demonetisation had dealt a body blow to the systemic financial corruption and black money economy. Since then, it has simultaneously invigorated formal economy and brought unprecedented financial benefits to all sections of society,” BJP national spokesperson Rajeev Chandrasekhar told a press conference at the party’s headquarters in Delhi.

“If there is anybody who shouldn’t talk about loot, mismanagement of the economy it should be people from the Congress. During the lost decade of the Congress-led UPA government, there was rampant black money and corruption in the country’s economy.”

The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was in power at the Centre for two terms from 2004 to 2014.

“Demonetisation had three significant and tangible impacts — cleaning up of the economy, formalisation of the informal sector as it helped us to reach the poor and needy, and revenue aggregation,” Chandrasekhar said.

Congress leader P Chidambaram said the BJP-led NDA government did great harm to India’s economy on November 8, 2016.

“The first lesson every ruler and every government must learn is–even if you do not do good to the people, do not do harm, the former finance minister said.

Congress general secretary Ajay Maken at a media briefing alleged that the Modi government has continuously changed the explanatory reasons for carrying out demonetisation and it has “destroyed” the economy.

The Congress observed the fourth anniversary of demonetisation as “Vikshwasghaat Diwas” (betrayal day) and ran a social media campaign ‘SpeakUpAgainstDeMoDisaster’.

Maken quoted former prime minister Manmohan Singh’s remarks on November 24, 2016, to hit out at the government.

“The way this scheme has been implemented — is a monumental management failure, and in fact, it is a case of organised loot, legalised plunder of the common people,” Maken quoted Singh as saying.

“Modi ji’s government continuously changed the explanatory reasons for carrying out demonetization,” Maken said.

The Congress leader said that at different points, these were — to counter black money and corruption, to stem out fake currency or “counterfeit”, for a “digital or cashless” economy, to tackle Maoism, terrorism and separatism, to bring idle savings into banks, to expand and deepen the tax base, to arrive at a bigger, cleaner and real GDP and for faster economic growth, to bring down real estate prices and to partner with the GST.

Maken also made a point by point rebuttal of the various objectives cited for demonetisation.

Ethiopian Airlines freighter aircraft makes emergency landing at Mumbai airport

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Ethiopian Airlines freighter aircraft makes emergency landing at Mumbai airport

Mumbai: A freighter aircraft of Ethiopian Airlines, which was on its way to Bengaluru from Riyadh, was diverted to Mumbai airport here on Sunday due to a technical issue.

The freighter ET-690, with eight crew members, landed safely, a spokesperson of Mumbai airport said. There was some technical problem with the Ethiopian cargo aircraft, the official added.

“There was a full emergency call at the Mumbai airport on Sunday (for Ethiopian cargo aircraft). Vehicles were sent by Mumbai fire brigade and attended as per the protocol and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The aircraft was heading to Bengaluru from Riyadh with eight crew members,” the spokesperson said.

The aircraft landed safely without any injury to anyone, the official said.

RJD warns its workers against celebratory firing, ‘uncivil behaviour’ on result day

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RJD warns its workers against celebratory firing, 'uncivil behaviour' on result day

Patna: With exit polls predicting victory for the RJD-led Grand Alliance, the party Sunday warned its workers against indulging in celebratory firing and “uncivil behaviour” towards rivals on the day of counting of votes on November 10, irrespective of the results.

In a tweet addressed to its workers, the party said, “Whatever the election results are on November 10, it has to be accepted with absolute restraint, simplicity and courtesy.

“Improper fireworks, celebratory firing and uncivil behaviour towards our rivals or their supporters will not be accepted at any cost,” it said.

The votes will be counted on November 10, a day after RJDs chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav celebrates his 32nd birthday.

The instructions to the party workers to behave decently on the counting day is part of Tejashwi’s efforts to do away with “rowdy behaviour” prevalent on such occasions in the past and establish a new culture.

Multiple exit polls released Saturday evening have predicted the Mahagathbandhan to win a majority in the 243- strong Bihar assembly.

RJD’s Bihar unit president Jagdanand Singh said the partymen have been told to accept the results of the polls with “all humility.” Praising Tejashwi, Singh said “while Lalu Prasad is the centre of ‘astha’ (faith), Tejashwi is the centre of ‘wyavastha’ (arrangements) of the party.”

Singh, a close confidante of Lalu Prasad, told the partymen that Tejashwi laboured hard to win peoples faith in the party and its duty of everybody to maintain it.

RJD spokesman Mrityunjay Tiwari said the partys own assessment from their sources on ground suggests that it will win more seats than predicted in exit polls.

“There is a wave in support of Mahagathbandhan and Tejashwi Yadav. We will win with a two-thirds majority,” he told PTI.

The RJDs election campaign was centred on Tejashwi Yadavs promise of providing 10 lakh governments jobs to youths in Bihar.

Its rival kept attacking the party over its record on and law and order, and also berated as “jungle raj” during the 15-year rule of Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi.

In a rally during the polls, BJP chief JP Nadda had assailed the RJD over its reputation of preferring muscle power to ideology, saying the party has a history of conducting ‘Tail Piyawan, Danda Bhanjan (dipping lathis in oil and wielding them to assert power)’ rally.

Naddas reference to Tel Piyawan, Danda Bhanjan was a throwback to an RJD rally in 2003, two years before the party was ousted from power in Bihar.

As the name suggests, the party workers and supporters carrying ‘lathi’ (stick) had participated in that rally at Gandhi maidan in the state capital.

In its second tweet on Sunday, the RJD asked its workers to keep in mind that irrespective of the results “at the centre of your politics is public upliftment and their convenience”.

Trump, who never admits defeat, mulls how to keep up fight

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Trump, who never admits defeat, mulls how to keep up fight

Washington: President Donald Trump never admits defeat. But he faces a stark choice now that Democrat Joe Biden has won the White House: Concede graciously for the sake of the nation or don’t and get evicted anyway.

After nearly four tortured days of counting yielded a victory for Biden, Trump was still insisting the race was not over.

He threw out baseless allegations that the election wasn’t fair and illegal votes were counted, promised a flurry of legal action and fired off all-caps tweets falsely insisting he’d WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT.”

While some in his circle were nudging Trump to concede graciously, many of his Republican allies, including on Capitol Hill, were egging him on or giving him space to process his loss at least for the time being.

Trump has not lost, declared South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham in an appearance on Fox News Channel’s Sunday Morning Futures, rejecting the reality of the situation.

Do not concede, Mr. President. Fight hard,” he urged.

Trump is not expected to formally concede, according to people close to him, but is likely to grudgingly vacate the White House at the end of his term. His ongoing efforts to paint the election as unfair are seen both as an effort to soothe a bruised ego and to show his loyal base of supporters that he is still fighting. That could be key to keeping them energised for what comes next.

He intends to fight, Trump economic adviser Larry Kudlow said as it was becoming clear that the president was headed for defeat.

Would Trump ever concede? I doubt it, said Trump’s longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, whose prison sentence was commuted by Trump in July.

Stone asserted that Biden, as a result, will have “a cloud over his presidency with half the people in the country believing that he was illegitimately elected.

Allies suggested that if Trump wants to launch a media empire in coming years, he has an incentive to prolong the drama. So, too, if he intends to keep the door open to a possible 2024 comeback he would be only a year older than Biden is now.

Others in his inner circle egging him on, including his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani. The former New York mayor has been promising to provide the president with evidence of voter fraud but has produced little, including during a press conference he held Saturday in the parking lot of a small Philadelphia landscaping company next to an adult bookstore.

Trump’s adult sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, have also urged their father to keep fighting and challenged Republicans to stand with them, as have congressional allies like Graham.

What I would tell President Trump is: Don’t give up. My advice is do not concede, said Republican Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona in a podcast interview. Let’s fight this thing through. It is too important to give up. Some in the president’s orbit have been nervously looking toward Capitol Hill for signs of a Republican defection. But so far, most seemed to be giving him time.

I look forward to the president dealing with this however he needs to deal with it, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri said Sunday on ABC’s This Week.” Still, he said it was time for Trump to turn this discussion over to his lawyers, time for the lawyers to make the case that they have, both in court and to the American people, and then we’re going to have to deal with those facts as they’re presented. That has to happen and then we move forward.

At this point, we do not know who has prevailed in the election, said Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, telling Fox News he believes Trump “still has a path to victory. Other political allies and White House officials, however, have pressed Trump to change his tone and commit to a smooth transition. They’ve emphasized to him that history will be a harsh judge of any action he takes that is seen as undermining his successor. And they have advised him to deliver a speech in the coming week pledging to support the transition.

Trump senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner has told others that he is among those who have urged the president to accept the outcome of the race even if Trump won’t come to terms with how it was reached.

At Fox News, where prime-time hosts wield enormous influence over Trump, Laura Ingraham gave voice to the president’s belief that the election had been unfair, while also pleading with him to keep his legacy in mind and preserve his status as a GOP kingmaker by gracefully leaving office.

President Trump’s legacy will only become more significant if he focuses on moving the country forward,” she said Thursday.

This story is based on interviews with more than a dozen Trump aides and allies, many of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions.

That the peaceful transfer of power was even in doubt reflected the norm-shattering habits of the now-lame duck president, who even in victory never admitted that he had lost the popular vote in 2016.

Most aides believed the president would take the weekend to decide on a plan, which will most certainly involve more legal action. But some aides believe the legal skirmishes are more about putting up the appearance of a fight than producing results.

There were some indications Trump was moving in a less contentious direction, even as he continued to angrily complain to aides, reviving old grievances about the Russia investigation that began under President Barack Obama. (AP)

7 killed, 5 injured as jeep collides with truck in Madhya Pradesh

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Satna: Seven members of a family, including a child, were killed and five others injured when their jeep collided with a dumper-truck in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna district on Monday morning, police said.

The victims were returning to Rewa after taking part in a family programme in Panna, Additional Superintendent of Police Shailendra Kumar Jain said.

The accident took place at around 8 am on Satna-Nagod road, about 20 km away from the district headquarters.

Six people died on the spot while one person succumbed in hospital, the official said, adding that the deceased included a child and three women.

The injured persons were admitted in a government hospital in Rewa, he said. The truck driver fled from the spot after the accident, he said.

COVID-19 Update 45,903 New cases 490 more deaths

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New Delhi: India’s COVID-19 caseload rose to 85,53,657 with 45,903 new infections being reported, while the number of people who have recuperated from the disease crossed 79 lakh, pushing the national recovery rate to 92.56 per cent, according to the Union health ministry data updated on Monday.

The death toll from the disease climbed to 1,26,611 with 490 new fatalities being registered, the data updated at 8 am showed.

The total number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 79,17,373, pushing the national recovery rate to 92.56 per cent while the case fatality rate stands at 1.48 per cent.

The number of active cases of COVID-19 remained below 6 lakh for the 11th consecutive day. There are 5,09,673 active cases of the coronavirus infection in the country as on date which comprises 5.96 per cent of the total caseload, the data stated.

India’s COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23 and 40 lakh on September 5. It went past 50 lakh on September 16, 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11 and crossed 80 lakh on October 29.

According to the ICMR, a cumulative total of 11,85,72,192 samples have been tested up to November 8 with 8,35,401 test being conducted on Sunday.

Cyclist dead after being hit by truck in Uttar Pradesh

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BANDA: A cyclist has died after being hit by a truck in the Atarra area of the district, police said on Sunday.

The accident took place on Saturday evening, and the victim was identified as Rajkumar Verma (40), who works as a labourer, SHO of Atarra police station Akhilesh Mishra said.

The SHO said the truck driver fled, leaving the vehicle near a petrol pump on the Bisanda road.

A case has been registered and the body of the deceased sent for post-mortem examination, he added.

BBMP begins testing staff at Bengaluru restaurants

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BENGALURU: In a bid to ensure that people visiting restaurants are safe from infection, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has undertaken Covid testing for restaurant staff and owners. 
Back in June, BBMP had plans to conduct testing in market areas, supermarkets, medical establishments and restaurants. In August, testing camps were set up. Over the past few weeks, this drive was expanded to include restaurants. 

Three days ago, BBMP carried out testing in the Central Business District. “On Wednesday, BBMP volunteers came to the restaurant and told us we need to get ourselves tested. It is a good initiative. Since restaurants receive good crowds, we should be safe so we don’t spread any infection to others,” said Rufqa Hassan, who owns The Only Place on Museum Road. 

In Koramangala, volunteers tested staff at 15 restaurants. “Though the staff were asymptomatic, many tested positive and were isolated. Once a staffer tests positive, sanitisation is carried out, and we try to reach out to customers the staffer would have come in contact with. As many customers make advanced bookings, restaurants have their contacts and it is easy to trace them,” said Rahul Francis, volunteer and coordinator of BBMP mobile testing team — Ward 151. 

Francis said the government needs to bring in a circular, asking staffers to get themselves tested every month. “The government should add that in case anyone reports to work after three days’ leave, they need to bring a Covid-negative result. New employees should get a negative report 72 hours before reporting,” he added. Dr Bhaskar Rajkumar, nodal officer of BBMP East Zone, said, “It is not mandatory for restaurant staff to get tested. However, we have started doing this as a precautionary measure.”

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