Rahul Gandhi sparks row in Punjab, Akalis call him 'national joke'

October 12, 2012

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Chandigarh, October 12: Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh may be going to polls, but it's Punjab where Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi has created a political storm. Reacting to his remark that "seven out of 10 youth in Punjab are addicted to drugs," the Punjab government hit back saying, "Rahul is a national joke" and sought an apology from him.

This sharp reaction came from Harcharan Bains, advisor to Punjab chief minister on media and national affairs, after Rahul raised the issue of drug addiction while addressing a students' rally here at the Panjab University (PU) campus on Thursday.

"Rahul Gandhi is a national joke. He invites youth of Punjab and then refers to them as drug addicts. Is he mindful of what he is speaking and to whom?" asked Bains.

Rahul, on a two-day visit to Punjab during which he met state Congress leaders at Amritsar, had said, "Youth have the power and knowledge. They could be the solution to all the ills. But what's happening to this human resource in Punjab? The problem of drug addiction is high in Punjab and the government has not shown any seriousness in solving it. Unemployment is also on a high."

Senior Congress leaders said Rahul seemed to have done his home work, basing his attack on an affidavit filed by the Punjab government with the Punjab and Haryana High Court in May 2009 that "Punjab is in the grip of drugs that weakens the morale, physique and character of the youth."

However, deputy CM Sukhbir Badal rubbished Rahul's statement citing the court observation saying, "Rahul Gandhi is trying to malign the youth of Punjab and specially the Sikh youth."

"Congress's policy was first to dub our youth terrorists. Now, they want to put the stigma of drugs on them. I am shocked at the statistics he has announced. Before making such allegations, he should look at the rape cases in a state ruled by his party," Sukhbir told TOI. He blamed the Congress of trying to divert the country's attention from the recent scams.

"Contraband is smuggled through Pakistan through international border and it travels through Punjab before being supplied at other places. Security of international border is the responsibility of government of India and we have no control over it. However, amount of drug seized and number of accused arrested by Punjab police is historic in the last few months," he added.

During his speech, Rahul also lashed out at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP government in Punjab for "not keeping its promise of pension for all unemployed in the state and for not using scholarships meant for SC/ST students."

"Earlier, Punjab had announced pension for unemployed in the state. But, they forgot this promise. Now, they say this pension would be given to only those whose names are registered with the state employment exchange," he said.

"While the Centre has been sending scholarships for SC and ST students in Punjab, the state government has been returning them," he added.

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News Network
January 9,2020

Dubai, Jan 9: A roadshow promoting Gujarat as an education hub of India will be held here from January 17, officials said.

Representatives of 22 universities and four colleges from Gujarat will be part of the two-day event organised by the Indian Consulate in Dubai.

"The roadshow will provide a glimpse of the thriving education sector in Gujarat and enable the interested candidates to get a first-hand understanding of the rich resources of the state in order to pursue higher education," according to a statement released by the Indian Consulate here on Wednesday.

A delegation led by Gujarat's Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama will take part in the event under the 'Study in Gujarat' campaign, the statement said.

The Principal Secretary of the state's Higher and Technical Education, Anju Sharma, will participate in the roadshow, which will conclude on January 18.

The participating educational institutions include Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gujarat Forensic Science University, Nirma University, LD College of Engineering, Gujarat Arts and Science College, Vishwakarma Government College and SAL College.

"In the last decade and a half, Gujarat has been successful in establishing its identity as the leading educational hub of India. State of the art infrastructure, safe environment, curriculum at par with international standards and industry exposure gives students an edge during the course of their study," the statement said.

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News Network
March 31,2020

Hyderabad, Mar 31: Six people from Telangana who attended a religious congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin died due to the novel coronavirus, the state government said on Monday.

"Coronavirus has spread among some of those who attended a religious prayer meeting from March 13 to 15 at Markaz in Nizamuddin area in Delhi," according to an official release. "Among those who attended were some persons from Telangana."

Two of the six died at the Gandhi Hospital, one each in two private hospitals, and one each in Nizamabad and Gadwal towns, the statement said, without mentioning the time of their deaths.

The special teams under the collectors have identified the persons who came in contact with the deceased and they are shifted to the hospitals, it said.

Police and paramilitary personnel cordoned off a major area in Nizamuddin West in south Delhi on Monday and over 200 people have been kept in isolation in hospitals after several people who took part in a religious congregation there showed symptoms of coronavirus.

The Telagana government asked those who participated in the prayers to inform the authorities. It will conduct tests and offer treatment to them free of cost, according to the release.

The government also requested the people to alert if they come to know about those who participated in the prayers.

Earlier a separate government release said a person died of COVID-19 in Telangana, taking the toll to two and the total number touched 77 after six fresh cases were reported on Monday.

As many as 13 patients who underwent treatment for the virus were discharged on Monday, a media bulletin on COVID-19 issued by the state government said.

A techie, the first COVID-19 case in Telangana, has been discharged recently. The state now has 61 active cases, the bulletin said.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had on Sunday said barring a 76-year-old person, who had other ailments, the other patients were doing well.

Rao had said 25,937 people were under surveillance and being watched by 5,746 teams and they would be out of watch after completing their mandated 14-day quarantine period. He had said all those who are under observation would be out of vigil by April 7 if there are no fresh suspected cases.

"From March 30, their time is nearing completion. After that, they do not need to be under any surveillance. By April 7, we will have a situation of zero... We pray God that we should not get new cases,"

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News Network
February 26,2020

Feb 26: In his first reaction to incidents of violence in Delhi which have left at least 20 people dead, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appealed for peace and brotherhood, and said he has held an extensive review of the prevailing situation in various parts of the national capital.

He also said it was important that calm and normalcy was restored at the earliest.

“Had an extensive review on the situation prevailing in various parts of Delhi. Police and other agencies are working on the ground to ensure peace and normalcy,” Modi tweeted.

Stressing that peace and harmony are “central to our ethos”, Modi said, “I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Delhi to maintain peace and brotherhood at all times.”

At least 20 people have been killed since Sunday in communal violence in Northeast Delhi, triggered after clashes between pro and anti-CAA protestors over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

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