Archives for July 2024

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

New Delhi, Jul 30: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra put off their scheduled Wednesday morning visit to landslide-hit Wayanad after authorities informed them that they would not be able to land due to incessant rain and adverse weather conditions.

The Congress leaders said they would visit the district as soon as possible.

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi said, “Priyanka and I were scheduled to visit Wayanad tomorrow to meet with families affected by the landslide and take stock of the situation.”

“However, due to incessant rains and adverse weather conditions, we have been informed by authorities that we will not be able to land,” he added.

In one of the worst natural disasters in Kerala, at least 123 persons were killed and 128 injured in massive landslides triggered by torrential rain in Wayanad on Tuesday.

With hundreds trapped under the debris, sparking fears of mounting fatalities, rescue agencies were racing against time to pull out any survivors.

Assuring the people of Wayanad that they would visit the district as soon as possible, Rahul Gandhi said, “In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide all necessary assistance.”

“Our thoughts are with the people of Wayanad at this difficult time,” he said.

In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi said, “My brothers and sisters in Wayanad, even though we cannot come to Wayanad tomorrow, our hearts are with you at this tragic hour and we are praying for all of you.”

Earlier in the day, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi condoled the loss of lives and urged United Democratic Front (UDF) workers to provide all help to those affected.

Rahul Gandhi, who represented Wayanad in the 17th Lok Sabha, said he had spoken to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the Wayanad district collector, who assured him that rescue operations were underway.

The former Congress chief expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives in the massive landslides near Meppadi.

“My heartfelt condolences go out to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones. I hope those still trapped are brought to safety soon,” he had said on X.

“I have spoken to the Kerala chief minister and the Wayanad district collector who assured me that rescue operations are underway. I have requested them to ensure coordination with all agencies, set up a control room and inform us of any assistance needed for the relief efforts,” Rahul Gandhi had said.

The Congress leader had said, “I will speak to the Union ministers and request them to provide all assistance possible to Wayanad.”

He urged all UDF workers to assist the administration in the rescue and relief operations.

Priyanka Gandhi had said she was deeply saddened to see the devastation.

“My heartfelt condolences and prayers are with all those who have lost loved ones. I hope and pray that everyone is brought to safety as soon as possible,” she had said.

“I urge the government to take immediate action to expedite relief and rescue operations and request UDF workers to step forward to do all they can to be of support and comfort to all those affected by this tragedy,” Priyanka Gandhi had said on X.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha later, Rahul Gandhi demanded the Centre extend all possible support for the rescue and rehabilitation of those affected.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he also sought enhanced compensation to the next of kin of those killed and restoration of vital transport and communication lines.

Rahul Gandhi won Uttar Pradesh’s Rae Bareli and Kerala’s Wayanad seat this time but decided to represent Rae Bareli in the Lok Sabha.

Priyanka Gandhi is slated to contest the bypolls in Wayanad whenever they take place.

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday defended the customary pre-budget Halwa ceremony, saying that it has been going on since budget papers were printed at a press on Minto Road, and the sweet dish was prepared by the staff themselves as an Indian tradition before the start of something auspicious.

Taking on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who dubbed the traditional halwa ceremony as “budget ka halwa”, Sitharaman said it is an emotional matter for the Finance Ministry staff who spend 5 nights and 4 days in quarantine to ensure the secrecy of the Budget proposals.

“Halwa is an emotional and sentimental matter… How can you deal (with) such an important matter so lightly,” Sitharaman said.

Responding to Gandhi’s remark that in the halwa ceremony photo no SC, ST or OBC was being seen, Sitharaman said it became a photo event from 2013-14 when the Finance Minister in the Congress-led UPA Government went to the cellar of North Block to distribute the customary pre-budget halwa.

“Why was the halwa ceremony not cancelled at that time? You (Gandhi) had the remote control power. How many SC, ST or OBC officers were there at the ceremony at that time?” Sitharaman questioned.

She said such statistical calculation of the caste of officers present at the halwa ceremony was not done earlier in the UPA regime.

“…It is a conspiracy that is happening now and that is why this question is being asked now… Why divide people now by asking (the) caste of everyone involved?,” Sitharaman said, adding that one should refrain from presenting such an emotional ceremony in poor light.

She said that Congress leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajiv Gandhi were against reservation to SC, ST and OBCs and the leaders of the same party are now asking why they are not present in the halwa ceremony.

The minister also narrated two incidents which showed the commitment of officers attending the halwa ceremony before they enter the North Block cellar for budget printing.

Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan

Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan on Tuesday announced holiday for schools and PU Colleges in the district on July 31, Wednesday in the wake of heavy rainfall.

According to the DC’s order, all the government, private, aided, and non-aided schools and PU Colleges in the district will remain closed on Wednesday, July 31, as a precautionary measure.

New Delhi: The Railway Board has referred to the provisions of several leave facilities for expectant female loco pilots in response to their demand for light duties during pregnancy.

Several female loco pilots had approached the railway trade union to raise this issue after suffering suffering miscarriages due to challenging job roles.

In a written communication sent to all zones on July 25, 2024, the board said, “It is observed that several provisions of leave are already provided in rules for pregnant female employees which can be availed by the expectant female employees.”

The matter came up during a discussion between the Railway Board and the trade union All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) in the Permanent Negotiating Machinery (PNM) meeting held on May 2 and 3.

The federation, on behalf of female loco pilots and assistant loco pilots, had demanded their “deployment on light duty during the advanced stage of pregnancy.”

However, the board, in its final decision, turned down this request saying that there are enough leave provisions in railway rules.

“It is imperative that the benefits of these provisions are availed by the beneficiaries,” it said.

The board advised Zonal Railways to be considerate while sanctioning leaves on request of pregnant employees and pay heed to the special recommendations of railway medical practitioners, if any.

Dissatisfied with the Railway Board’s decision, the female loco pilots said that initially, they had demanded light duty provisions from the first day of pregnancy but later pressed upon shifting to light duties in the advanced stages of pregnancy.

“It is very disappointing to note that the board has refused this too,” a woman loco pilot said.

Several female loco pilots complained of suffering miscarriages due to challenging work profiles and had approached the trade union to raise this issue with the Railway Board.

“We are allowed pregnancy leave just 8 weeks before the date of delivery, which means at the stage of around 32 weeks of pregnancy. Advance pregnancy is considered from 26 weeks onward,” another female loco pilot said.

She added, “Our working conditions are so tough that each day is difficult to cope for an expectant running staff, the Railway Board is not ready to give any relaxation after even 26 weeks of pregnancy.”

A section of women train drivers, who suffered miscarriages while attending duties, have been for some time demanding framing of guidelines to transfer expecting female frontline workers to lighter or stationary jobs in offices, in conformity under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017.

They wrote to the Railway Board, saying the said Act prohibits an employer from engaging a pregnant woman in a job of arduous nature as it can interfere with her pregnancy.

A female train driver, who suffered multiple miscarriages due to her harsh working conditions, told PTI that the job of a loco pilot has been described as arduous in the Railways Act and section 4 of the Maternity Benefit Act categorically says that women employees cannot be asked to do jobs of arduous nature.

According to several women train drivers, entering the engine cab itself is a back-breaking task for them as the cab ladder’s handle is around six feet high the ground level.

“At railway stations, it is easy to come out and get into the engine cab, but in railway yards or out-of-station areas, it is extremely difficult due to its height from the ground. We have to hold the handle of the cab ladder tight and pull ourselves up, taking all our weight on both hands, to access the first step of the ladder,” the loco pilot said while pointing out that this kind of activity is prohibited for pregnant women.

The women drivers shared various other harsh activities which they have to perform as loco pilots or assistant loco pilots (ALPs).

“In the case of alarm chain puling those who work as ALPs have to go to that coach concerned to fix it even during late at night. There have been cases in which women ALPs, while rushing towards the coach, lost their balance and fell on the ground in the dark and injured themselves,” another woman loco pilot said.

On January 8, the women’s wing of the Indian Railway Loco Runningmen Organisation (IRLRO), a registered union of train drivers, submitted various grievances of women train drivers to the chief labour commissioner (central).

One of their complaints regarding the absence of a provision for light duty during pregnancy said, “Many of the women are facing miscarriages as there is no light duty provision since the job of a loco pilot is notified as arduous in nature under governing rules, amounting to the violation of section 4 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.”

“We are also bereft with the facility of a nursing break during 11 hours of running duty, amounting to a violation of section 11 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961,” it added.

Section 11 of the Act says: “Every woman delivered of a child who returns to duty after such delivery shall, in addition to the interval for rest allowed to her, be allowed in the course of her daily work two breaks of the prescribed duration for nursing the child until the child attains the age of 15 months.”

Bengaluru FIR would be registered against those driving beyond 130 kilometres per hour anywhere in Karnataka from August one, a senior traffic police official said on Monday.

According to him, over-speeding causes about 90 per cent of fatal accidents in the state.

Citing data, the Additional Director General of Police (Traffic and Road Safety) Alok Kumar said 155 persons sped at more than 130 kmph on Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway on July 25.

“From August 1, FIR will be registered against those driving vehicles above 130 kmph anywhere in Karnataka for rash and dangerous driving,” he said.

Kumar explained that under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) – 281 for rash and negligent driving, once the speed limit is beyond 120 Kmph, it becomes rash or dangerous driving.

Recalling an accident on a NICE (Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise) road earlier this month, he said three people were killed in the mishap and the offending vehicle involved in it was being driven at a speed of 160 kmph.

According to him, the Supreme court monitoring committee on road safety took note of the accident and informed the State government that over-speeding is rampant and it is leading to loss of lives.

“In the year 2022, 90 per cent (accident) deaths in Karnataka were attributed to high speed (over-speeding). Of late, the Supreme Court monitoring committee asked us to make effective enforcement with regard to this. In this direction, we came up with this (registration of FIR against those speeding above 130 kmph). Enforcing it would be a real challenge but we will try to do it,” he said.

He said the new rule will be applicable to all the roads and not be only limited to highways.

“For instance, we have speed laser guns installed all along the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway which record vehicle speeds even at night and Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras along the highway help us in recording pictures of over-speeding vehicles, along with their speeds. So, it would be easier for us to record and book them (violators),” Kumar said.

“In other cases too, we are using speed laser guns. We have distributed 155 speed laser guns. Day time, it is easier to record but at night, using it manually becomes slightly challenging,” he noted.

According to him, the speed limit on national highways across the country as of now is 100 kmph while the state and other highways have lower speed limits. On Expressways, the speed limit is 120 kmph which is the maximum speed limit any vehicle can be driven in the country.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately remove Nirmala Sitharaman from the cabinet, asserting that it is extremely dangerous to have her as the Finance Minister without basic budgetary knowledge.

He emphasised that entrusting the finance portfolio to someone lacking fundamental understanding is a ‘highly risky’ decision.

The CM while speaking about Nirmala Sitharaman’s Sunday press conference criticised the FM for her alleged “desperate attempts to cover up the injustices done to Karnataka by the Modi government”.

He noted that Sitharaman’s misleading statements ultimately reveal that the central government has provided minimal support to Karnataka.

“According to Sitharaman, the previous UPA government (2004-2014) granted Karnataka Rs 60,779 crore, whereas the NDA government (2014-2024) provided Rs 2,36,955 crore. However, they have forgotten to mention how much the central government’s budget size has increased over the past ten years. Whether this omission is due to ignorance or a deliberate attempt to mislead the public needs to be clarified,” a statement shared by the Chief Minister’s Office said.

In 2013-14, the central government’s budget was Rs 16.06 lakh crore. At that time, Karnataka received Rs 16,428 crore as grants and Rs 15,005 crore as tax share, totalling Rs 31,483 crore, which accounted for 1.9 per cent of the total budget, he pointed out.

In 2024-25, the central government’s budget size is Rs 48.02 lakh crore. During this period, Karnataka will receive Rs 15,229 crore as grants and Rs 44,485 crore as the tax share, totaling 1.2 per cent of the budget. If Karnataka were to receive the same 1.9 per cent share as in 2013-14, the state would get Rs 91,580 crore. Due to the unfair treatment by the Narendra Modi government, Karnataka has lost Rs 31,866 crore for 2024-25, he said.

“Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made misleading statements claiming an increase in Karnataka’s tax share from the central government. According to her, Karnataka received Rs 81,791 crore during the UPA government and Rs 2.9 lakh crore during the NDA government (2014-2024).”

However, the 14th Finance Commission set Karnataka’s tax share at 4.72 per cent, which the 15th Finance Commission reduced to 3.64 per cent, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 62,098 crore in the tax share alone over the past five years. Sitharaman has attempted to conceal this significant reduction. Grant in aids for 2024-25 is still less than that we received in 2013-14 under UPA, Siddaramaiah said.

He further said that Karnataka ranks second in the country for GST collection and first for GST growth at 17 per cent. Despite this, the state receives only 52 per cent of the collected GST funds. Due to the unscientific implementation of GST, Karnataka lost about Rs 59,274 crore from 2017-18 to 2023-24.

According to Siddaramaiah, in 2023-24, the Centre collected over Rs 4.30 lakh crore from Karnataka in taxes, cesses, and surcharges, but returned only Rs 50-53,000 crore, equating to just Rs 12-13 for every Rs 100 collected, including Rs 37,000 crore in tax share and Rs 13,005 crore for central-sponsored schemes.

“Over the past six years, the union government’s budget has nearly doubled. In 2018-19, the budget was Rs 24,42,213 crore, with Karnataka receiving Rs 46,288 crore. By 2023-24, the budget grew to Rs 45,03,097 crore, but Karnataka received only Rs 50,257 crore. Despite the budget doubling, Karnataka’s share remained unchanged,” he noted.

“After recognising the significant injustice done to Karnataka, the 15th Finance Commission recommended a special grant of Rs 5,495 crore for the state. However, this recommendation was rejected by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is a representative from Karnataka. As a result, Karnataka did not receive the recommended funds,” he alleged.

“Due to the central government’s discriminatory policies, Karnataka has been deprived of its rightful share of Rs 1,87,867 crore from 2017-18 to the present. This amount is more than half of Karnataka’s revised budget size of Rs 3.24 lakh crore. Specifically, it equates to 57 per cent of the current fiscal year’s (2024-25) budget. This significant financial loss has occurred since the BJP-led central government took power.”

Additionally, the 15th Finance Commission recommended Rs 3,000 crore for Bengaluru’s Peripheral Ring Road and Rs 3,000 crore for water resource development, including lakes. However, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman rejected these recommendations, resulting in a loss of approximately Rs 11,495 crore for the state, he claimed.

“Over the past ten years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have unjustly allocated taxes and grants to states governed by opposition parties. It is ironic that Nirmala Sitharaman, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha by Karnataka, has acted against the state’s interests. Given her actions, she lacks the moral authority to speak about Karnataka’s financial status,” he added.