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Chidambaram Calls Employment And Education Biggest Challenge In The Country

July 23, 2024, 7:50 pm

Ex -Union Minister P Chidambaram in a press conference said that the Economy, employment and Education sector were facing biggest challenge in the country. Moreover stating that in the Budget, on some important matters, there was no response at all.

Chidambaram said, “Unemployment is the biggest challenge facing the country. For a few dozen vacancies or a few thousand posts, millions of candidates apply and write an examination or appear for an Interview. According to CMIE, the all India unemployment rate is 9.2 per cent. The response of the government is too little and will have only little impact on the grave unemployment situation. The claim that the schemes announced by the FM will benefit 290 lakh persons is highly exaggerated.”

He added that the Inflation is the other major challenge. Mentioning the data he said, “WPI inflation is 3.4 per cent, CPI inflation is 5.1 per cent, and food inflation is 9.4 per cent.”

The Economic Survey (ES), Chidambaram said, has stated that the deflator for manufacturing has been assumed as 1.7 per cent. The deflator(s) assumed by the government have been severely criticized by several knowledgeable economists. Unless the puzzle of the ‘deflator’ is resolved, it is not possible to unquestionably accept the claimed GDP growth rate of 8.2 per cent in 2023-24. Besides, the GDP growth rate is no answer to the huge challenge of inflation.

Chidambaram stated, “The Economic Survey dismissed the issue of inflation in a few short sentences. The FM dismissed it in ten words in para 3 of her speech. We deplore the casual attitude of the government. And nothing in the Budget Speech gives us the confidence that the government will seriously tackle the issue of inflation.”

Chidambaram also talked about the depleting status of Education in the country stating that Education is widespread but of poor quality. He said, “Nearly one-half of the children are unable to read or write a simple text in any language and are numerically challenged. They are not fit for any skilled job. The central government must drive — and help — the states address these fundamental problems.”

He added, “The other issue concerning education is NEET and the scandal-ridden National Testing Agency. Several states have demanded that NEET should be scrapped and the states should be free to adopt their own methods of selecting candidates to various courses in medical education. No response. I did not hear the finance minister refer to school education. Yet, the government is stubbornly clinging to NEET which, you will recall, is an examination at the end of school education. Interestingly, against BE of Rs 1,16,417 crore on Education, the government spent only Rs 1,08,878.”

“Govt Needs To Give Up All-India Examination”: P Chidambaram Weighs In On Controversy Surrounding NEET-UG

July 14, 2024, 3:24 pm

With the controversy over the NEET-UG exam 2024 raging on, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram said that the Centre must indeed give up these fetishes for conducting all-India examinations, states wresting back their powers for conducting the medical college admission test that has been mired in problems and allegations of malpractice with continued usage of NEET. Chidambaram attacked the examination management and sought Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation while holding him responsible for examination leaks.

He expressed apprehensions about the new criminal laws brought in recently, claiming large chunks of old laws were merely lifted without adequate change. The senior Congress leader said that the whole process was lacking in transparency and lawyers from all parts of the country are unhappy over the way amendments to the penal code have been effected recently. Chidambaram disclosed plans by the Congress’ Legal and Human Rights Department to hold a conclave by the end of this month to take up such issues.

Coming to the aid of Rahul Gandhi against BJP allegations over his recent parliamentary speech, Chidambaram took a sturdy defense of remarks made by Gandhi and ruled out insult against the Hindu community. He posed strong annoyance over what appeared to be a saffron blitzkrieg on issues relating to Hindu identity politics and reiterated Congress’ commitment to a secular India.

“Mood Of The People Is Against The BJP”: P Chidambaram On By-Polls

July 14, 2024, 1:45 pm

Following the INDIA bloc’s strong performance in the recently concluded by-polls in seven states, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram expressed optimism on Sunday, stating that the “wind is behind the sails of the INDIA bloc.”

In an interview with ANI, Chidambaram noted that the by-elections reflect a public sentiment against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He stated, “The by-elections show that the mood of the people is against the BJP. But where the structure of the Congress party is weak, I’m afraid that the ‘mood’ alone would not help. We have to work in states where the structure of the party is weak.” He added, “But by and large, the wind is behind the sails of the INDIA bloc.”

Out of the by-polls held in 13 assembly constituencies across seven states, the INDIA bloc secured 10 seats, while the BJP won two seats, and an independent candidate took one seat. The by-polls took place in Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur, Nalagarh, and Dehra; West Bengal’s Raiganj, Ranaghat Dakshin, Bagda, and Maniktala; Badrinath and Manglaur in Uttarakhand; Jalandhar West in Punjab; Rupauli in Bihar; Vikravandi in Tamil Nadu; and Amarwara in Madhya Pradesh.

The parties comprising the INDIA bloc that fielded candidates in these constituencies included the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress won two seats (Nalagarh and Dehra) while the BJP took one seat (Hamirpur). In West Bengal, the TMC won all four seats; in Uttarakhand, the Congress won both seats; in Punjab, AAP secured the lone seat; in Tamil Nadu, the DMK took the lone seat; in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP won the lone seat; and in Bihar, an independent candidate won the lone seat.

Additionally, Chidambaram addressed the central government’s announcement to observe ‘Savidhan Hatya Diwas’ on June 25 to commemorate the anniversary of the 1975 emergency imposed under Indira Gandhi’s Congress government. He remarked, “Why is the BJP not going back to the 18th or 17th century? 75 per cent of the Indians living today were born after 1975. Emergency was a mistake and it was accepted by Indira Gandhi. We have amended the Constitution so that an emergency cannot be imposed so easily.”

Chidambaram questioned the relevance of debating the emergency after 50 years, emphasizing that lessons have been learned. He stated, “What is the point of debating the rights and wrongs of the emergency 50 years later? The BJP must forget the past. We have learned the lessons from the past.”

Earlier this month, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government announced plans to observe ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ to mark the emergency anniversary, a decision that has sparked criticism from opposition parties targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.

The 1975 Emergency in India remains a significant historical event, characterized by political instability and suppression of civil liberties. Declared by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the Emergency involved the suspension of fundamental rights and the imposition of strict censorship to suppress political dissent and maintain control.

P Chidambaram Challenges Election Commission’s Directive Amid Agniveer Controversy

May 23, 2024, 5:10 pm

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has rebuked the Election Commission’s instruction to his party regarding the Agniveer scheme, asserting that it is the right of the Opposition to criticize government policies.

In response to the Election Commission’s directive to refrain from politicizing the Agniveer scheme, Chidambaram argued that it is within the bounds of democracy for an Opposition party to critique governmental initiatives.

“Agniveer is a scheme, a product of the government’s policy. It is the right of an Opposition political party to criticize a policy of the government and declare that, if voted to power, the scheme will be scrapped,” remarked the former Union minister in a post on X.

Chidambaram highlighted perceived flaws within the Agniveer scheme, criticizing its impact on soldiers and the decisions surrounding its implementation. He emphasized the importance of scrapping the scheme due to its contentious aspects.

Asserting his stance, Chidambaram stated, “ECI was egregiously wrong in giving direction to the Congress party, and as a citizen, it is my right to say that ECI was egregiously wrong.”

The Election Commission’s reprimand came amidst ongoing political debates surrounding the Agniveer scheme, with both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress being cautioned against campaigning along divisive lines.

Chidambaram pledges CAA repeal with INDIA bloc win

April 21, 2024, 12:50 pm

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led NDA government, accusing it of transforming into a cult that worships Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Against the dangers of such a trend, equating it with dictatorial tendencies and emphasizing the Speaking on Sunday, Chidambaram highlighted what he sees as a “grave erosion” of freedom of speech and expression during the ten-year rule of Modi.

Chidambaram’s remarks were part of a broader critique of the BJP’s governance style, which he characterized as moving away from traditional politics towards a cult of personality centered around Modi. He warned need to “restore democracy.”

“If Modi is voted back to power for the third time, he may amend the constitution…We have to restore democracy,” Chidambaram said.

One of the focal points of Chidambaram’s criticism was the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). While acknowledging that the CAA was not explicitly mentioned in the Congress manifesto, he pledged that it would be repealed once the INDIA bloc, which he represents, comes to power.

During his address, Chidambaram also expressed confidence in the electoral prospects of the INDIA bloc, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. He criticized the BJP’s manifesto, which he claimed was hastily put together and labeled as “Modi’s guarantee,” suggesting a departure from traditional political processes.

“The BJP constituted the manifesto in 14 days which is not titled manifesto. They called it Modi’s guarantee. The BJP is no longer a political party. It has become a cult and the cult worships Narendra Modi,” Chidambaram said.

“That cult worship in India has started gaining strength and will lead to dictatorship,” he said.

Chidambaram’s comments come amid a charged political atmosphere leading up to elections, with discussions centered on governance, democracy, and fundamental rights. He highlighted unemployment as a significant challenge facing the country and emphasized the Congress manifesto’s focus on job creation and wealth generation, contrasting it with the CPI(M)’s silence on these issues.

The promise to repeal the CAA in the first parliamentary session under an INDIA bloc government adds a specific policy stance to Chidambaram’s critique, framing it within broader electoral promises and political agendas.

“CAA will be repealed in the first session of the Parliament when the INDIA bloc comes to power,” Chidambaram added.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, Chidambaram’s remarks serve to ignite discussions on governance, democratic principles, and the role of political parties in shaping India’s future.

P. Chidambaram: INDIA Bloc Predicted to Sweep All 39 Seats in Tamil Nadu

April 19, 2024, 8:33 am

Senior Congress Leader P. Chidambaram Expresses Strong Confidence in INDIA Bloc’s Victory in Tamil Nadu, Anticipating Sweep of All 39 Parliamentary Seats.

Karti Chidambaram, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Sivaganga and son of former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, faces competition from Devanathan Yadav of the BJP and A. Xavierd of the AIADMK in the ongoing election.

P. Chidambaram expressed his joy and pride in participating in the Lok Sabha elections, affirming his strong belief in the INDIA group’s success in securing all 39 Parliamentary seats in Tamil Nadu.

He emphasized his confidence amidst the ongoing first phase of elections, highlighting that with Tamil Nadu’s unified vote today, victory across all constituencies is assured.

The first phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections kicked off on Friday, spanning 102 parliamentary constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories. Starting at 7:00 am, the extensive seven-phase electoral process commenced, allowing voters to cast their ballots until 6:00 pm.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is vying for his third consecutive term, while the opposition coalition, INDIA, has emerged as a formidable force seeking to dislodge him from power in the ongoing general elections. In the 2019 polls, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, in collaboration with several parties including Congress, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MMK, KMDK, TVK, and AIFB, secured an overwhelming victory, claiming 38 out of the 39 seats in the state.

The electoral process is structured into seven phases, with the second phase scheduled for April 26, followed by subsequent phases on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. This mirrors the format of the previous general elections held in 2019.

P Chidambaram refutes Centre’s allegations against Congress over Katchatheevu issue

April 1, 2024, 3:02 pm

Amidst renewed attention on the age-old dispute over territorial and fishing rights concerning Katchatheevu Island, the BJP’s accusation against the Congress of conceding it to Sri Lanka was dismissed by Rajya Sabha MP P. Chidambaram on Monday as an “absurd allegation.”

Chidambaram, speaking to ANI, refuted the ruling party’s claims, arguing that the sufferings of over 600,000 Tamils in Sri Lanka prompted then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to acknowledge the island’s belonging to the neighboring country.

“It’s an absurd allegation. This agreement was arrived at in 1974 and 1976. PM Modi is referring to a recent RTI reply; he should refer to the RTI reply of January 27, 2015, when I believe EAM S Jaishankar was foreign secretary. That reply clearly says that after negotiations, the island lay on the Sri Lankan side of the international border. Why did Indira Gandhi acknowledge that it belonged to Sri Lanka? Because 600,000 Tamils were suffering in Sri Lanka, they had to come to India as refugees. As a result of this settlement, 600,000 Tamils came to India and they are enjoying freedom with all the Human rights here,” Chidambaram stated.

He further suggested that the BJP’s timing of raising the issue just days before the general elections would work in favor of the INDIA alliance. “It will have an impact in INDIA alliance favor. BJP will get zero seats in Kerala, and zero in Tamil Nadu. In Telangana and Karnataka, the Congress will have a far better number than the BJP,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, criticized the DMK over the Katchatheevu island issue, accusing the ruling party of Tamil Nadu of neglecting the state’s interests.

Jaishankar, doubling down on PM Modi’s accusation, stated that Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, had contemplated giving away the island to Sri Lanka. At a press conference, he mentioned Nehru’s assertion in May 1961, characterizing the island as insignificant and expressing a willingness to relinquish India’s claim to it.

The island, situated between Rameswaram (India) and Sri Lanka, has been traditionally used by fishermen from both countries. In 1974, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi accepted Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan territory under the “Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement.” The agreement formally confirmed Sri Lanka’s sovereignty over the Island.

Tamil Nadu: Karti Chidambaram Submits Nomination for Sivaganga Seat

March 25, 2024, 5:28 pm

Karti Chidambaram, the son of veteran Congress leader P Chidambaram, submitted his nomination for the Sivaganga Lok Sabha seat on Monday.

Karti secured victory from the Sivaganga constituency in 2019 and has been entrusted with the responsibility once more for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, scheduled for April 19th.

“I’m thankful for the Congress party, for reposing faith in me again and allowing me to contest for the third time. I am very grateful to my party leadership… The entire alliance has come together. The three ministers from the DMK, DMK MLA, and Congress MLA were with me,” Karti told ANI after filing nomination.

“The INDIA alliance will overwhelmingly win the Sivaganga seat as it will win every seat in Tamil Nadu. We have workers’ meeting from tomorrow onwards for the next six days and from the 1st March we will start a proper campaign where we’ll reach out to the public,” he added.

Congress unveiled a roster of candidates for seven out of nine seats in Tamil Nadu on Saturday.

The previous week, a press release from the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) unveiled the party’s intention to compete in nine constituencies across Tamil Nadu. These include Thiruvallur (the reserved constituency), Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Sivaganga, Tirunelveli, Krishnagiri, Karur, Virudhunagar, and Kanniyakumari.

Previously, S Vijayadharani, a three-time Congress MLA from Tamil Nadu, dealt a significant blow to the Congress by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party’s headquarters in the national capital.

Meanwhile, Tamilisai Soundararajan, former Telangana and Puducherry Governor and BJP candidate from South Chennai, submitted her candidature for the Lok Sabha elections. She expressed her resignation from the governor’s post, stating her desire to “work directly for the people of the state.”

“The people want PM Modi to be Prime Minister again. South Chennai is a constituency with very responsible people and they’re longing for a good parliamentarian. The present MP is not very approachable. I will be very approachable. When I was in a constitutional post, I also used to interact with people. I resigned from the governor’s post because I want to work directly for the people,” Soundararajan told ANI on Monday.

DMK candidate Tamilachi Thangapandiyan and AIADMK candidate J Jayavardhan also submitted their nominations for the South Chennai constituency.

All 39 seats in Tamil Nadu will undergo voting in the initial phase of the general elections scheduled for April 19.

During the 2019 general elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, which included the Congress, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MMK, KMDK, TVK, and AIFB, secured a resounding triumph by winning 38 out of the 39 seats in the state. In the same year, the DMK won 23 Lok Sabha seats with a 33.2 per cent vote share, while the Congress secured 8 seats with a 12.9 per cent vote share, and the CPI claimed two seats in Tamil Nadu.

The election for the 543 Lok Sabha seats across the country will occur in seven phases, commencing on April 19. Vote counting is scheduled for June 4.

J-K Congress leaders to meet Kharge, discuss about Lok Sabha election preparations

December 25, 2023, 1:39 pm

Jammu & Kashmir Congress leaders are expected to meet with party leadership on Tuesday in the nation’s capital to talk about getting ready for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, according to sources. The meeting is expected to be attended by senior party leaders such as KC Venugopal and Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. According to the Congress, the government’s interpretation of Article 370, which granted Jammu and Kashmir special status, is unacceptable. According to the Supreme Court, assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which was divided into two UTs during the Article 370 process, ought to take place by September of the following year.

“We respectfully disagree with the judgment on the manner in which Article 370 was abrogated, Congress leader P Chidambaram had said in a press conference.
“We reiterate the CWC (Congress Working Committee) resolution that Article 370 deserved to be honoured until it was amended strictly in accordance with the Constitution of India,” he added.
A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on December 11 unanimously upheld the validity of the Union government’s 2019 decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution, which conferred the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, while pointing out that Article 370 is a “temporary provision”.
Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held in April-May this year. Congress, National Conference and PDP are part of INDIA alliance in Jammu and Kashmir.

P Chidambaram appointed to Home panel , Eight Parliamentary Standing Committees re-constituted

August 29, 2023, 10:27 am

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar reconstituted eight department-related Parliamentary Standing Committees (DRSCs), including the appointment of senior Congress Rajya Sabha MP P Chidambaram to the 31-member Home panel, the Upper House of Parliament announced on Tuesday.

The Rajya Sabha Chairman appointed Chidambaram to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs at a time when the panel is debating three proposed bills that would replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860, the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), respectively, as Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya, and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced the three bills in the Parliament on August 11.

There are 24 DRSCs, or committees related to departments. These committees each have 31 members: 10 from the Rajya Sabha and 21 from the Lok Sabha. P Bhattacharya of the Congress left the position vacant, which led to P Chidambaram’s appointment. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a member of the party’s Lok Sabha delegation, is already on the Home panel, which is led by BJP MP Brij Lal.

A notification, dated August 28, issued by the Rajya Sabha, said, “The Chairman, Rajya Sabha, has in consultation with the Speaker, Lok Sabha, re-constituted the eight Department–related Parliamentary Standing Committees, coming under the administrative jurisdiction of the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, w.e.f. September 13, 2023, as follows.”
Apart from it, the Rajya Sabha Chairman also appointed Congress MP Jairam Ramesh as the chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
Meanwhile, the chairs of six major parliamentary committees — Home, IT, Defence, External Affairs, Finance and Health — are all with the BJP or its allies.

P Chidambaram slams Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi over his “Bill is dead” remark

April 7, 2023, 3:22 pm

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday lashed out at Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi over his “Bill is dead” remark, saying it means “Parliamentary Democracy is dead”.

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi on Thursday, while talking with the aspirants of the civil services clarified about the role of the Governor in the Constitution. He said that the Governor has the choice to give his assent or withhold it to a Bill passed by the state assembly.

P Chidambaram added that a strange definition is being given by the Tamil Nadu Governor regarding the withholding of assent to Bills passed by the Legislature.

He further added that it means “Bill is dead’. Actually, when a Governor withholds assent for no valid reason, it means ‘Parliamentary Democracy is dead’.”

The Governor said “withholding” is a “decent language” used for rejecting a Bill.

He also said the Governor looks into a Bill to check if it “transgresses the constitutional limit” and the state government has exceeded “its competence.”

“Our Constitution has created the position of Governor and defined his roles and responsibilities.” The first and foremost responsibility of the Governor is to protect the Constitution of India, because whether it is the Union or the State, each of these entities has to work according to the Constitution. How do you protect the Constitution? Suppose, a state makes a law that transgresses the Constitutional limit. “In a legislature, a political party has a brute majority, let us say, can pass any Bill,” he said.

Booked under UAPA, Journalist Siddique Kappan released from UP jail after long 28 months battle

February 2, 2023, 2:24 pm

Journalist Siddique Kappan was released from the Lucknow district jail in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, where he spent over two years after his arrest under charges of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Kappan who was in prison since October 5, 2020 was arrested along with three others at the Mathura toll plaza by the Uttar Pradesh police for inciting violence, in the alleged rape of a young woman. Later he was booked under other cases including in the PMLA case lodged by the ED.

A special Sessions Court in Lucknow on Thursday signed Kappan’s release order more than five weeks after he got bail in the PMLA case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Soon after his release he expressed happiness to be out of jail after 28 months. Congress leader P. Chidambaram tweeted in favour of the journalist claiming Article 21 (freedom of expression) has triumphed. He also stated that “Trial Court judges must push back on the demand for judicial custody which is really pre-trial incarceration”.

A single bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court granted bail to Kappan on December 23, 2022, in the money laundering case lodged against him by the Directorate of Enforcement. Due to the winter break and a long procedure of verification it took more than a month for Kappan to move out of Lucknow jail. The journalist has also been accused of having a connection with the Popular Front of India (PFI), which was banned by the Centre.

Congress demands PM Modi’s apology over demonetisation

January 2, 2023, 3:39 pm

The Congress demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s apology on Monday for the hurried demonetization of the 500 and 1,000 rupee notes in 2016, claiming that it destroyed Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises and the informal sector.

“The livelihoods of tens of thousands of families were lost…our economy suffered greatly,” said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh even as a Supreme Court constitution bench affirmed by a 4-1 majority the move.

Ramesh referred to the court’s verdict rejecting a batch of petitions challenging the demonetisation. He said it was only restricted to how it was executed and not its impact. “If anyone should be apologising, it should be the Prime Minister.”

Ramesh said the court’s verdict has nothing to say about whether the stated objectives of demonetisation were met or not. “None of these goals — reducing currency in circulation, moving to a cashless economy, curbing counterfeit currency, ending terrorism and unearthing black money — was achieved in significant measure.”

The majority ruling of the bench was read by Justice BR Gavai, who stated that the demonetization decision was free from any procedural or legal errors and was also not affected by the proportionality principle.

The opposing opinion, written by Justice BV Nagarathna, criticised the decision as being illegal. She claimed it was against the law and against protocol.

Justice Nagarathna said the demonetisation could have been carried out only through legislation and not through an executive decision.

P Chidambaram, a Congress leader, called the dissenting judgment a welcome slap on the government’s wrist.

He said other judges steered clear of the question of whether the objectives were achieved at all.

‘Morbi collapse shamed fair name of Gujarat’, Chidambaram attacks BJP

November 8, 2022, 1:39 pm

P Chidambaram, a Congress leader, criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday for the bridge collapse in Morbi, Gujarat, last week that claimed over 130 lives and pointed out that no one from the administration had truly offered an apology to the general public.

“… most shocking development is that no one, on behalf of government, has apologised for the tragedy,” he said.

No one has resigned taking responsibility. Morbi bridge collapse has brought shame to the fair name of Gujarat,” he said, taking on the BJP in prime minister Narendra Modi’s home state, where an election is due next month.

According to reports, 135 people perished when Morbi’s Hanging Bridge, a popular tourist site that suspended a walkway over the Machchu River, collapsed.

According to preliminary investigations, the bridge collapsed due to crowds and was improperly cleared before being reopened following refurbishment work by Oreva, a private company that makes wall clocks and e-bikes.

A senior official said (on condition of anonymity) some procedural lapses had been uncovered in the agreement between the firm and Morbi civic authorities.

The Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, which are attempting to unseat the BJP in the upcoming Assembly election, led the case against the Gujarat administration for failing to act promptly and strongly enough after the accident.

On Monday another Congress leader – Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot – said the tragedy had ‘exposed the misgovernance of the BJP’s 27-year rule…’

The Gujarat High Court has asked for a report from the state government and has also issued a notice to officials to file a status report by November 14.

The matter will be heard again on that date.

CHIDAMBARAM TAKES ON CENTRE, ASKS WHY IT IS TALKING IF FARMERS HAVE MAOIST, KHALISTAN LINKS

December 14, 2020, 2:48 am

NEW DELHI: Former Union Home Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has slammed the Centre on the linking of farmers’ protest with Khalistan and Maoist elements and questioned that if it were so why was the government holding talks with protesters.

“Ministers have described the protesters against the farm laws as Khalistanis, agents of Pakistan and China, Maoists, and ‘tukde-tukde’ gang. If you exhaust all these categories, it means there are no farmers among the thousands of protesters. If there are no farmers, why is the government talking to them?” he tweeted.

Meanwhile, as the Centre’s talks with protesting farmers continued to be stalled, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held discussions on the farmers’ issues with Punjab BJP leaders on Sunday in the presence of Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.

At the nearly 40-minute meeting at Shah’s residence here, the situation in Punjab and steps to tackle the protest that farmers plan to intensify in the coming days were also discussed. Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Som Parkash was also present.