Centre to Introduce Bill to Amend Disaster Management Act in Lok Sabha Today 2
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will introduce a bill to amend the Disaster Management Act, 2005, in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will move a statutory resolution to amend the First Schedule of the Customs Tariff Act.
According to the list of business, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi will move a motion in support of the second report of the Business Advisory Committee presented to the House on July 31.
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal will move a motion for election of two members to the advisory council of the Delhi Development Authority.
The Lok Sabha will see further discussion and voting on the Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Railways for 2024-25.
Discussion on Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Education for 2024-25 will also be taken up in the Lower House of Parliament.
Discussion and voting on Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for 2024-25 is also slated for the day.
Union MoS Ravneet Singh will move a motion for election of two members to the Council of the National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM).
He will also make a statement regarding the status of implementation of the recommendations contained in the 67th Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing on ‘Scheme for Creation/Expansion of Food Processing and Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC)’.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha will see further discussion on the working of the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry on Thursday, which MP Ghanshyam Tiwari raised on July 31.
The Upper House will also discuss the working of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry.
Union MoS for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse is slated to make statements in the Rajya Sabha regarding the status of implementation of recommendations contained in various reports of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports.
Pinarayi Vijayan,kerala,Chief Minister | Image : PTI
Hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah told the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that the Centre had alerted the Kerala government on July 23, warning of possible danger in and around Wayanad, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan refuted the claim but sought to play down the issue, saying it was no time for a blame game.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the disaster has reached 205 and around 200 continue to be missing, even as search efforts continue amid the heavy rains in the affected areas on Wednesday evening.
Speaking to the media here, Vijayan stressed that the need of the hour is not to engage in a blame game, while terming parts of what the Union Home Minister said as true and parts as untrue.
“I do not wish to engage in a blame game now as the people in Wayanad are going through untold misery on account of the massive landslide, but the fact of the matter is that there were predictions that came out and they never mentioned a red alert in the affected area. In fact, the red alert came on Tuesday at 6 a.m., when the tragedy occurred several hours before,” he said.
“The IMD had predicted rains to the tune of 115 mm to 204 mm rains at the affected areas, but actually in the first 24 hours, there was 200 mm and in the next 24 hours, 372 mm rains came down making it a staggering 572 mm in 48 hours, much more than predicted. So with these being the facts, I wish to state, that this is not the time for wrangling,” Vijayan added.
The Chief Minister also said that there was no prediction of landslides from the Geological Survey of India and when these came, the tragedy had already taken place.
“Then there was an alert from the Central Water Commission and it said that from July 23 to 29, not for one single day … of the two rivers which got swollen, there was no mention at all. What was said in the Parliament is not true,” he said, adding that there was a mention that the NDRF was sent early, “but the fact is we asked for it”.
“The need of the hour is climate change disasters have to be dealt with seriously and let us not engage in a blame game… people are in tragedy, let us soothe them,” he said.
Vijayan said about 1,200 rescue officials from various agencies are presently at work in the four worst-affected landslide areas of Wayanad district — Churalpara, Velarimala, Mundakayil, and Pothukalu.
“These areas, for all practical purposes, have been completely destroyed. The rescue teams have so far rescued 1,592 people and now there are 8,017 people in 82 relief camps. 201 people were treated in hospitals and now there are 90 under treatment. The rescue efforts are continuing and tribal families are being moved… for those not willing to move, food will be given. Medical facilities are being extended in a big way, with medical professionals from the private and cooperative sectors having joined the state government health officials,” he said.
Vijayan said in most of the affected areas, the electric power lines have been restored and the state electricity board has suffered a loss of Rs 3 crore.
SS (UBT) MP Chaturvedi Questions Edu Minister About Coaching Centres, Accountability of NTA 5
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned the Centre over the “accountability” of the National Testing Agency (NTA), burgeoning coaching centres and the steps taken to stop “brain drain” in the country.
During Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned the government’s measures to address these issues, particularly in the context of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the Common University Entrance Test (CUET).
“My question was regarding accountability and the NTA being answerable to the Parliament of India. I haven’t got the answer. However, the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 specifies that NTA will work to offer high-quality common aptitude tests, which shall aim to eliminate the need for coaching for these exams.
“Is the government aware that the Common University Entrance Test (CUET), designed in consonance with NEP, has led to the cropping up of more coaching centres across the country?” the Rajya Sabha MP asked.
She further questioned the steps being taken against such coaching centres, which “contradict the aim of the exam.”
Priyanka Chaturvedi also expressed hope that the NTA chairperson would address these issues in detail before a Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Further questioning the government over the ‘brain drain’ and NEET irregularities, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader asked if there was any data available to show whether students were moving abroad to pursue medical degrees due to “irregularities in NEET testing, usage of unfair means in the examinations and low number of seats in government medical colleges.”
“What is the government doing to stop this brain drain?” she further asked.
Responding to these concerns, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan asserted that the NTA was accountable at multiple levels, including to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
“The fact that the Chairman allowed the question being asked and I am answering, is the Parliamentary accountability,” he said.
Pradhan also highlighted the government’s efforts to improve the education sector, noting that over the last six years, more than five crore students have successfully appeared for various exams and gained admission to prestigious institutes.
He stressed the significant increase in medical seats since 2014, from 51,000 to 11,00,000 and reiterated the government’s commitment to establishing a medical college in each district.
Regarding coaching centres, the Union Education Minister said, “I don’t mind saying that coaching centres should not exist. The education sector should be enhanced to provide quality education without the need for additional coaching.”
Coaching Centre Deaths: Delhi HC Summons MCD Commissioner, DCP, IO 7
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday summoned the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and Investigating Officer (IO) over the deaths of three UPSC aspirants in the city’s Old Rajendra Nagar on July 27.
A Bench presided over by Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) Manmohan was hearing a PIL seeking the constitution of a high-level committee to enquire into the incident wherein three UPSC aspirants died in a basement following heavy rain.
The Bench, also comprising Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, raised eyebrows over the “freebie culture”, observing that the city government was left with no money to upgrade infrastructure.
It remarked, “You have to decide on this freebie culture. There is a population of 3.3 crore people in this city whereas it was planned for 6-7 lakh people. How do you plan to accommodate so many people without upgrading infra?”
On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court agreed to a urgent hearing of the PIL on Wednesday.
ACJ Manmohan assured advocate Rudra Vikram Singh, who appeared on behalf of the PIL litigant and mentioned the plea for an urgent hearing, that the matter will be listed on Wednesday.
The PIL said that due to “huge corruption” in public departments many people have been losing their lives for years and the national Capital has faced many terrible and scary incidents in the past few years.
“In Delhi, more than 50 per cent of the commercial buildings are running in an illegal manner and many of them are running in residential areas that, too, without having any proper approval and clearances, and the respondents (authorities) are well aware of their illegal functioning but are allowing them just for the sake of some bribery amount,” it said.
The plea said that the right to die with dignity is also a Fundamental Right like the right to life with dignity as provided by Article 21 of the Constitution of India, however, the Delhi authorities failed to provide life with dignity or at least the right to die with dignity to the citizens and people are dying because of their “negligence”.
It may be recalled that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday formed a committee to enquire into the incident that claimed three lives in the national Capital.
The committee, comprising the Additional Secretary (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs), Principal Secretary (Home) Delhi, Special Commissioner of Delhi Police, Fire Advisor, and the Joint Secretary (MHA), will submit its report within 30 days.
On Saturday evening, three UPSC aspirants lost their lives after heavy rainfall led to waterlogging in the basement of a coaching institute in Delhi’s Old Rajendra Nagar area, which was being used illegally as a library.
The incident trapped 17 other students for several hours, highlighting the dire safety issues in these establishments.
The basement of the coaching centre was used as a library in violation of the rules since the space was allowed to be used only for parking and storage purposes.
Uddhav Thackeray Seeks PM Modi’s Intervention to Resolve Maharashtra Caste Row 9
Shiv Sena (UBT) President and ex-chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to resolve the Maratha-OBC caste quotas imbroglio that has created upheavals in Maharashtra.
Addressing media persons, Thackeray said that the power to change the reservation limit is not within the jurisdiction of the state government but vests only with the Parliament.
“The state government cannot solve the quotas issue and this must be tackled by the PM. Whatever decision the PM takes on this matter, we shall fully back it,” assured Thackeray.
He pointed out that earlier, the Bihar government had tried to give reservations exceeding the quotas ceiling but it did not stand in the courts, as that can be only done by the Centre.
“There’s no point in fighting for reservations in the state. I urge the leaders of various communities like Maraths, OBCs, Dhangars, or others to go to the PM and request him to look into the matter and whatever is the decision, we shall support it,” Thackeray declared.
Slamming the ruling MahaYuti leaders for demanding the stance of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Thackeray retorted by asking, “Why they could not give the reservations after over two years in power.”
He reiterated that rather than blaming the Opposition which had supported the government in the Special Session of the Legislature last year on the issue, the government should invite the caste leaders for discussions.
“Instead of seeking the views of the political leaders, the government must hold serious discussions with the leaders of the different castes, work out a consensus and find a solution acceptable to all. We shall back it,” said Thackeray.
The former Chief Minister’s remarks came after some Maratha groups staged a demonstration outside his home seeking to know the SS (UBT)’s stand on the caste quotas row and later Leader of Opposition (Council) Ambadas Danve met and spoke with them.
24 People Killed, Several Injured As Massive Landslides Hit Wayanad 11
At least 24 people were killed in a massive landslide at Churalpara in Kerala’s Wayanad on Tuesday, said officials.
The landslides were reported to have occurred at around 2 a.m. and the area was cut off.
Kerala Chief Secretary V. Venu told local media, “Around 2 a.m., landslides took place at least two to three times. At this point, few affected areas are cut off. The weather is also adverse for NDRF teams to go to some of these affected areas. Everyone is on alert. We will carry out the rescue in a coordinated manner. We are still ascertaining about how many people are trapped. All options, including airlifting people, are being looked into to ensure rescue work is carried out.”
The local people and a team of professional rescue operators were engaged in locating people in the area which has been ripped into two, with around 400 families being isolated.
Meanwhile, Attamala, which has a good number of homestays, has been badly affected and the rescue operations have begun and there are reports of tourists being trapped.
State Forest Minister A.K.Saseendran, who rushed to the spot said it was a bit early to assess the damages.
“At least 53 people are at a hospital here who have been injured and six bodies are there. At another hospital, there are 13 who are injured and admitted to a state-run hospital and six bodies are also there. We have started the rescue operations and are waiting for helicopters to arrive. A new ropeway is going to be erected soon and the Army will be building a temporary bridge also to rescue people who are trapped in the area after a bridge was swept away,” said Saseendran.
Foundation Stone Laid for Surjagad Ispat Pvt Ltd Steel Project in Gadchiroli 13
In a landmark event, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Dada Pawar laid the foundation stone for the Surjagad Ispat Pvt Ltd steel project in Gadchiroli. This ambitious project, with an investment of Rs. 10,000 crore, is expected to generate employment for over 7,000 individuals, both directly and indirectly.
During the ceremony, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed confidence that Gadchiroli district will become the most progressive district in the state in the near future. He highlighted that in the future, Gadchiroli alone will account for thirty percent of the state’s steel production. Fadnavis also emphasized that Gadchiroli will become Maharashtra’s leading district and the largest steel hub in the country.
He spoke about the positive impact of industry on the tribal community, mentioning the establishment of a medical college and the planned construction of an airport in the area. Fadnavis announced efforts to transform Gadchiroli into an education hub and initiate water transportation from Chamorshi to Kakinada port.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Dada Pawar remarked on the significance of inaugurating a major company with an investment of Rs. 10,000 crore in Gadchiroli. He stressed that this project will provide significant employment opportunities for local residents and meet the country’s steel requirements.
Vedansh Joshi, MD of Surjagad Ispat Pvt Ltd, stated, “We are contributing to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat by making significant investments and promoting industrial development in Maharashtra. We are establishing an integrated steel plant in the Naxal-affected region of Wadlapeth village, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, covering an area of 340 acres. Our project includes a 1.6 MTPA Beneficiation Plant, a 1.2 MTPA Pellet Plant, a Sponge Iron Plant of 4 x 650 TPD, an Induction Furnace of 0.75 MTPA, a Rolling Mill of 0.75 MTPA, a Captive Power Plant with a capacity of 120 MW, and a Pellet Plant of 1.2 MTPA and we plan to extend up to 2 million tons integrated steel plant in phase 2. Upon completion, we plan to achieve 8 million tons of integrated steel production.”
The Bhoomi Pujan ceremony was graced by prominent dignitaries, including Cabinet Ministers Uday Samant, and Dr. Dharmaraobaba Atram. Several government officials were also present. The first phase of the project is slated to commence in 2026, with the entire project expected to be completed by 2030.
In conclusion, the Surjagad Ispat Pvt Ltd project stands as a testament to Maharashtra’s commitment to industrial growth and regional development. The initiative promises not only economic benefits but also aims to uplift local communities by providing essential services and employment, marking a new chapter in Gadchiroli’s development.
There Is 'Rampant Violation' of Norms in Delhi, Says Shashi Tharoor on Old Rajinder Nagar Incident 15
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday spoke about the recent incident in Old Rajinder Nagar, in which a UPSC aspirant from Kerala and two other students lost their lives, and said that there is “rampant violation of basic norms” in the national capital.
On Saturday evening, three aspiring civil servants died in the flooded basement of Rau’s IAS Study Circle due to flood and waterlogging there owing to heavy rainfall. One male and two female UPSC aspirants died while 17 others were trapped for several hours after water suddenly entered the basement of the coaching centre which had just one exit.
The basement functioned as the library which, as has emerged, existed in violation of the rules since the space is allowed to be used only for parking and storage.
Tharoor described the incident as “shocking” and emphasised the devastating impact on the families involved, noting that “no compensation can be enough for the tragic loss of life of a young man cut short in his prime.”
“I have to say that when you have the brilliant student, all the dreams of serving the nation have been shattered, along with the hopes of the family,” he added.
Highlighting the need to address these serious issues he said, “There is sadly rampant violation of basic norms when it comes to building codes, fire safety, flood safety and so on in the national capital.”
Criticising the Municipal Corporation for its role, the Lok Sabha MP pointed out, “The corporation also has a responsibility for this. I have seen, in the hands of a journalist, a certificate of clearance issued on July 9 by the corporation allowing these people to be doing what they are doing. This kind of thing will have to be corrected.”
At the same time, drains have to be cleaned,” he added.
“The most important issue, and I say this on behalf of the family also, is to prevent such future tragedies. For this, there has to be a comprehensive enquiry, but there also has to be very specific steps taken to ensure that no other parents coming to the national capital from various parts of the country suffer this kind of loss and tragedies,” Tharoor said.
Yashashri Shinde Was Murdered After a Love Affair Went Wrong 17
Uran, in Navi Mumbai, where the body of a 20-year-old woman, identified as Yashashri Shinde, was found in the shrubberies near the railway station late Friday night. She lived with her family in Uran and worked in Belapur. For her work, she used to travel every day from Uran to Belapur. On Thursday she didn’t return home. Worried parents lodged a missing report with the Uran police station late that evening.
Meanwhile, parents contacted her office, friends, and other known people. Some family members even went west across the area to trace her. They were continuously making calls to their daughter but nothing worked.
Saturday morning, police received a call reporting the discovery of a woman’s body near the Uran railway station. Officers dispatched to the scene transported the remains to a hospital, where Shinde’s family identified her. Subsequently, a murder case was registered.
Shinde’s father, Surendra Kumar, alleged that a man named Dawood Shaikh was responsible for her death. Authorities believe the murder may be the result of a one-sided love affair. Shinde’s body bore multiple stab wounds on her stomach and back, though it had not been mutilated. She was also brutally raped before the murder.
The search for Dawood Shaikh began by the Uran police; they have formed seven teams to track down the suspect, with the crime branch conducting a parallel investigation. During their inquiry, police discovered that Shinde had only worked half a day on Thursday, leading them to believe the murder occurred around 3:30 or 4:00 pm that afternoon. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to gather more evidence. An officer mentioned that they have identified the suspect’s location and dispatched a team to apprehend him.
In 2019, the girl’s parents registered an FIR against one Dawood Shaikh under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. After his release from prison in 2022, Shaikh resumed his contact with Shinde. Shaikh, after coming from jail, approached Shinde, and they both have been in touch since then. Shinde’s parents had a problem with Dawood due to religious differences, but Yashashri still maintained relations with him.
On the day she went missing, Dawood had come to the area and the duo had met. As per the police probe, they were sitting and talking near the spot where her body was found. Their meeting turned into a fight, where Dawood may have stabbed her and fled. Due to heavy rains, the body of the girl had been heavily decomposed by the time it was found. The police then began looking for Shaikh and found his mobile switched off. The police have also sent teams to Karnataka, where Shaikh hails from, to track him down. Currently, he remains the prime suspect in the case. Only once he is arrested will there be clarity on the motive behind the murder.
There are similar series of rape and murder cases that happened around Mumbai and in Maharashtra. Maharashtra is becoming a threat to women because the abuse is on the rise but law and order are not strong. Our politicians are busy saving their party and position. Ruling party at its worst in Maharashtra. As many as four cases of rape were lodged on a single day at different police stations in Mumbai on June 11, 2024, bringing to the fore fears of women’s safety and security.
A young girl was raped in a mosque in the Kalyan district, a satellite town of Mumbai, on 6th May 2024. The rape happened in the mosque when the victim entered the mosque premise to drink water. The accused person has been identified as Aqdas Chandu, who has been taken into custody by the police. The victim, a 12-year-old girl who resides in the locality, had gone to some store to purchase a cake. While on the move, she stopped at a local mosque to get some water because she was thirsty. It is then that the nearby fruit seller accused Aqdas Chandu of entering the mosque and raping the girl.
On July 12, 2024, two men who identified themselves as acquaintances of her father and grandmother approached the victim and convinced her to board an autorickshaw with them. But, when she agreed, the two took her to a desolate place and raped her in Thane district, the constituency of our Chief Minister Shinde.
Another case where a 17-year-old girl from Maharashtra’s Palghar district was allegedly raped by two persons on different occasions under the pretext of marriage, following which she became pregnant and had two children. Every day, at least one rape case is registered in Mumbai. If you look at the entire Maharashtra, the situation is scary and not safe for women and girls.
According to official data from the Mumbai police, in January this year, 184 cases of women being molested were reported in Mumbai, with 152 cases resolved by the police. This yields a detection rate of 83%. It means that, on average, six molestation cases are filed daily in the city. In 2023, 2,163 cases of molestation were reported, and action was taken in 2054 cases, resulting in a 95% resolution rate. In the preceding year, 2,347 cases were reported, with action taken in 1,955 instances and a detection rate of 83%.
In January 2024, 60 rape cases were registered in Mumbai, and the police solved 47 cases, resulting in a detection rate of 78%. On average, one rape case was filed every day in January. In 2023, 973 rape cases were lodged in Mumbai, and the police successfully solved 933 cases, achieving a detection rate of 96%. In 2022, 984 rape cases were reported, with 912 cases detected, yielding a detection rate of 93%.
SC Refuses to Stay Patna HC Decision Striking Down Hike in Quota in Bihar 19
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the Patna High Court’s decision striking down the law introduced to enhance reservation from 50 per cent to 65 per cent for Backward Classes, Extremely Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Bihar.
Refusing to pass any interim relief, a Bench presided over by CJI Chandrachud agreed to examine the state government’s plea seeking restoration of the quota hike, which was applicable in jobs and educational institutions in Bihar.
The matter is listed for final hearing in September, 2024.
In a major blow to the state government, the Patna High Court, in its June 20 judgment, nullified amendments passed by the Bihar Assembly in 2023, saying that they violated the equality clause under Articles 14, 15, and 16 of the Constitution.
The quota was raised by the Bihar government after it carried out a caste survey in the state.
In a notification issued in November 2023, it sought to amend the existing reservation laws.
Several petitions were filed in the Patna High Court challenging the decision of the Nitish Kumar government.
The pleas contended that as per the law laid down by the Supreme Court judgments, reservation can’t extend beyond 50 per cent.
The impugned law would have brought the quota to a total of 75 per cent in the state, which included 20 per cent for SCs, 2 per cent for STs, 25 per cent for Extremely Backward Classes, 18 per cent for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and 10 per cent for Economically Backward Classes.
