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Archives for July 2023

Fire in battery box of Bhopal-Delhi Vande Bharat train no casualty

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Bhopal: A fire broke out in the battery box of a coach of the Vande Bharat train heading from Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal to New Delhi on Monday morning, a senior railway official said.

There were 37 passengers in the coach and they were shifted to other coaches immediately. No injury was reported to anyone in the incident, the official said.

The fire was later doused and repairs were conducted. The train resumed its onward journey after remaining halted for more than three hours, the official said.

The Rani Kamalapati-Hazrat Nizamuddin Vande Bharat Express train started at 5.40 am from Bhopal, West Central Railway’s chief public relations officer Rahul Shrivastava said.

“When it was passing through Kalhar station, the station manager noticed smoke billowing out from the battery box of the C-14 coach following which he alerted senior officials and the train was stopped at Kurwai-Kaithora station, the official said in a statement.

Fire brigade personnel extinguished the blaze by 7.58 am, he said.

The battery box is located quite far away from the passenger area under the coach, the official said.

As soon as the fire incident took place, the electrical safety system separated batteries from it. The batteries were removed and the fire was extinguished, he said.

After the railway staff conducted the repair work, the train resumed its onward journey at around 10.15 am, officials said.

Senior Congress leader and former leader of opposition in the MP Assembly Ajay Singh, who was also travelling in the train to Gwalior, said the train stopped as soon as the fire was noticed.

“People got down to see what happened. All passengers are safe. The train resumed its journey after remaining stranded for nearly three-and-a-half hours,” Singh told PTI over phone.

On April 1 this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Vande Bharat train between Rani Kamalapati station here to Hazrat Nizamuddin.

The train runs for six days in a week except Sundays

Dalit girl raped by three college students in Jodhpur in front of boyfriend, accused arrested

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Jodhpur/Jaipur: A 17-year-old Dalit girl who had eloped with her boyfriend was allegedly gang-raped by three college students in front of him in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur in the early hours of Sunday, police said.

The three accused, who thrashed the victim’s boyfriend before taking turns to rape her, were arrested hours after the incident, they said.

A senior police official said the accused were canvassing for a student leader seeking a ticket from the RSS’ student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for student union elections.

The ABVP, however, said it has no links with the accused.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot spoke to Director General of Police (DGP) Umesh Mishra about the incident in Jodhpur, his home town, and instructed him to ensure strict punishment to the accused, according to officials.

Gehlot said the promptness with which police arrested the accused is commendable. He added that his government would ensure justice for the victim by securing the harshest punishment for the culprits.

The girl eloped with her boyfriend from Ajmer on Saturday. They took a bus and reached Jodhpur around 10:30 pm. Later, they went to a guest house to get a room but left after the caretaker, Suresh Jat, misbehaved with the girl, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Amrita Duhan.

The two then went to Paota Chauraha, where the three accused — Samandar Singh Bhati, Dharmpal Singh and Bhattam Singh (aged 20-22) — approached them, she said.

The accused befriended the girl and her boyfriend, and offered them food and cold drinks, the DCP said.

When the girl and her boyfriend told the accused about themselves, the three assured them of help. Around 4 am, the accused took them to the hockey ground at the old campus of Jai Narayan Vyas University (JNVU) on the pretext of taking them to the railway station, Duhan said.

After reaching the ground, they thrashed the boy and held him hostage, while taking turns to rape the girl, she said.

As morning walkers started reaching the campus, the accused fled the spot. The girl’s boyfriend sought help from the morning walkers, who informed the police, she added.

Police swung into action and launched a hunt for the accused. A dog squad and a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team were also at the spot.

Hours after the incident, the accused were traced to a house in Ganeshpura near Ratanada in Jodhpur. They tried to flee but were injured after they fell. While two of them fractured their legs while trying to flee, the third sustained an injury in the hand, Duhan said.

“We arrested all of them after treatment,” she added.

Samandar Singh is a first-year student at JNVU, Dharm Pal Singh is a post-graduation student at JNVU and Bhattam Singh is pursuing B.Ed from Ajmer, the officer said.

Police said they have also arrested the guest house caretaker for allegedly misbehaving with the girl.

Hours before the incident, Rajasthan Chief Secretary Usha Sharma and Director General of Police Umesh Mishra held a meeting to review the law and order situation in the state.

An FIR mentioning both the incidents (misbehaviour at the guest house and gang rape at the hockey ground) has been registered with the local police station under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, IPC and the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

ABVP national secretary Hushiyar Meena said the accused have no links with the student group. “The ABVP demands the strictest punishment for the accused. The law-and-order situation of Rajasthan is deteriorating day by day and the safety of university campuses is being neglected by the Congress government,” he claimed.

Chief Minister Gehlot said there were reports of the involvement of people associated with the BJP and their organisations in rape incidents in Jodhpur and in Datia of Madhya Pradesh.

“Due to such incidents, the character and face of the BJP have been exposed,” he said.

Gehlot said BJP president JP Nadda maintained silence and did not even condemn these incidents which showed the seriousness of the party on women’s safety.

“No matter how influential the accused is, the state government will secure the harshest punishment to the culprits to get justice for the innocent daughter,” he tweeted.

In Jaipur, Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) president Abhishek Choudhary said the student group will give a representation to the governor against the ABVP on Monday.

“This incident is a blot on humanity. The strictest action should be taken against the accused. We will hand over a representation to the governor against the polluted ideology of ABVP,” he said.

Congress leader and Social Welfare Board chairperson Archana Sharma said in Jaipur that the police promptly arrested the accused, which shows the state government’s commitment to women’s safety.

Ukrainian boxer fights through challenges of war on her way to Paris Olympics

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KYIV: In a modest gym in the heart of Kyiv, boxer Anna Lysenko dedicates long hours preparing for next year’s Paris Olympics despite the unsettling sounds of explosions booming outside.

Lysenko already has Olympic experience, nearly winning a medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021, but her training routine this time has been disrupted by the war in Ukraine — that started nearly 17 months ago when Russia invaded her country.

In a well-lit, spacious gym with high windows, she often hears bombs exploding outside as the capital remains a target for the Russian army.

“It’s stifling. It probably doesn’t allow me to feel at peace, to train and prepare in a measured way,” Lysenko said, wearing an orange sports jacket with “Tokyo 2020″ on the back, reminiscent of a calmer training routine.

“Constant shelling, or other stresses associated with the situation in the country, always seem to be present.”

Despite these challenges, the 31-year-old Lysenko refuses to give up on her training. She has already sacrificed almost 10 years of her life for the sport, reaching the quarterfinals in Tokyo but missing out on an Olympic medal after losing to the eventual gold medalist. Knowing the Paris Games may be her last, she perseveres, training six days a week hoping to get better, to get faster, to win.

Her chances of competing in Paris, however, remain uncertain.

Ukrainian athletes have in recent weeks missed world or European championship events in judo, fencing and taekwondo, where Russians and Belarusians were allowed to compete after being approved as neutral athletes.

Last week, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach criticized the Ukrainian government for blocking some athletes from qualifying events for the 2024 Games that also included Russians and Belarusians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said any neutral flag is stained with blood and invited Bach in January to join him in visiting the wrecked city of Bakhmut.

The IOC and Bach shaped the definition of neutrality in March — not publicly supporting the war, nor being contracted to the military since February last year, competing without a flag, anthem or national colours — that sports governing bodies must decide how or if to apply.

“This is very bad,” Lysenko said about the neutral flag for Russians and Belarusians.

As a Ukrainian athlete, she finds it “very unpleasant” that citizens of Russia will have the opportunity to participate in the Olympics. Despite the neutral flag, she said, the athletes “are citizens of their own country, they represent it.”

The IOC took a tough position on Russia within days of the war starting, urging sports bodies to exclude athletes and officials from international events and strip the country of hosting rights.

However, as the Paris Olympics approached, the IOC moved toward letting some Russians into competition and Bach said excluding athletes based just on their passport would be discrimination and a breach of their human rights.

For Lysenko, such a decision by the IOC means that Ukrainian athletes have to compete in an “unequal battle” with citizens of a country that started a war in her homeland.

“Because there, athletes can train in peace, nobody is shelling them, they don’t lose their loved ones, acquaintances, friends. They don’t lose them in the war,” she said.

“For every professional athlete, the Olympics are the pinnacle of their sporting journey,” Lysenko added. “As an athlete, I can understand that. But as a person … When you witness the sorrow of your loved ones, it’s very difficult to accept.”

She recalls how last autumn, on the day when she and her team were supposed to leave for the European Championships in Montenegro, Russia launched one of many missile attacks at Kyiv. At that moment, Lysenko was at the Olympic base near the capital.

“And there you could really hear those explosions, there was such a shaking there, and we had to leave in literally two or three hours that day,” she recalled. “How to leave your family in such a condition, when something like that is happening … It’s stressful.”

Even when she is abroad for competitions, her thoughts are still anchored to events in Ukraine.

During the most difficult periods, Lysenko didn’t stop training. During the winter, when Russia was bombarding Kyiv and the rest of the country with dozens of rockets almost every week to destroy the energy infrastructure, Lysenko continued to train even without electricity.

“It was very challenging,” she said. “We were starting to train a bit earlier to have some light from outside.”

The decision of the Ukrainian Olympic Committee to boycott qualifying competitions involving Russians and Belarusians evokes conflicting emotions for Lysenko.

“If they are already banning everyone and saying it’s a boycott, then it should apply to everyone,” she said, explaining that, for example, Ukrainian tennis players continue to participate in competitions with Russians and Belarusians.

Under the circumstances that have arisen, Lysenko chooses to compete and fight.

“We have our own sports frontline, and we need to go out there and win,” she said, adding “it would be very disappointing” if she doesn’t go to the Olympics.

“A lot of effort has already been put in to have it end like this, not being able to bring a medal for my country and once again represent our country to the whole Olympic world,” Lysenko said.

For her, the Paris Games could be her last chance to compete at the Olympics. She will be 36 by the time the Los Angeles Games open in 2028.

“I can still continue training, but I have my own plans on how to lead my life and develop in other areas,” Lysenko said. “Not just in sports.”

For now, she continues her training, even in periods when Kyiv is being attacked almost nightly by the Russians.

“A person gets used to everything,” she said, noting her challenges pale in comparison to what Ukrainian soldiers endure.

“When you think about how hard it is there, you realize that everything is great for you,” Lysenko said. “And we will keep working here because they are doing everything there to allow us to do our job here, in the rear.”

Meet ‘Nadal’s heir apparent’Carlos Alcaraz who is predicted to win ’30 Grand Slams’

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Carlos Alcaraz-Wimbledonwinner

LONDON: Carlos Alcaraz’s triumph over Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon on Sunday marked the latest chapter in a story predicted to end with “30 Grand Slam titles”.

The 20-year-old has become familiar with setting landmarks.

When he won his maiden Slam title at the US Open last year he become the youngest champion of a men’s major since storied compatriot Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open.

He also became the youngest man to ascend to the world number one ranking.

The modest, muscular star from the small Murcian town of El Palmar in Spain’s south-east hit the giant-killing jackpot at Madrid in 2022 when he became the only man to defeat both Nadal and Djokovic at the same clay-court event.

For good measure, he achieved it on back-to-back days on his way to the title.

“Carlos’s intensity and speed is something you rarely see,” said Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach Toni Nadal.

“His game follows the same path as Rafa; he never gives up until the last ball and has that characteristic intensity.”

Nadal was also 19 when he won the first of his 22 Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros in 2005.

However, Nadal has always pleaded with fans not to put pressure on Alcaraz by making bold comparisons.

“I forgot what I was like at 19,” said Nadal. “The only thing we can do is enjoy the career of an extraordinary player like Carlos.

“If he manages to win 25 Grand Slams, it will be fantastic for him and for our country. But let him enjoy his career.”

Despite Nadal’s reluctance, making comparisons is unavoidable.

Nadal won the first of his 92 titles at Sopot at the age of 18 in 2004.

Alcaraz, who learned the game at a tennis school run by his father, was also 18 when he captured his maiden ATP trophy at Umag in 2021.

Both men are fiercely protective of their private lives, enjoy passionate crowd support and build their games on steely defence and thrilling, flamboyant attack.

Nadal famously fought out a five-hour and 53-minute Australian Open final in 2012, only to lose to Djokovic.

Four years earlier, he won his first Wimbledon crown in a four-hour 48-minute epic against Roger Federer in a match widely hailed as the greatest Slam final of all time.

“I know that I am a very competitive kid. I compete whenever I play anything — golf, petanca,” said Alcaraz. “I don’t like to lose.”

At his side is coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 2003 French Open winner who also took the number one ranking at the US Open later that year.

“I would love for Carlos to win 30 Grand Slams. There will be a lot of chances,” said Ferrero, who began working with Alcaraz when he was just 15.

Alcaraz was already winning junior European and Spanish titles in lower categories under the guidance of Albert Molina, an agent with IMG.

Molina established the Alcaraz-Ferrero partnership.

Ferrero then brought Alcaraz into his academy in Valencia, 120km from El Palmar.

His raw potential soon attracted sponsors, with marquee brands such as Nike and Rolex rushing to sign up Nadal’s heir apparent.

The tennis team around the prodigy was also expanding and soon included a physical trainer, a physiotherapist and the support of psychologists and doctors.

An indication of his potential was obvious at the Rio clay-court event in 2020 when he was just 16, and ranked 406 in the world, he shocked Albert Ramos Vinolas to register his first ATP win.

Alcaraz and Ferrero have developed a deep professional and personal bond.

That relationship was sealed when Ferrero, having returned home following the death of his father, quickly crossed the Atlantic again just in time to see Alcaraz win his first Masters title at Miami in March last year.

“Let him flow, let him play,” said Ferrero when asked to plot his pupil’s future trajectory.

For Alcaraz, the sky is the limit after he dethroned Djokovic to confirm his emergence as the sport’s new king.

Indira Canteen back on track

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BENGALURU:   Indira Canteen, the pet project of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched during his first term from 2013-2018, which aims at ensuring good quality meals to the poor, migrant and labour class at cheap rates, has been revived by the Congress government. In his recent budget, the CM announced an allocation of Rs 100 crore for the renovation and maintenance of these public canteens.

To give the project a further push, and revive those which have shut down, the state government is also working on changing breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Sweet dishes and festival savouries would be included in the menus while keeping the cost factor in mind.

Although the government had intended to have Indira Canteens across the state, covering all 314 urban local bodies (ULBs), so far they have been established in 191 ULBs, the highest number being in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits. They were to be set up with a 30 per cent share from the state government and 70 per cent from local bodies and corporations. The project was given a push in BBMP limits, with 169 fixed and 8 mobile canteens operating in Bengaluru, which houses the highest number of migrant labourers, patients, citizens and job seekers from rural Karnataka. 

Indira Canteens saw a decline since 2018 due to political reasons, as officials could not manage finances and discrepancies with the contractors. Due to this, around 20 Indira Canteens, including mobile ones, were shut, most of them in Bengaluru South and RR Nagar.

However, now the state government not just wants to reopen the ones that have shut, but also start them in all ULBs, BBMP in particular. The revised menu proposal includes adding bread-jam sandwiches, ragi mudde, Mangaluru buns and payasam. “We plan to have the new menu on alternate days, and not regularly. There were suggestions that eggs be added, but that proposal has not been sent to the state government for approval,” said an urban development department official.


More than the public, officials and agencies maintaining the canteens are worried, and hoping for a successful revival. Officials admitted that many patrons complain of poor quality food, poor maintenance, staff crunch, pending bills and even improper supply of drinking water from Bangalore  Water Supply Sewerage Board. According to a contractor running an Indira Canteen in Bengaluru, BBMP has to clear pending bills worth Rs 84 crore to various agencies, including staff of Chef Talks, Rewards and Adamya Chetana.

“Chef Talks runs 96 canteens across South Zone, Bommanahalli and West Zone. Rewards caters to 45 wards in Mahadevpura, Yelahanka and Dasarahalli, and Adamya Chetana looks at 40 wards in East Zone. Bills worth Rs 45 crore are yet to be cleared for Chef Talks, bills for Rs 21 crore for Rewards and Rs 18 crore pending to Adamya Chetana,” said the UDD official.

Contractor agencies have also blamed municipalities for turning a blind eye to lurking danger at centralised kitchens, as steam boilers of 250-litres capacity used to cook rice have developed cracks and need to be changed immediately. 

“The warranty is for three years, the kitchen equipment should have been replaced three years after installation. We gave representations to the BBMP Chief Commissioner, BBMP Special Commissioner and BBMP Joint Commissioner, but there has still not been any response to it. A blast can occur any time and those working in the vicinity will suffer grievous injuries or even death,” said a contractor woWrking with the state government.

Earlier, 500 plates of breakfast and lunch, and 200 plates of dinner were served. But now the number has dropped by 50 per cent due to payment issues. “We are not able to deliver quality and quantity due to expenses. We have not yet paid salaries to over 300 staffers for the past three months. Also, around 50 per cent of the staff has left in the past week. We cannot run the show if BBMP does not clear outstanding bills,” the contractor said.

In case of Bengaluru, the contractors also blame marshals appointed by the government as officials to keep a check on solid waste management and Indira Canteens. They say the marshals sleep inside the canteens, which is not hygienic.

Most of the canteens do not have Cauvery water supply connections in Bengaluru, as BWSSB has cut their lines due to payment issues with the BBMP. Similar is the situation in other ULBs, where clearing of bills continues to be an issue. The situation is worse due to poor maintenance and hygiene.

In Kalaburagi, seven public canteens were shut down in the past seven months, and the agencies that operate them blame it on a lack of funds. Similar is the condition in Dakshina Kannada, where the public is upset with the quality of food, and point out that cleanliness is a big concern.

Dheeraj, a lecturer from Mangaluru, said many college students wish to visit Indira Canteens located near their college, as breakfast and lunch is served at affordable prices, but don’t because of the unhygienic conditions around the canteen and low quality food. This needs to be addressed immediately. Open defecation is common near the canteen, which is close to the service area and bus stand. Garbage is also dumped nearby, he said.

Adding to this, G K Bhat, an activist from Mangaluru, said half-cooked food is served, and leftover lunch is served in the evening. In Kodagu, only two canteens are functioning — in Madikeri and Virajpet — and that too with minimum facilities. Very few people visit them. In case of Somwarpet, only foundation work was completed for the Indira Canteen. Hardly 50 people visit the canteens during weekdays, and on Sundays, the number goes down to 20.

In Shivamogga, only four Indira Canteens are running smoothly ever since they were inaugurated. Officials said they were not closed, and continue to operate even during the pandemic. Amogh, Assistant Executive Engineer (Environment), Shivamogga City Corporation, said all the canteens have been receiving good response since the time they were inaugurated.

The quality of food and hygiene has been maintained, as done earlier. He added that 400-450 plates of breakfast and 150-200 plates of lunch are served at each Indira Canteen. So around 600-800 plates of lunch are served on a daily basis. However, there is not much demand for dinner here, with just 80-100 plates served at all four canteens collectively.

However, members of Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samithi (DSS) recently staged a protest against a lack of cleanliness and basic amenities at Indira Canteens, and demanded that the city corporation repair them and provide drinking water units. With no proper doors, the canteens had become a hotspot for drunkards to carry out illegal activities in the night hours. They also alleged there is a lack of security at night.

The project was launched by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Kanakanapalya, near Ashoka Pillar, in August 2017. He also had breakfast at the Indira Canteen.

MENU

  • Breakfast at Rs 5: Idli, vada, khara bath, pongal, bisibele bath  
  • Lunch at Rs 10: Rice, sambar, pickle and pappadam, or vegetable pulao 
  • Food is prepared at centralised kitchens and then distributed 
  • 199 Indira Canteens sanctioned by Siddaramaiah government in 2017 
  • 175 static and 24 mobile canteens were operational initially
  • In Bengaluru, about 175 canteens were set up and 24 mobile canteens were set up 
  • Of 175 canteens, 6 were shut and 16 mobile canteens were closed
  • Rs 84cr to be paid to agencies pending since 14 months 
  • Safety of workers at Indira Canteen at stake: 
  • Steam boiler develops cracks, needs replacement, a blast can kill 10 people in the vicinity
  • Illegal activities at Indira Canteen at Shivamogga

UCC won’t be a problem when people understand it: Rajnath Singh

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

NEW DELHI:   The immense popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the people will ensure a comfortable win for the BJP and allies in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, believes Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. In an interview with Namita Bajpai, he says people have confidence in the Central leadership and its style of functioning. He also expressed his views on a host of issues ranging from UCC, and Chinese misadventures on the border to the Manipur crisis. Excerpts:

Our NDA family will be stronger than ever. A lot of parties are willing to join our alliance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity is immense, and parties know that their future is secured within a strong alliance. He has established himself as a global leader and reaffirmed India’s pride abroad.

In Karnataka, or for that matter Himachal Pradesh, we might have lost the Assembly elections, but in Lok Sabha polls, we are confident of getting more seats than in 2019. Our numbers are not going to reduce. Even during the Assembly polls in Karnataka, voters were clear that they would vote for the BJP in 2024 to bring the Modi government back.

In states like Bihar and Maharashtra, the numbers will be higher than in 2019. In fact, we may make a sweep in Bihar. People are quite confident of the central leadership and the way it is working. Look, the voting preferences in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are entirely different as the issues in both elections are different.

Modiji is emerging as a global figure, which is playing a big role in winning over people’s support. This is what is making other political players think of joining the NDA. The ruling alliance is going to be stronger with the arrival of many more partners ahead of the big battle in 2024.

The Central government is trying its best to build consensus over the UCC before proceeding with it. People will be taken into confidence before making any move in that direction. As of now, many people do not have a clear idea of the concept. When people get a clearer picture, I think there won’t be much problem.

This is uncalled for. It should not be the approach. His statements always seem to challenge our own Army. Recall the day when Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji had addressed the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as ‘Durga’ after the 1971 war, which led to the formation of Bangladesh. During the confrontation with other countries, especially China, with which we have a long history of confrontation, the entire nation should stand united.

The fact is that we have got the support of the international community on the issue of Chinese misadventures on the border. Now, even China is expressing its willingness to resolve this dispute. It is because when a country gets strong globally, no one can dare browbeat it, and others are bound to listen to it.

The government is making continuous efforts to resolve the crisis. The talks are on. The most significant aspect of it is that there should not be any communication gap. The government is treading cautiously. We had given instructions to the Army to practise restraint.

We have been hearing this for quite some time now. Is there really a Union Cabinet reshuffle on cards?
No discussion over the issue has taken place at our level.

It’s you who should tell me about this. The manufacturing of BrahMos missiles and the coming up of a textile park in Lucknow reflect the level of growth here. I never made any tall claims but have tried silently to effect a gradual makeover of the state capital. A lot of infrastructural facilities are on the anvil and they will be delivered in the days to come. The ambitious 104-km outer ring road is 90 per 
cent ready and should be dedicated to the people by next November.

I will never let the growth of Lucknow suffer due to paucity of funds. I may be busy with national responsibilities but will ensure that the development projects of my constituency are kept on the fast track.

Centre reduces subsidised rate of tomato to Rs 80 per kg from Rs 90 per kg

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NEW DELHI: The Centre will sell tomatoes at Rs 80 per kg from Sunday, as against Rs 90 per kg earlier, to provide relief to people from the high prices of the key kitchen item in retail markets.

On Friday, the Centre started to sell tomatoes at a discounted rate of Rs 90 per kg in Delhi-NCR through mobile vans.

More cities were added on Saturdaymove-centre-reduces-subsidised-rate-of-tomato-to-rs-80-per-kg-from-rs-90-per-kg-2595441.

“There has been a decrease in the wholesale prices of tomatoes due to the intervention of the government to sell it at a concessional rate of Rs 90 per kg, at several locations in the country where the prices were ruling exceptionally high,” an official statement said.

“After a re-assessment of the situation from across 500 plus points in the country, it has been decided to sell it at Rs 80 per kg from today, Sunday, July 16th, 2023,” it added.

Sales started on Sunday at several points in Delhi, Noida, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna, Muzaffarpur and Arrah through cooperatives NAFED and NCCF, the statement said.

The sale of tomatoes at discounted prices will be expanded to more cities from Monday depending upon the prevailing market prices at such locations.

“The government of India is committed to providing relief to the consumers,” the statement said.

The National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) are selling tomatoes on behalf of the Centre through mobile vans.

Prices of tomatoes in the retail market remain at an elevated level of up to Rs 250 per kg across major cities due to monsoon rains and the lean season.

The all-India average price stood at nearly Rs 117 per kg on Saturday, according to the government.

As per the data compiled by the Department of Consumer Affairs, the average all-India retail price of tomatoes was ruling at Rs 116.86 per kg on Saturday, while the maximum rate was Rs 250 per kg and the minimum was Rs 25 per kg.

The modal price of tomatoes was Rs 100 per kg.

Among metros, tomatoes were ruling at Rs 178 per kg in Delhi, followed by Rs 150 per kg in Mumbai, and Rs 132 per kg in Chennai.

The maximum price of Rs 250 per kg was in Hapur.

Tomato prices normally shoot up during July-August and October-November periods, which are generally lean production months.

Supply disruption caused due to the monsoon has led to a sharp rise in the rates.

Speaking to PTI, NCCF Managing Director Anice Joseph Chandra said tomatoes are being procured from Madanapalli (Andhra Pradesh), Kolar (Karnataka) and Sanganeri (Maharashtra) NCCF has already sold 35,000 kg of tomatoes in the last two days.

It expects to sell 20,000 kg in Delhi-NCR on Sunday, 15,000 kg in Varanasi, and 10,000 kg each in Lucknow and Kanpur, she said.

NCCF sold about 7,000 kg in Lucknow on Saturday and this itself helped to bring down the wholesale rate from Rs 130 per kg to 115 per kg, she noted.

Joseph Chandra said, “Further reduction in the price to Rs 80 per kg will further cool down the prices in the coming days. We will continue to intervene till the price stabilizes.”

Currently, NCCF is selling tomatoes through its mobile vans and 4-5 outlets owned by NAFED in Delhi-NCR. It will start the sale via retail outlets of Kendriya Bhandar from Sunday.

BJP rattled by Bengaluru opposition meeting:Mallikarjun Kharge

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Mallikarjun Kharge

NEW DELHI: Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said the PM had claimed that he alone is enough to take on the Opposition then why was he feeling the need to get 30 parties together?

Referring to the meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Tuesday, Kharge claimed that seeing the Opposition getting together, the BJP was ‘rattled and was now bringing together parties that have already splintered, in order to show numbers.

Kharge said that opposition paryies have been meeting and coordinating for a long time, even in Parliament, but he had not heard of the 30 parties of the NDA meeting before.

Taking a swipe at the PM, Kharge said, “The PM had said ‘Main akela kaafi hoon saare Opposition ke liye’, while speaking in Rajya Sabha, then why is he bringing together 30 parties? Who are these 30 parties, what are their names, are they all registered with the Election Commission

Kharge’s comments were a reference to the prime minister’s remarks in February in Rajya Sabha wherein he had asserted that he alone outweighs all those who take turns to shout slogans to oppose him.

The prime minister had said, “Desh dekh raha hai, ek akela kitno ko bhari pad raha hai (the country is watching how one person has outweighed so many).”

In his remarks to reporters here ahead of the Opposition meeting in Bengaluru, Kharge also said, “Seeing what we’re doing they are rattled and are now bringing together those parties that had been splintered and trying to show numbers.”

Asked about the BJP’s claim that Congress ignored its Delhi and Punjab unit to support the Aam Aadmi Party on the ordinance issue, Kharge said it was not about one person, but about protecting democracy and the Constitution.

On the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at premises linked to Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister and DMK leader K Ponmudy, Kharge said these were pressure tactics to break opposition parties’ unity.

Kharge alleged that the raids were also targeted at the DMK-Congress alliance in Tamil Nadu. Neither the DMK nor the Congress will be scared by this, Kharge said. He accused the BJP of trying to destabilise democratically-elected governments

Top leaders of 26 opposition parties are expected to brainstorm in Bengaluru on Tuesday at the official conclave of Opposition parties where they are likely to start work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Bengaluru can have tunnel roads: Experts

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BENGALURU:   With the proposal for tunnel roads gaining more attention, especially after Maharashtra taking up Mumbai Coast Tunnel Road project, a BMRCL official said Namma Bengaluru can also have a similar project although it has loose earth and hard rock surface.

The official, who worked on the tunnel project of Metro Rail Phase 1, however, stressed the need for a detailed study before taking up the tunnel road project. The project will not have any issues with water pipelines and cables as they have been laid at a depth of not more than three metres, whereas the tunnel road will run below 80 feet.

The expert said, “For any civic project, acquiring private property or closing a busy road is a big issue. However, there is little scope for this in projects such as tunnel roads.” Asked if water pipelines, pile foundations of huge buildings and Metro network’s tunnels pose any hurdle while drilling, the official said, “No, not at all.”

Tunnels will be drilled only after a thorough study and survey. The alignment of tunnels will be perfect as they will not have any issues underground, he said. Indian Road Congress Member D Prasad expressed similar views and said the layer study of earth will help in planning the alignment of tunnel roads. “The authorities should take aspects such as tunnel phobia into consideration and design the tunnels accordingly,” he said.

Shinde, Ajit men to meet Amit Shah as Maharashtra Cabinet’s rift over key portfolios deepens

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MUMBAI:  A tug-of-war continues between Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP over allocations of key portfolios such as finance, urban development department, cooperation, irrigation and agriculture. Both sides have decided to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to resolve the issue.

Sources said Shinde has refused to concede the key portfolios to NCP ministers, including Ajit Pawar, arguing that it will reduce his importance in the government.

“Shinde has conveyed to the BJP leadership that unless Shiv Sena MLAs are sworn in, he will not allocate the portfolios to the NCP ministers. Shinde fears that after the allocation of portfolios to the NCP ministers, the BJP may not allow him further cabinet expansion. Shinde plans to meet top BJP leaders in Delhi,” said a source.i

Another senior minister said the BJP has conveyed it will be reluctant to induct Shiv Sena MLA Bharat Gogawale and Sanjay Shirsat into the cabinet.

“Shinde told the BJP leadership that if these two faces — Gogawale and Shirsat ­- are not inducted, then he will have a tough time keeping the flock together.  Most of the Shiv Sena MLAs of Shinde factions already started extending olive branches to Uddhav Thackeray and opening the communications line. If a significant number of Shiv Sena MLAs join Uddhav Thackeray, then Shinde’s CM chair will be in trouble and his party will also face another split. This can damage the BJP. Therefore BJP needs to stand by him,” said a Shiv Sena minister.

Meanwhile, Sunil Tatkare, the state NCP chief (Ajit Pawar faction) said that there is no dispute over allocations of ministries.  

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