Archives for 2021

New Delhi: The TMC has written to the Election Commission alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Bangladesh violated the model code of conduct in place for the West Bengal Assembly polls and some of his programmes there “intended to influence the voting pattern” in certain constituencies of the state.

The letter dated March 28 was released by the Trinamool Congress on Tuesday.

Modi visited Bangladesh from March 26 to 27 to attend the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence and the birth centenary of ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman following an invitation from his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

The subject line of the letter written by TMC national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien read: “Gross violation of democratic ethics and the Model Code of Conduct by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his visit to Bangladesh.”

“We have no objection whatsoever to his visit to Bangladesh for this official purpose. After all, India played a critical role in the liberation of Bangladesh. West Bengal, in particular, made an immense contribution to the heroic struggle of our fellow Bengalis in (what was then) East Pakistan for freedom from the brutal regime in West Pakistan.

“However, the All lndia Trinamool Congress strongly objects to Shri Modi’s programmes in Bangladesh on March 27. These had nothing to do with either the 50th anniversary of the independence of Bangladesh or the birth centenary of ‘Bangabandhu’. Rather, they were solely and exclusively intended to influence the voting pattern in certain constituencies in the ongoing elections to the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal,” O’Brien said in the letter.

“No lndian Prime Minister has so brazenly indulged in an unethical and undemocratic act and violated the Model Code of Conduct by indirectly campaigning for his party from foreign soil,” he said.

The TMC leader further alleged that the political motive behind Modi’s visit is proven by the fact that he took along with him BJP MP from West Bengal Santanu Thakur, who holds no official position in the government of lndia.

“No MP or representative from the Trinamool Congress or other parties was invited to accompany the PM. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has thus grossly misused his official position to interfere from foreign soil in the election process in West Bengal,” O’Brien said.

“The All lndia Trinamool Congress demands that the Election Commission of lndia not only censure him but also take deterrent punitive action against him so that he dares not repeat such misconduct in future,” he said.

Idukki: As campaigning for the assembly polls reached feverish pitch in Kerala, former MP Joyce George courted a controversy by making alleged derogatory remarks against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in connection with the latter’s interaction with students of a women’s college in Kochi last week.

George, who had won as the CPI(M) supported independent during 2014 Parliament election from Idukki, made highly objectionable comments against the Nehru scion while addressing an election rally at Irattayar here on Monday.

Distancing himself from the comments, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the LDF’s stand is not to personally attack Gandhi.

“We will oppose him politically not personally”, Vijayan told reporters in Kasaragod on Tuesday.

Attacking the opposition Congress-led UDF and Rahul Gandhi in particular, George said Gandhi would visit only women’s colleges and the girls should be “cautious” while dealing with the former Congress President.

“Girls never bend down in front of him.. he is an unmarried trouble maker,” he alleged.

The former Left independent MP’s remarks came days after Gandhi had given Aikido lessons at the famed St Teresa’s college in Kochi based on the request of a student.

The Congress leader had visited the women’s college for an interaction with students after he arrived at the state for election campaigning.

Joyce George’s statement drew intense criticism from the Congress fold.

Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday termed the sexually coloured remarks against Gandhi as ‘unfortunate and unacceptable.’

A case should be registered against the former MP and he should be arrested, he said.

Member of Parliament and Youth Congress leader Dean Kuriakose lashed out at the ex-MP and said George might have spoken about his own character.

“The vulgarity within him has come out now. What is his merit to criticise Rahul Gandhi? He is trying to follow the footsteps of power minister M M Mani, known for making such derogatory comments,” he said.

Kuriakose said through the comments, the former MP had not only insulted Gandhi but also the girl students. He also said he would soon lodge a complaint with the Election Commission against George in this regard.

Criticising George, Kerala Congress leader P J Joseph said the remarks were “immature” and wanted to know whether it was the opinion of the entire LDF.

However, minister M M Mani justified George and said he had not made any anti-women remarks and only criticised Rahul Gandhi.

New Delhi: Petrol and diesel prices on Tuesday were cut for the third time within a week on the back of softening international oil prices.

Petrol price was cut by 22 paise per litre and diesel by 23 paise per litre, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.

Petrol now costs Rs 90.56 per litre in Delhi and a litre of diesel comes for Rs 80.87. Rates have been reduced across the country and vary from state to state depending on the local incidence of taxation (VAT).

In Mumbai, the petrol price was cut to Rs 96.98 a litre on Tuesday from Rs 97.19, while diesel rates were reduced to Rs 87.96 from Rs 88.20, the price notification showed.

Fuel prices were reduced for the first time in six months on March 24, and thereafter on March 25 as well after international oil prices fell on prospect of speedy recovery in consumption getting clouded by the second wave of COVID-19 cases.

They had remained on freeze thereafter as global rates edged up after one of the world’s most vital waterways clogged. The reopening of the Suez Canal cooled rates again.

In three reductions, petrol price has come down by 61 paise per litre and diesel by 60 paise.

Despite bouts of rate freeze, prices had gone up by a record Rs 21.58 per litre on petrol since the government raised excise duty in March last year. Diesel prices had increased by Rs 19.18 a litre.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray’s wife Rashmi was on Tuesday admitted in a hospital here for COVID-19 treatment.

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s wife Rashmi Thackeray was on Tuesday admitted in a hospital here for COVID-19 treatment, sources close to the CM’s family said.

Earlier, the CM’s son and minister Aaditya Thackeray had also tested positive for coronavirus.

The CM and Rashmi Thackeray had taken the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the government-run J J Hospital here on March 11.

Rashmi Thackeray is editor of ‘Saamana’, the mouthpiece of the Shiv Sena.

BENGALURU: As Covid cases are shooting up across the State, especially in Bengaluru, many IT and ITES companies are extending the work from home (WFH) option for their employees by three more months. The firms had earlier said WFH would be till March 31 and asked employees to return to work from Wednesday. But now they are sending out emails, asking staff not to visit offices, unless absolutely necessary. State Government employees too are asking for work from home option as they pointed out that they are at a higher risk, since there is no restriction on the number of people visiting government offices.

A leading IT service management firm in east Bengaluru had earlier given the WFH option till March 31, but on Monday, employees received an email saying it has been extended by three more months. A multinational investment bank and financial services company in Bengaluru which had asked its employees to return to office from Wednesday, has told them to continue to work from home. An IT major too has extended WFH till May 31 and sent the mail to its employees a couple of weeks ago. K S Viswanathan, Vice-President (Industry Initiatives), Nasscom,that most of the companies had extended work from home till June and a few till September.

WFH improved efficiency, says Nasscom vice-prez

“Though  it has been one year and one month since IT/ ITES companies started work from home, the quality of work has not suffered. IT companies continue to get new projects, recruitments are happening, and the efficiency too has gone up,” K S Viswanathan, Vice- President (Industry Initiatives), Nasscom, said. The State Government employees, too, are appealing to Chief Secretary P Ravi Kumar to allow them to work from home or allow 50 per cent of the staff to work from office as there is a spike in Covid numbers.

Over 3,000 employees work at Vidhana Soudha, Vikasa Soudha and MS Building, and every day, thousands of people visit these offices. “We have kept a basic hand sanitiser and temperature checking machine. These are not enough to find out if a person is infected with Covid. A couple of staffers have already tested positive, and one of them is from the Irrigation Department,” said Guruswamy, president, Karnataka State Secretariat Employees’ Association.

“Unlike the private sector, we cannot restrict the movement of people here,” he added. The private sector urged the government not to announce a lockdown again. “Industries are still suffering from the first lockdown and another one will be a disaster. They are sanitising the premises, asking their employees to wear masks all the time, and kept sanitisers. The government should open Covid vaccination for all, without any age limit. Industrial workers should be given priority, as they don’t have the option of working from home,” said Perikal M Sundar, president, FKCCI.

Chandrashekar Hebbar, president, Karnataka Pradesh Hotels and Restaurants Association, said that over 20 lakh people across the state, and 10 lak in Bengaluru, work in hotels, darshinis, bars, lodges and other places and free vaccination should be given to them on priority. Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar said he will discuss it with the Chief Minister. “Work from home is not possible for the labour class and lockdown is not on the cards at present. We will discuss the best way forward next week,’’ he added.

AGARTALA: Two girls were allegedly gangraped in Tripura’s Khowai district and eight people, including a boy, were arrested in this connection, police said on Tuesday.

The two girls reached their homes at midnight and informed their family members that they were raped.

The police swung into action after the family members of the two lodged complaints, and arrested the accused, the officer said.

The girls were sent to Khowai District Hospital for medical examinations and an investigation in the case is underway, he added.