Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth urge Centre to set up Cauvery Management Board

Agencies
March 29, 2018

Chennai, Mar 29: Veteran actor and Makkal Neethi Mayyam founder-president Kamal Haasan on Thursday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to set up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) at the earliest.

"My appeal to the prime minister is, please sir, you have the authority to create this CMB and you must do it. Please," Haasan said, addressing a news conference here.

"The prime minister can do (it) if he wants to. It is a simple, basic requirement. The people of Tamil Nadu and the farmers require water," he added.

The chorus for setting up of the CMB and Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) in the state has been growing by the day ever since the Supreme court gave its verdict on February 16 on the vexed issue involving Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Tamil Nadu's stand is that Centre must constitute the panel within six weeks from the day the apex court gave its verdict, which would be March 29, i.e. today.

Besides the ruling AIADMK, various political parties including the DMK besides several farmers' outfits have been stressing for setting up of the CMB to ensure that Tamil Nadu gets its due share of water from the inter-state river.

Haasan's contemporary, 'Superstar' Rajinikanth too had tweeted earlier in the day backing the establishment of the CMB, saying it was the "only just solution acceptable to all."

Haasan said setting up of the CMB was not a "big deal" and said there should be no political considerations in this issue.

"If there is politics in this (issue), then it is for votes. Please see what is required for the people," he said.

The actor added he has sought an appointment with Chief Minister K Palaniswami to discuss the matter.

Asked if he would stage a protest in Delhi to persuade the Centre to set up the Cauvery panels at the earliest, he said, "It can be done if required," and asked the scribes if they too would join him.

He also supported the idea of MPs from Tamil Nadu quitting in protest over the issue.

The actor-politician further said he would join the locals protesting against the expansion of a Sterlite Copper smelter plant in Tuticorin on Sunday.

On the CBSE paper leak, Haasan said the students who had appeared for the exams were not at fault and that they had not copied or done anything wrong.

"They cannot be punished" for the mistakes of the government or authorities, he added.

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News Network
January 31,2020

New Delhi, Jan 31: Slamming the BJP over the Jamia firing incident, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said such incidents were possible with the ruling party's leaders inciting people to shoot, and asked Prime minister Narendra Modi to answer whether he stands with violence or non-violence.   

Her attack on the government comes a day after tensions in the Jamia area spiralled on Thursday after a man fired a pistol at a group of anti-CAA protesters, injuring a student, before walking away while waving the firearm above his head and shouting "Yeh lo aazadi" amid heavy police presence in the area.

"When the BJP government ministers and party leaders incite people to shoot, give provocative speeches, then all this becomes possible. The Prime Minister should answer what kind of a Delhi he wants to build?" Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

Does the PM stand with violence or non-violence, she asked.

"Does he stand with development or with anarchy?" the Congress general secretary said.

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News Network
May 8,2020

New Delhi, May 8: India's count of COVID-19 cases on Friday rose to 56,342 including 1,886 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Currently, there are 37,916 active cases while 16,539 COVID-19 positive patients have been cured/discharged and one has migrated.

Maharashtra has the highest number of cases with 18,120 followed by Gujarat with 7,013 cases and Delhi with 5,980 cases.

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News Network
March 25,2020

New Delhi, Mar 25: The Congress said on Wednesday that it stood with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his appeal for 21-day lockdown but was "deeply disappointed by the lack of coherent strategy" and demanded that Rs 7,500 should be transferred to every Jan Dhan, PM Kisan and pension account to tide over the nutrition needs for 21-days.
It also demanded that the Public Distribution System (PDS) ration should be given free.
In a series of tweets, Congress Communications in-charge Randeep Singh Surejwala said that the need of the hour was to implement 'Minimum Income Guarantee Scheme' (Nyay) mooted by the Congress and party leader Rahul Gandhi.
"Please transfer Rs 7,500 to every Jan Dhan, PM Kisan, and every pension account to tide over nutrition needs of 21 days and give free PDS ration. We will rise together as a nation and defeat COVID-19. We stand with lockdown but are deeply disappointed by the lack of coherent strategy or a clear 'way ahead' on your part," he said.
Surjewala asked what steps the government took despite an early warning about COVID-19 and sought details about isolation beds and ventilators available to people.
"Dear PM, India will adhere to the lockdown but what steps did the govt take to tackle the corona pandemic despite early warnings in Feb? When will doctors, nurses and health workers have adequate protection? How many 'isolation beds' and ventilators are available and where?" he said.
He asked how daily wagers and labourers will sustain during the 21-day lockdown.
"What's your plan to address the huge issue of bread and butter and livelihood for millions? How will daily wagers, labourers, MGNREGA workers, factory workers, unorganised workers, fishermen, farmers and farm labour sustain for 21 days?" he asked.
Surjewala said the crying need is to arm doctors, nurses and health workers with personal protection equipment and asked: "why are N-95 masks, Hazmat suits not available?"
"In March itself, India needs 7.25 lakh bodysuits, 60 lakh N-95 masks, 1 crore 3 ply masks? When will they be available?" he asked.
Surjewala said that the government banned the export of ventilators, respiratory devices and sanitisers only yesterday on March 24, "84 days after the spread of COVID-19."
"Is this your government's 'Modus operandi' to fight coronavirus? Too little, Too late!," he said.
Noting that two-thirds of the country's population is engaged in agriculture, he said that Prime Minister Modi did not refer to farmers during his address to the nation and demanded a moratorium on farmers' loans.
"Crop is ready for harvest in March itself. How will it be harvested and sold and who will buy at fair price? Indebtedness relief to farmers is the only way forward in these testing times. Please put a moratorium on farmers' loans and recoveries. Please ensure the procurement of crops at MSP. Let's not forget that farmers are the backbone of India's economy," he said.
Surjewala said the Prime Minister gave only four hours to prepare for 21-day lockdown.
"Did you think of over 5 lakh truck drivers, who are now stranded on roads? Did you think of millions of workers, who are stranded in cities away from home without food or money? What should they do," he asked.

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