New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi has criticised the Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi for his remarks over the prices of pulses in the state, which have sparked a controversy.

Priyanka has hit out at the Minister in the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government by sharing a post on social media platform X that states, “Quoting a media news report that after the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the Ram temple in Ayodhya in 2019, more than 2,500 plots in 25 villages adjacent to the temple site were bought and sold. Several people who bought this land were named, who were either politicians, government officials, or local leaders.”

Along with this post on X, the Congress leader said, ” Uttar Pradesh Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, who is laughing at the price of pulses by quoting it at Rs 100 per kg, should see this rate list of pulses.”

“It is written that the market price of Arhar dal is Rs 180 per kg, red kidney bean is Rs 170 per kg, Black Urad is Rs 130 per kg, Moong dal is Rs 120 per kg, Urad Dhuli is Rs 130 per kg.”

The State Agriculture Minister had said on Wednesday during a press conference that the prices of pulses was not more than Rs 100 per kg sold in the state.

–IANS

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Tumakuru, (Karnataka) July 10 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar on Wednesday said that Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids in the Valmiki Tribal Welfare Development Board case against former minister B. Nagendra Basavaraja Daddal are unwarranted.

“The SIT set up by the state government is already investigating the case, there was no need for ED raids in the case,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Asked about ED raids in several places including the residence of former minister Nagendra, he said, “It involves huge amounts of money and that is why banks have the authority to investigate the case. The ED has come in even though there was no need for it to investigate.”

Replying to a query on why the ED investigation was taking place when the SIT was already formed, he said, “Nagendra is not at fault. I am confident that he will come out clean after the investigations. The perpetrators of this case must be brought to book. There were similar such cases during the previous BJP government.”

Asked about ED raids on Nagendra and Valmiki Board Chairman Daddal, he said, “I don’t know the details of the raids. The SIT had issued a notice to Nagendra and Daddal in the case and the investigations so far have revealed that there is no involvement of the minister and the MLA.”

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) Capt Avhilash Rawat and crew of the Marlin Luanda, which was attacked in the Red Sea earlier this year, have been selected to receive prestigious 2024 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea.

Two individuals will receive certificates of commendation for their acts of bravery and 15 letters of commendation will be sent to their recipients.

Capt Brijesh Nambiar and the crew of the INS Visakhapatnam of the Indian Navy will also receive a letter of commendation for their support to the oil tanker Marlin Luanda when in distress.

The IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea is for two sets of nominees: the Captain and crew, for containing a fire after the ship was struck by an anti-ship missile; and the Captain and crew of the tugboat Pemex Maya, for their rescue of six shipwrecked persons from four different vessels, during a hurricane.

Nominations were initially reviewed by an assessment panel and their recommendations were considered by a panel of judges, who ultimately selected the recipients of honours. The recommendations of the panel of judges were endorsed by the IMO Council, meeting for its 132nd session from July 8 to 12.

A total of 41 nominations were received from 15 member states and three non-governmental organisations in consultative status with IMO.

Captain Rawat and the crew were nominated by the Marshall Islands for their extraordinary courage, determination and endurance demonstrated while coordinating firefighting and damage control efforts to combat the fire that broke out after an anti-ship ballistic missile struck their vessel.

On the evening of January 26, 2024, the Marlin Luanda, carrying 84,147 tons of Naphtha, was en route from Suez to Incheon when it was struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile. The explosion ignited a cargo tank, creating a significant fire hazard with flames exceeding five metres. Despite the damage, Captain Rawat swiftly organised firefighting efforts, ensuring the crew’s safety and maintaining the ship’s navigability amidst the chaos.

With the starboard lifeboat destroyed, the remaining crew mustered at the port lifeboat station, ready for potential evacuation. Despite the extreme danger and the constant threat of further attacks, the crew fought the fire using fixed foam monitors and portable hoses.

The fire continued to spread, particularly affecting an adjacent tank, but the crew managed to contain it using seawater after foam supplies were exhausted.

After four and a half hours fighting the fire on their own, assistance arrived from the merchant tanker Achilles, and later from the French frigate FS Alsace and the US frigate USS Carney, which provided additional firefighting foam and support, followed soon after by the Indian warship INS Visakhapatnam.

Despite efforts by the Marlin Luanda crew, the fire reignited multiple times. The situation remained critical, and expert consultations suggested abandoning the vessel.

However, Captain Rawat and his crew persisted. The turning point came when professionally trained firefighters from the Indian Navy boarded the ship. They managed to get closer to the fire due to their superior equipment and their efforts, combined with those of the Marlin Luanda crew, finally succeeded in extinguishing the fire and sealing a significant hull breach.

Twenty-four hours after the missile strike, the Marlin Luanda sailed to safety under naval escort.

–IANS

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Guwahati, July 11 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the state government has made proficiency in local language mandatory for selection in government jobs, and this would protect the rights and interests of Assamese.

Sarma said that the Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC) cannot protect the rights of the local people, as PRC can be obtained if a person lives in Assam for three years.

The Chief Minister’s comments came on the reactions stemming from the notification of the Higher Education Department regarding exemption of PRC for appointment of Assistant Professor, librarian, Grade III and Grade IV employees in colleges.

He said that the state government has made aptitude of local language mandatory for selection which according to him would protect the rights and interests of the local people.

Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu stated in X, “The Notice pertaining to Permanent Residential Certificate (PRC) was issued by the Director of Higher Education without approval of the government. The DHE has been instructed to withdraw the notice immediately.”

Sarma stated in X, “Enquire further on what authority the Director of Higher Education issued this circular. Such a circular could only have been issued by the Government, not by a directorate”.

The circular issued by the DHE had evoked criticism from several quarters with the All Assam Students Union (AASU) condemning the move and asking the government to be “more responsible towards local people.”

The AASU also demanded that the circular be repealed with immediate effect.

The Assam Higher Education Department in a circular to the Principals of various colleges on July 4 said that the PRC is not mandatory for appointment of Assistant Professor, librarian, Grade III and Grade IV employees in colleges.

–IANS

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Patna, July 11 (IANS) Bridges and culverts continue to collapse in Bihar as another culvert, built in 2005, collapsed in the Saharsa district after it got submerged due to the floodwaters from the Kosi River.

This marks the 15th such incident in the past 23 days in the state.

The incident took place on Ward Number 17 Road, which connects Kundah Panchayat with Balia Simar Panchayat under Mahishi block.

The culvert, located on the banks of the Kosi River, collapsed due to the pressure of the floodwaters.

As a result, many people from over a dozen villages have been affected, as they remain cut off from the district and block headquarters. The situation is causing significant concern, particularly for those who have scheduled the wedding functions.

“Around 10 weddings are planned in my village. My daughter is also getting married. I don’t understand how the wedding procession will proceed. The administration should pay attention to our sufferings. The culvert had become very weak and couldn’t withstand the pressure of the water,” said Rajiv Kumar, a villager.

Chote Prasad, a Junior Engineer of the Rural Works Department, said: “The culvert was constructed in 2005 under the MLA fund. It collapsed due to the strong flow of floodwaters from the Kosi River. Traffic has been disrupted, but it will be restored soon.”

–IANS

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