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Fuel price hike sparks protests across twin districts; political parties slam UPA

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar, Suresh )
May 25, 2012

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Mangalore, May 24: The steepest ever hike in the price of petrol spread anger across the coastal Karnataka, with people venting ire at the Central Government through protests and demonstrations under the banner of various political organisations in cities like Mangalore and Udupi.

Political parties and organisations such as Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Democratic Youth Federation of India and Nagarika Samiti took out took out rallies in the headquarters of twin coastal districts shouting slogans against the UPA government and accusing it of being indifferent towards the people's problems.

The protesters urged the people to prepare for the nationwide bundh on May 31 to pressurise the Congress led government. The bundh call was given by both BJP led National Democratic Alliance and Left Parties.

The agitators singled out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh “failing to check fuel price rise despite being an economist”.

Poor and lower middle class families would have to bear the brunt of increase in prices of fuel, said Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel while addressing the protesters in front of the office of Deputy Commissioner, here on Thursday.

“In a welfare country like India, the UPA government betrayed the people by allowing fuel to be determined by the market. Although there was no change in crude oil price internationally, the government revised the price to benefit oil companies,” he said.

Mr Kateel said that his party would demand an immediate and complete rollback. “If there is no rollback, it will be the last chapter of your political history,” he warned.

Demanding the resignation of the PM, he said: “The government is neck-deep in corruption. Despite the PM being an economist, our economy has been ailing for long”, he added.

In Udupi, members of Zilla Nagarika Samiti staged a unique protest by pushing two-wheelers from Diana Circle and later carried the two-wheelers from Clock Tower accompanied by the music of traditional drummers.

Soon after the Centre announced the petrol price hike on Wednesday DFYI members in Mangalore had initiated the protest by taking out a rally from DC office to Rao and Rao Circle.

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News Network
February 3,2020

Mumbai, Feb 3: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has accused the BJP-led central government of siding with Karnataka in the Supreme Court over the Belgaum border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra.

"I am committed toward a unified Maharashtra... Whatever is happening in Belgaum is shocking. I will meet the committee looking after this matter. The central government is a guardian of all states and is expected to be unbiased towards all states, but it is shocking that Centre is taking sides with Karnataka in Supreme Court for last the five years. This is really shocking," Thackeray said in an interview with Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana.

On December 7 last year, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had chaired a high-level meeting over the border dispute between the two states.

It was decided in the meeting that attempts will be made to get fast track hearing on the border issue in the Supreme Court.

Earlier on January 19, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had said that Belgaum border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra is a long-pending dispute but can be resolved if Union Home Minister wants.

"If Home Ministry can resolve Kashmir issue and abrogate Article 370 then I think this border issue can be resolved too if Amit Shah wants. The matter comes under the Home Ministry. It is a long-pending issue. He should pay attention to this too," he said while speaking to ANI in Belagavi.

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News Network
February 3,2020

New Delhi, Feb 3: Congress leader BK Hariprasad on Monday condemned BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde's remark on Mahatma Gandhi and termed him as "son" of Nathuram Godse, the assassin of the freedom fighter.

"Only sons of Nathuram Godse can make such comments on Mahatma Gandhi," Hariprasad said.

Hedge had attacked Mahatma Gandhi by calling the freedom struggle led by him a "drama" and also questioned as to how "such people" come to be called 'Mahatma' in India.

"None of these so-called leaders were beaten up by the cops even once. Their independence movement was one big drama. It was staged by these leaders with the approval of the British. It was not a genuine fight. It was an adjustment freedom struggle," he had said.

The Trinamool Congress also lent its support to Congress as its leader Saugata Roy said people like Anant Hegde cause shame to the nation. "We are a supporter of Gandhi and they (BJP) are Nathuram Godse supporters. People of this country should see how BJP MPs are as they insult father of the nation," he added.

BJP leaders too found it difficult to defend Hegde on the controversial remarks.

Senior leader Jagdambika pal was cautious in his defence and said, "The whole world knows about Gandhi and it may be his personal opinion."

Whereas senior BJP leaders avoid commenting on Hegde, Union Minister Ashwani Choubey said that Hegde should not have made the comment and added that Gandhi is a well-respected figure in the nation.

Another BJP MP from Haryana Sanjay Bhatia also tried to shy away from making a direct comment and instead said," Congress did not implement what Gandhi preached. It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi who implemented Gandhi's teachings in letter and spirit."

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News Network
August 5,2020

Bengaluru, Aug 4: Deputy Chief Minister Dr.CN Ashwathnarayan instructed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Manjunatha Prasad to set up a separate high-level committee to ascertain the exact cause of coronavirus-related deaths in the state.

He spoke to reporters after a meeting with Prasad on Tuesday.

"The committee, headed by senior officials will audit the reason for the increase in death cases. Has there been a death due to treatment delay? Or are there any shortcomings in the treatment process?" the deputy chief minister said.

He pointed out that based on the report, the committee should try to correct the deficiency and reduce the death rate.

"How many beds are in which hospital? How many patients are on a ventilator? How many have gone home from the hospital? Etc. All information needs to be updated online at the moment. He suggested that this information should be made available to the public online," Ashwaththanarayana said.

Stating that some hospitals are not giving details about the number of beds correctly, he instructed the commissioners to take legal action if differences in their data are found.

He said that there is a shortage of ASHA workers in the city and it needs to be hired immediately.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there are 74,477 active COVID-19 cases in Karnataka and the death toll in the state is at 2,594. 

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