Can’t afford a car? 67% of UP MLAs are crorepatis

July 5, 2012

MLAcrore

Lucknow, July 5: Having invited comparisons with Mayawati's profligate ways, a rattled UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday reversed his decision to allow all legislators to purchase four-wheelers worth up to Rs 20 lakh by dipping into their local area development fund.

This is the second time in three weeks that Akhilesh has been forced to revoke his decision within 24 hours. Last month, he rescinded his order of shutting down malls and shops at 7pm to tackle the power crisis.

"I take back the decision. The reason for this is that most of the MLAs have decided not to take the offer after media criticism," a visibly upset Akhilesh said. "I felt that since MLAs have to move constantly, a vehicle will help them visit remote areas and monitor development effectively. But the media painted the decision as if it was against public interest," he said. The spirit of the decision, he added, was not understood.

An upset Akhilesh Yadav defended his "car fund" for legislators as meant only for those who could not afford one, but the chief minister's argument doesn't really wash.

According to analysis by an NGO, out of 403 MLAs in UP, 271 (67%) are crorepatis. There are only six MLAs who have declared assets less than Rs 5 lakh. Among the main parties, the average assets per candidate for SP is Rs 2.52 crore; for BSP it's Rs 4.44 crore; for BJP it's Rs 4.01 crore; and for Congress Rs 4.61 crore.

Akhilesh said many legislators had told him that they had vehicles that were seven to eight years old and were no longer suited to travelling large distances. It was after the media hype that MLAs refused to buy a car with the area development fund, he said.

But incongruously, after blaming the media, Akhilesh said the rollback should be seen as a sign of healthy democracy where due weightage is given to the "positive" suggestions by the opposition parties.

BSP's leader of opposition Swami Prasad Maurya welcomed the move but gave credit to the opposition for the rollback. He said the opposition pressure forced the government to revoke its decision to use MLA funds for buying personal cars.

"This and his earlier decision to shut malls at 7pm show that the CM is immature," he said, adding some ministers were the real force behind the decision.

BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said there was something wrong with Akhilesh's advisers. The Congress, however, was all praise.

Akhilesh Pratap Singh of Congress said, "By taking the decision back, the government has shown it has the courage to rectify a wrong as everyone said it would not send a good message."

Among main parties, the average assets per candidate for SP is Rs 2.52 crore; for BSP it's Rs 4.44 crore; for Congress Rs 4.61 crore, and for BJP it's Rs 4.01 crore.


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Agencies
March 8,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 8: Five more people from

Kerala have tested positive for coronavirus, Health minister, K K Shailaja said on Sunday.

All the five hail from Pathnamthitta district.

While three of them had returned from Italy on February 29, two others were their relatives, the minister said.

All the five have been isolated in Pathnamathitta general hospital and are under observation.

Their tests were confirmed on Saturday night.

Earlier, India's first three positive cases had been reported from the state.

All the three patients, medical students from Wuhan, have been treated and discharged from hospitals.

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News Network
March 29,2020

Theni, Mar 29: A young man under home quarantine for coronavirus after return from Sri Lanka suddenly ran out of his house and fatally bit a 80-year old woman in his neighbourhood in a village near here, police said on Saturday.

The woman with injuries in her neck was hospitalised late Friday after the incident but died on Saturday without responding to treatment, they said.

The man, a resident of Jakkamanayakanpatti and engaged in seasonal business in clothing, was overpowered and handed over to police, who arrested him and investigations were on.

He had recently returned from Sri Lanka and directed to remain under quarantine by health authorities as per the protocol for foreign returnees to check coronavirus spread.

He came out of his house on Friday evening and all of a sudden, denuded himself and began running through the street.

Shocked family members including his father gave a chase even as he caught hold of Nachiyammal, seated on her house’s front yard and bit hard her neck.

The man’s kin overpowered him and admitted the woman to nearby Bodi Government Hospital where doctors on Saturday said she succumbed to her injuries, not responding to treatment. Health authorities were unavailable for comments immediately.

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News Network
May 12,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, May 12: Kerala Government on Tuesday issued modified guidelines for infrastructure arrangements and procedures to be followed to ensure smooth interstate movement of stranded persons during the lockdown.

"Necessary permission, if any, required from the State where you are presently located need to be taken for ensuring a smooth journey till Kerala border," read the order by the state government.

It has also made it clear that people will only be allowed to travel if they have the permit from the state government and local authorities.

"You are requested to start the journey only after receiving the travel permit from the Government of Kerala and the local authority of your present location to avoid any problem during travel. Those who reach at the check post without passes will not be allowed entry," it further read.

The orders by the government further read:

*To maintain social distancing norms, only 4 persons will be permitted to travel in a car, 5 in an SUV, 10 in a van and 25 in a bus. The maximum number of passengers in a van /bus will be half of the seating capacity).

*Keep sanitiser, use masks and maintain physical distancing throughout the journey.

*An exit and entry pass/passes shall be issued by the District Collectors to those persons who seek to go outside states to bring back their stranded child/ children, spouse and parent/s.

*Everybody including those coming from red zones shall remain under home quarantine for 14 days from the date of arrival.

*Only priority groups and persons will be allowed entry passes:

a) Those from neighbouring states seeking Medical aid in Kerala

b) Pregnant ladies with family

c) Family members including children separated due to lockdown

d) Students

e) Senior citizens with family members

f) Persons who had lost a job.

The guidelines further added that all luggage must be disinfected and temperature checks must be carried out with Infrared flash thermometer among other things.

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