&w=3840&q=100)
Protecting lives paramount, lapses unacceptable: Rahul on Odisha stampede
Condoling the loss of lives in the stampede near Gundicha Temple in Odisha's Puri, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said protecting lives is paramount and any lapse in this responsibility is unacceptable.
He said the tragedy is a serious warning that security arrangements and crowd management for such big events should be taken seriously and must be reviewed.
"The stampede during the Rath Yatra in Puri is extremely saddening. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and I hope for the speedy recovery of the injured devotees," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said in a post in Hindi on X.
He appealed to the Odisha government to speed up the relief work and urged Congress workers to help in every possible way.
"This tragedy is a serious warning - security arrangements and crowd management for such big events should be taken seriously and must be reviewed," Gandhi said.
"Protecting lives is paramount, and any lapse in this responsibility is unacceptable," he asserted.
At least three people, including two women, were killed and around 50 sustained injuries in the stampede near Shree Gundicha Temple on Sunday morning, officials said.
The incident took place at around 4 am when hundreds of devotees gathered near the temple to witness Rath Yatra festivities, Puri District Collector Siddharth S Swain said.
The injured have been admitted to a nearby hospital, and the condition of six of them is critical, he said.
Chaos ensued after two trucks carrying materials for rituals reportedly entered the crowded spot near the chariots of Lord Jagannath and his sibling deities, officials said.
Devotees in large numbers had assembled outside the temple since the early hours to catch a glimpse of the deities when the 'Pahuda' (cloth) covering their faces was to be removed, as part of the rituals, they said.
The deceased were identified as Basanti Sahu, 36, from Bolagarh, and Premakant Mohanty, 80, and Pravati Das, 42, from Balipatna.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
Maharashtra Government: Maharashtra scraps order making Hindi 3rd language in schools, ET Education
Advt Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. Get updates on your preferred social platform Follow us for the latest news, insider access to events and more. Mumbai, Amid a growing chorus against the introduction of the Hindi language in Maharashtra schools from classes 1 to 5, the state cabinet on Sunday decided to withdraw two GRs (government orders) on the implementation of the three-language policy Addressing a press conference on the eve of the monsoon session of the state legislature, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also announced the formation of a committee under educationist Dr Narendra Jadhav to suggest the way forward and implementation of the language panel has sought three months to study the issue and prepare a alleged Uddhav Thackeray had accepted the recommendations of the Dr Raghunath Mashelkar committee to introduce a three-language policy from class 1 to 12 when he was chief minister and set up a committee to implement the policy."The state cabinet has decided to withdraw the Government Resolutions (GR) issued in April and June regarding the implementation of the three-language policy from class one. A committee headed by Dr Narendra Jadhav will be formed to recommend implementation (of the three-language formula)," Fadnavis said the government will take a fresh decision based on the report of Dr Jadhav, a former member of the Planning Commission and ex-Vice Chancellor."The other names of the committee will be announced in some days. The panel will study the Mashelkar Committee's report and suggest from which standard (class 1 or otherwise) the three language formula will be implemented,'' he Fadnavis government had issued a GR on April 16, making Hindi a compulsory third language for students in classes 1 to 5 studying in English and Marathi medium schools. Amid backlash, the government issued an amended GR on June 17 making Hindi an optional move was criticised by the Opposition- Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS, and NCP (SP)- which dubbed it the "imposition" of Hindi in acknowledged the difference of opinion over finalising the grade (class 1 or 5) for implementing the three-language formula."The decision (on language policy) has been taken in the interest of Marathi students. If three languages are taught, students will get credit in the academic bank," he said the then CM Thackeray had appointed an 18-member Mashelkar Committee on September 21, 2020, comprising reputed figures from the education sector, on how to implement the NEP. A GR was issued on October 16, 2020."The committee submitted a 101-page report on September 14, 2021. The panel stated that apart from the Marathi language, English and Hindi languages should be taught in classes 1 to 12. The report was tabled in the state cabinet on January 7, 2022. The minutes of the cabinet meeting are available,'' he claimed Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vijay Kadam, who runs an educational institution, was a member of the Mashelkar also claimed Uddhav didn't mention that his government disagreed with the Mashelkar committee's report."At that time, Uddhav didn't say that his government was not accepting the three-language formula. The then government set up a sub-group on the Mashelkar Committee's report," he Uddhav Thackeray of playing politics over the language issue, Fadnavis said the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief was opposing the Hindi language as he wants to "lay red carpet for the English language".Fadnavis said the Mahayuti government headed by him issued the two GRs in April and June as part of the sub-group set up by the then Thackeray-led MVA government."We changed the decision to make the Hindi language mandatory and made it optional," he Sena (UBT) and MNS had announced a joint march on July 5 to oppose the "imposition" of the Hindi language. The march was cancelled after the government withdrew the also took potshots at MNS chief Raj Thackeray."Raj Thackeray was nowhere in the picture at that time. He should ask Uddhav why his stand changed when his party joined the Opposition," he said Babasaheb Ambedkar wanted everyone to learn the Hindi language."Any Indian who doesn't accept this proposal as part and parcel of a linguistic state has no right to be an Indian. He may be 100 per cent Maharashtrian, 100 per cent Gujarati, and 100 per cent Tamil, but he cannot be an Indian in the real sense of the word, except in geographical sense. If my suggestion is not accepted, India will then cease to be India," he said quoting Ambedkar from "Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar: writings and speeches".Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde were also present at the appealed to Marathi people not to participate in the morcha given the government's decision to withdraw the said the government's decision will be in the interest of students. "We have no ego," he added.
New Indian Express
22 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Revision of Bihar electoral rolls: Congress says will oppose exercise legally, politically
NEW DELHI: As the EC began its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls, the Congress on Sunday said it will oppose the move legally, politically, and on all fronts. The move invited scathing criticism from the Opposition parties as the EC on Saturday said around 2.93 crore of 7.89 crore voters, or about 37% of the electorate, will have to submit proof of their eligibility. Speaking with this newspaper, Congress leader Praveen Chakravartyquestioned the methodology adopted by the EC to ascertain that 37% of the Bihar electorate will have to re-register. 'How did they get the figure of 37%? This means they have the electoral roll of 2003 in a machine-readable format. Otherwise, it's impossible to analyse and come up with the figure. The Congress has been demanding the Maharashtra electoral rolls for a long time. If they have the 2003 rolls, why are they not showing us the 2024 Maharashtra voter rolls?' said Chakravarty, a member of EAGLE, an eight-member Congress panel tasked with looking into polls. He also pointed out that the EC had mooted a proposal on March 8 for electoral roll cleaning using Aadhaar, which, while not perfect, is a more viable alternative solution than an intensive voter revision in Bihar. 'Why did the EC abandon that to suddenly announce an SIR three months after the Aadhaar proposal?' he asked. The EC's move on June 24, requiring all existing voters who were not on the 2003 rolls to provide proof of their and their parents' citizenship, has also sparked concerns of disenfranchisement and exclusion of the poor and marginalised from voter rolls. 'If I was a voter in 2024 or 2019, that doesn't mean I am a voter now. I have to re-register. Now, they are saying I have to prove my veracity as a voter and prove date and place of birth. Why am I guilty until proven innocent?' he said. Chakravarty also said the EC has come up with arduous rules for providing birth certificates of voters and their parents, depending on the year of birth. Besides Union and state government officials will now dictate who has correct documents and who doesn't, thus dictating who gets to vote in the upcoming Bihar assembly polls.
Hindustan Times
30 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Malvinder Kang bats for more training sessions for new members
How do you look at your experience in the first year of the 18th Lok Sabha? MP Malvinder Singh Kang My experience during the first year has been great. Since the Lok Sabha is the highest decision-making body in the country, and great personalities like BR Ambedkar have been members of this august House, being a part of it is a great responsibility as well. I am grateful to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha for giving me the opportunity to draw attention to matters concerning Punjab and my constituency. What was the high point of the year for you personally and your party in the House? It was a good year for me. I was able to raise important issues such as the incarceration of 'Sikh prisoners', the increase in international flights from Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali, and my state's tremendous contribution to sports. I have also been nominated as a member of the Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers. MP Malvinder Kang says his experience during the first year in the Lok Sabha has been great. Are you satisfied with the number of sittings of the Lok Sabha? The number of sittings of the House during the year was satisfactory. I got ample opportunity to participate in the proceedings. However, I feel that more training sessions should be held for new members, particularly on the procedures, rules, and regulations of the Lower House. One training session was organised, but holding more would yield better results. What is the most effective way to raise issues of public importance in the House? Though a member can raise issues of public importance in many different ways, I found participation in debates on the President's address, the budget, bills and other important issues to be the most effective to put across one's, or the party's point of view. Advance preparation and clarity of thought are important. What difference have you made to your constituency in the last one year, and what do you plan to do in the remaining term as MP? During the election campaign, a major concern among the people was absentee MPs who did not show up for two to three years after getting elected. I have tried to change this perception by regularly meeting the people of my constituency to take feedback and understand their problems so I can raise their issues in Parliament. I have been regularly meeting the central ministers to secure projects and funds under various schemes for the area. For instance, 19 people suffering from serious ailments like cancer have received financial assistance from a central scheme for treatment. Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), development works totalling ₹ 5 crore — the full allocation for the first year — have been recommended. In addition to making all-out efforts to fully utilise the MPLADS funds, my endeavour will be to improve the infrastructure and facilities in my constituency with the support of both state and central governments.
