Latest news with #Congress-governed
Deccan Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Mhadei river row: Goa CM Pramod Sawant asks Karnataka govt to follow cooperative federalism
Goa and Karnataka are embroiled in a dispute over sharing the Mhadei river water. The BJP-ruled Goa has accused the Congress-governed Karnataka of planning to divert the river water by constructing two dams.
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Business Standard
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Will move SC with contempt plea against Karnataka on Mhadei issue: Goa CM
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday informed the legislative assembly that the state government will file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Karnataka for carrying out activities that are aimed at diverting the Mhadei river water. The CM also accused the neighbouring state of being involved in activities aimed at diverting the river water. The two adjoining coastal states are embroiled in a dispute over sharing the Mhadei river water. The BJP-ruled Goa has accused the Congress-governed Karnataka of planning to divert the river water by constructing two dams. The Mhadei river originates in the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, and flows through Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra as it empties into the Arabian Sea at Panaji in Goa. The Centre had set up a tribunal which decided on sharing the river water between the three riparian states -- Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Goa and Karnataka along with Maharashtra have appealed against the tribunal's order on sharing water by the three states in the Supreme Court, and the matter is sub-judice. Opposition MLAs in the Goa assembly on Tuesday cornered the Pramod Sawant government in the House over its failure to stop Karnataka from conducting illegal activities. Raising the issue, independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco sought to know the progress of the case pending before the apex court against the verdict of the tribunal on the share of Mhadei river water. Speaking on the issue, Sawant said Karnataka has been actively involved in activities aimed at diverting the Mhadei river water. "We cannot stop their activities as they are happening in their jurisdiction. But the Goa government has taken every step to counter their attempts to divert the Mhadei water," he said. The chief minister added that he had personally met Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav over the issue. "I have discussed the matter and the Union ministry (has assured that it) will not give any permission to Karnataka to conduct any such activities," he said. "The state will file a contempt petition against Karnataka before the Supreme Court in the matter," the CM added. State Water Resources Department Minister Subhash Shirodkar said the state government has been monitoring the activities of Karnataka. The opposition benches, including Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Goa Forward Party (GFP) MLA Vijai Sardesai, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Venzy Viegas and others participated in the discussion. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Drop guns & join mainstream': Amit Shah rules out talks with Reds
HYDERABAD: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that the Centre will not engage in any discussions with Naxals as they continue to bear arms. Speaking at a public meeting after the inauguration of the headquarters of Turmeric Board at Nizamabad in Telangana , the home minister emphasised that the Congress-governed state should not become a hub for Naxal activities. 'Congress asks (the Centre) to hold discussions with these people (Maoists). Our govt's policy is 'no talks' with those who hold arms. Give up weapons, surrender, and join the mainstream. I have serious doubts about whether Congress govt might offer shelter to Naxals on the run,' the Union home minister said. The home minister urged CM A Revanth Reddy to take a strong stance against making Telangana a hub for Naxals, highlighting losses among police and local tribes due to Maoist violence. 'Should we simply forget the sacrifices and allow them to roam free?' the Union minister asked. Shah reiterated the Centre's commitment to eradicating Naxalism from the country entirely by March next year. 'In several Northeastern states, over 10,000 extremists have surrendered, many of whom have even successfully contested local elections. In the past two years alone, over 2,000 Naxals have laid down their arms. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo If they continue to resist, we are determined that Naxalism will be wiped out by March 31, 2026,' Shah declared. Shah slammed the Congress govt, saying the tenure of the previous BRS regime was marred by corruption, which ultimately led the public to vote for Revanth. But despite the change in leadership, the people of Telangana have not seen the benefits they expected. 'Once Telangana was an ATM for BRS. Now, it has merely become an ATM for Congress leaders in Delhi,' Shah remarked. Shah denounced Congress LS leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi for raising questions about Operation Sindoor . 'Rahul, how many doubts do you have? During Operation Sindoor, we crossed into Pakistan and dismantled their terrorist camps.' On the turmeric board, Shah credited PM Narendra Modi with the initiative, saying the latter had promised it in 2023 and had not fulfilled it by meeting a four-decade-old demand to set up its headquarters in Nizamabad. 'Modi Ji always delivers on what he promises,' the Union home minister emphasised. Shah highlighted Modi's other measures for farmers such as increasing the agriculture budget by Rs 1 lakh crore, providing Rs 6,000 annually to every farmer, keeping fertiliser prices stable, and ensuring crop insurance.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Karnataka IT dept, stakeholders in dark over fake news bill
BENGALURU: Congress-governed Karnataka's proposed law to make dissemination of fake news online punishable with up to seven years in jail may have hit its first hurdle already, with confusion over why the Kannada and culture department should be the deciding authority on something within the information technology domain. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "As custodians of Information Technology Act, we have given recommendations to the law and parliamentary affairs department. Consultations are yet to happen on the draft bill," IT&BT minister Priyank Kharge said. Advocate Vinay Sreenivasa highlighted the potential for such a law to be misused without an effective mechanism. "The proposed bill is likely to cause suppression of civil liberties rather than contain fake news. It is shocking that the Congress govt hasn't followed the pre-legislative consultation policy brought by UPA II. Govt must immediately organise a consultation," he said. A leaked copy of the draft Karnataka Misinformation and Fake News (Prohibition) Bill, 2025 mentions the establishment of an authority to determine fake news and take appropriate action under the Kannada and culture department. Sources said the draft was still to be reviewed by the cabinet because there was no clarity on how the objective of combating fake news could be realistically achieved. Kharge's objection to some aspects of the proposed mechanism led CM Siddaramaiah to postpone the discussion till the next cabinet meeting, they said. Officials of the law and parliamentary affairs department said a scrutiny committee scanned the bill before the first draft was finalised. Internet Freedom Foundation, an independent agency, points out on its website that the govt hasn't yet sought public feedback on the proposed bill. The foundation wants the govt to drop criminal provisions in the bill and publish the full draft and background note for public consultation.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
2 years on, Telangana gig workers' Bill catches Rajasthan's landmark law 'napping'
2 years on, T'gana gig workers' Bill catches Raj's landmark law 'napping' JAIPUR: Congress-governed Telangana's draft Gig and Platform Workers (Registration, Social Security, and Welfare) Bill is reigniting a conversation that the party's erstwhile stronghold, Rajasthan, once led - only to let the momentum slip. As the desert state's pioneering 2023 Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act lies entangled in red tape, bike taxi rider Krishna Kumar Chaudhary wakes up each morning knowing exactly how his day will end - exhausted, barely breaking even, and unable to secure a better future for his son. For thousands like him in Rajasthan's gig economy , the 2023 law signalled hope that has since evaporated in the cycle of political transition, bureaucratic delay, and corporate pressures. Krishna Kumar, general secretary of the Rajasthan Gig and App-based Workers' Union, earns Rs 700-1,000 daily ferrying passengers on his motorbike. After accounting for platform fees (Rs 100), petrol (Rs 300 approx) and maintenance (Rs 100), he is left with a maximum of Rs 400. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Best website creation site | Build your store in minutes Shopify Shop Now Undo "My room rent alone is Rs 4,000 a month. I borrow from friends to survive. I want my son to study in a private school, but I can't afford it," Kumar says. Gul Mohammed Mansoori, 50, works for a goods transport company that operates through a platform and leaves drivers to fend for themselves when customers don't pay. "The platforms deduct a 12% commission on each trip but take no responsibility for non-payment of dues. Drivers are asked to pursue customers for payments. I earn around Rs 3,000 a week and occasionally Rs 5,000 - but that's not enough," he tells TOI. Mansoori makes Jaipuri quilts, especially during the lean season, to earn a few thousand extra rupees. Rajasthan's attempt to legislate protection was the first such initiative in the country, promising social and financial security for an estimated five lakh employees driving the state's Rs 25,000-crore gig economy. Enacted by the then Ashok Gehlot govt, it aimed to create a welfare board, establish a Rs 200-crore welfare fund, and impose a 2% cess on aggregators to provide health and accident insurance, pensions, provident fund, and school education for children of workers, The Bhajan Lal Sharma led-BJP govt announced an allocation of Rs 350 crore in this year's state Budget to the Gig and Unorganised Workers Development Fund, a Rs 100-crore increase over last year's outlay. It remains unclear when the corpus will be created, or how the benefits will reach the intended targets. Home minister Amit Shah's announcement of a cooperative framework for 50 lakh app-based drivers nationwide has rekindled a semblance of hope. The model, allowing registration of two-wheelers, taxis, rickshaws, and four-wheelers, aims for democratic management and equitable profit distribution among drivers. Under the umbrella of the National Campaign for Cooperatives in Platform and Transport Economy, gig workers are also in talks with the Union cooperatives ministry for a taxi cooperative called "Sahkar Taxi" that will enable drivers to operate as entrepreneurs without having to pay commissions to existing platform service-providers. NITI Aayog projects India's gig economy will grow to 2.35 crore workers by 2029-30. Gig unions, like the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), propose funding social security through taxes, cess, CSR, platform contributions, and more. IFAT's national general secretary, Shaik Salauddin, says home minister Shah's cooperative model must involve workers to avoid replicating exploitative practices. "We need driver-led models that prioritise rights over profits. We are ready to collaborate for a true alternative." Jaipur taxi driver Suresh Prajapati, 26, awaits the day workers like him don't have to depend on platforms. "If driving is your only source of income, relying on Ola or Uber won't suffice. I make ends meet by building my base of personal customers. I have registered with the Centre's e-Shram portal in the hope that there will be some benefits someday."
