Ramya taunts Modi govt in congratulatory tweet to Nirmala Sitharaman

News Network
June 1, 2019

Bengaluru, Jun 1: Former actress and Congress spokesperson Ramya aka Divya Spandana while congratulating BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman for becoming only the second woman in India's political history to be appointed as the Union Finance Minister, indirectly took a dig at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led union government for the slump in the country's economic growth.

"Congratulations @nsitharaman on taking charge of a portfolio that was only last held by another woman, Indira Gandhiji in 1970 -- makes us womenfolk proud! The GDP not looking great, I'm sure you will do your best to revive the economy. You have our support. Best wishes," her tweet read.

Data released by the government showed that India's growth had fallen to 5.8% in the January-March period, putting it behind China -- which logged 6.4% -- for the first time in one-and-a-half years. This also meant that the economy logged an average growth of 6.8% for the 2018-19 financial year, lower than the earlier estimate of 7%.

Nirmala Sitharaman, who was the Union Defence Minister in the NDA government's first stint, was appointed as the Finance Minister earlier in the day. "Honoured and humbled by the opportunity given to serve the nation under your leadership. As a karyakarta, grateful to my party BJP," she tweeted soon afterwards, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Arun Jaitley, the previous Finance Minister, had opted out of the government on health grounds. Nirmala Sitharaman's main responsibilities would be to arrest the country's flagging economy, besides finding the money to fund PM Modi's campaign promises without undermining the budget deficit target of 3.4% of the Gross Domestic Product for the year through March 2020. Having worked as a research manager for audit firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in London, her appointment has been generally favoured by industry leaders.

Indira Gandhi had held the finance ministry as an additional portfolio while fulfilling her main responsibilities as the country's Prime Minister in the 1970s.

Nirmala Sitharaman, who is represented in the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, was given the important portfolio after the National Democratic Alliance won 352 seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections -- restricting the opposition alliance to 91. The BJP scored 303 seats on its own.

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coastaldigest.com web desk
May 22,2020

Newsroom, May 22: Countless netizens including Indians have hailed the action taken by Jazan University of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against a high-ranking Indian expatriate who had posted called Indian Muslims as radicals.  

Social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook flooded with appreciation after the University announced on Twitter that the professor, who had posted objectionable messsages, had been fired. The university, however, did not disclose the name of the professor. 

On its Twitter account, Jazan University wrote, “Based on what was monitored by the university about the publication of a contracted faculty member for offensive posts and tweets, his registration has already been folded. #JazanUniversity affirms that it resolutely addresses any perverted or extremist ideas that affect the constants or violate the directions of good leadership.”

After the university’s announcement, many on Twitter posted screenshots of the communal tweets claiming that the professor is Neeraj Bedi and made it clear that the dismissed professor is an Indian.

Bedi has been working as full time Professor in Faculty of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in Jazan University for years.

In his Twitter account, which does not currently exist, he was praising PM Modi and spewing poison against Islam and holding Muslims responsible for the spread of Coronavirus. It is believed that the account was deleted after the protests became severe.

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News Network
March 29,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 29: Escoms have been directed neither to penalise its customers nor go for disconnection if one fails to pay the bill. The relief is applicable till June. However, the entire bill will have to be paid at the end of three months.

The revised power tariff, which was to be announced on April 1, has also been deferred.

A similar three-month relief has been given on rentals for APMC and BBMP shops.

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 18,2020

Bengaluru, May 18: Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa today announced lockdown relaxations from tomorrow (May 19) across the state. As per new guidelines public transport services will start operations outside COVID-19 containment zones in the state. 

 “To facilitate easy movements of citizens, services of the BMTC, KSRTC, NEKRTC and NWKRTC will start from Tuesday morning, except in containment zones. Even private buses can ply,” Yediyurappa said, after discussing the Centre's Lockdown 4.0 guidelines with his Cabinet colleagues and officials. 

“The only condition is that only 30 people should travel in one bus so as to ensure social distancing,” the CM said. 

He also clarified that bus fares will not be hiked. “I know there will be losses incurred. The government will bear the losses,” he said. 

Auto rickshaws, taxis and maxi cabs (six-passenger vehicles) will also be allowed to operate. “Auto rickshaws and taxis will have a driver and two passengers. Maxi cabs will have a driver and three passengers,” Yediyurappa said. 

All parks in the state will be open 7 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. 

Starting Tuesday, all shops except malls and theatres can open. “This includes salons,” the CM said. 

All relaxation will cease to exist every Sunday, the CM said. “Every Sunday will be a complete lockdown. There’ll be no shops and the movement of people. It’ll be a complete rest day,” he said. 

The existing curfew from 7 pm to 7 am will continue on all days, which means public transport services will not be allowed during this time. 

Trains will run within the state, but interstate trains will not be allowed till May 31, the CM said. 

It is mandatory for citizens to wear masks in public. “Not wearing a mask will be penalised,” Yediyurappa said. 

On the classification of zones, Yediyurappa said the government's main focus was containment zones. “We're particular about containment zones. In the Karwar district, for example, Bhatkal will be a containment zone and no other taluk will have restrictions,” he said. 

However, the government will review the relaxation based on how things pan out. “States have been given the freedom, so we can withdraw or modify as necessary,” he said.

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