Will not tolerate any mischief by youngsters: Gowda

May 6: Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Tuesday termed as "inhumane" the government's decision to "impose excessive costs" on NRIs and expatriates for bringing them into the country from COVID-19-affected nations.

He demanded that the central government fly in the poor and vulnerable free of cost while charge the others with normal fares instead of high costs.

"The central government's decision to impose excessive costs on NRIs flying in special flights from the Covid-affected countries is an inhumane act," he said in a statement.

Venugopal said it was due to protests by a large number of expatriates and their relatives as well as the general public over the past few days that the central government took the decision to bring back Indian citizens from abroad.

"However, it is cruel that the Central government has taken advantage of this plight of expatriates by increasing the price of air fares up to three times. This is inhumane," Venugopal said in his statement.

He urged the Centre to take urgent steps to provide free travel to the most vulnerable, unemployed, sick and pregnant women and to others on normal fare.

Air India will operate 64 repatriation flights for a week from May 7 while the Navy deployed two ships as India rolled out a massive evacuation plan on Tuesday to bring back thousands of its nationals stranded abroad due to the coronavirus-triggered lockdown.

Those availing the repatriation flights will be charged, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told a virtual press conference in New Delhi. A passenger on a London-Delhi flight will be charged Rs 50,000 and on a Dhaka-Delhi flight Rs 12,000, he added.

From the Gulf countries to Malaysia and the UK to the US, the multi-agency operation christened 'Vande Bharat Mission' will see the state-owned airline operate the non-scheduled commercial flights till May 13 to ferry around 15,000 Indian nationals from 12 countries.

Bengaluru, Jun 20: Former Chief Minister and Congress Legislative Party leader Siddaramaiah has slammed BJP leader and former Congress MP and MLA H Vishwanath for blaming him for not getting MLC ticket.

Siddaramaiah said, "H Vishwanath is neither a fool nor intelligent, that's why he's blaming me for not getting ticket. He is in BJP and I'm in congress how will I influence his ticket."

He also slammed Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa, "Yediyurappa is toothless to speak to PM and asking for funds which need to be allotted to Karnataka including 5,049 crores, which 15th finance Commission suggested."

"No pro-people schemes must be stopped including Indira canteen, Yediyurappa thinks Indira canteen will bring good name to me that's why this government is trying to stop it," he added.

He was speaking after a protest organised at Mysuru against the hike in fuel prices.

Mangaluru, Apr 25: In the backdrop of protest staged by locals against the cremation of a 75-year-old woman, who was tested positive for coronavirus, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B on Friday stated that there is no chance of anyone getting infected from a corpse.

Protocols, as laid by the Centre with regard to cremation of Covid-19 patients, will be followed, said Sindhu in a statement.

The release added that the COVID-19 victims would be buried as per their religious customs. Not more than 20 people would be allowed to perform the last rites. Even closest relatives of the deceased would not be allowed to touch or bathe the body, the release said.