Shimla, July 30 (IANS) In an interview with IANS on Tuesday, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister and Opposition leader in the Assembly, Jairam Thakur, sharply criticised the current government led by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for alleged non-performance.

Thakur also claimed that the Congress is divided into multiple factions and is fragmented due to its inefficacy.

Responding to allegations that the BJP was attempting to topple the Himachal government, Thakur said, “I keep reiterating that no effort has been made from our side to bring down the government. However, should circumstances arise where such a situation is necessary, we will consider it.

“The Congress is already struggling internally, with many factions at odds, and this internal discord is leading to its downfall. They blame us for their troubles, but if they keep doing that, it will only further highlight their instability. The future stability of the Congress government is in question.”

Thakur also slammed the Sukhu government for allegedly mishandling funds for a medical device park.

He said during the previous government, Himachal had successfully competed to secure one of the three medical device parks allocated across the country, with an expected investment of Rs 300 crore and Central assistance of around Rs 100 crore.

Despite this, he claimed, the current government is returning the funds and making excuses about setting its own conditions, which he believes is detrimental to the state’s interests.

On the issue of unfulfilled promises, Thakur accused the state government of financial mismanagement and failing to deliver on its commitments.

He also claimed that development work has been stalled over the past 18 months and that employees are struggling with delayed salaries.

According to Thakur, Congress’ inability to fulfil its 10 promises will lead to significant trouble for the party.

He also attributed the Congress’ defeat in the Lok Sabha polls to such non-performance, as he forecast a grim future for the party.

–IANS

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Panaji, July 30 (IANS) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the House on Tuesday that hoardings of Sri Lankan casinos promoting online gaming will be pulled down in the coastal state.

Goa Forward Party MLA Viaji Sardesaid raised the issue during the Question Hour, demanding action against the unauthorised casino advertisements.

“Sri Lankan sasinos are advertising in Goa. I had raised this issue earlier. I even lodged an official complaint with the Home Department citing that casinos from other countries are advertising here by violating Section 12 of the Goa Daman and Diu Gambling Act. But nothing was done,” Sardesai said.

Sardesai also claimed that the concerned officials used a dilly-dally approach in taking action in the matter.

“Online gaming is considered illegal. The GST Council doesn’t allow online gaming. So how are these adversements being allowed,” he questioned.

In reply, CM Sawant said a case has been booked at the Porvorim police station with regard to unauthorised advertisements by Sri Lankan casinos.

“We are taking action against such unauthorised hoardings. We have taken legal opinion, and more cases will be registered,” he told the House.

“Hoardings of those having casinos in Sri Lanka and trying to operate online gaming from here will not be allowed. The state is not earning any revenue out of it. Our advertising policy is not finalised, and they are taking benefit of it. But I can assure you that we will pull down the hoardings or raze them,” Sawant said.

–IANS

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Mumbai, July 29 (IANS) The Maharashtra Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday gave its approval to bring in an ordinance for the implementation of the Maharashtra Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, 2024, similar on the lines of the Union government’s Model Prisons Act, 2023.

This aims to regulate prisons, correctional services and prisoners.

It also aims to holistically address all relevant issues relating to prison administration as the pre-independence archaic laws need to be repealed and replaced by a consolidated, progressive and robust law in sync with contemporary modern-day needs and correctional ideology.

The state government had tabled the Bill during the Monsoon Session of the State Legislature but it was not passed.

Therefore, the State Cabinet decided to adopt an ordinance route for its implementation.

The Bill has proposed categories of prisons such as special prison, open prison for women, temporary prison, open colony and Boratkar institution.

Open prisons and colonies will assist prisoners in their rehabilitation and reintegration into the society after release.

There is a provision for the constitution of the Prison and Correctional Services Force, establishment of the welfare fund for all officers and staff of the prison and prisoners.

It proposes prison segregation of various categories of prisoners and for their special needs such as women, transgender, undertrial, convicted, high-risk prisoners, habitual offenders, recidivist prisoners, young offenders and civil prisoners.

In the wake of deaths of inmates in the prisons, it will be mandatory for the medical officer to record all relevant details and particulars of the case and the officer in-charge must immediately inform about the dearth to the concerned Deputy Inspector General of Police and the Director General of Police. They must inform the National Human Rights Commission and other authorities.

The prison staff or officer, designated by the Superintendent must examine everything carried in or out of the prison and may stop and search or cause to be searched any person, suspected of bringing any prohibited articles or taking away any property belonging to the prison.

If any of such article or property is found, the prison staff or officer must give immediate intimation to the officer in-charge of the prison.

The Director General of Police, the Special Inspector General or the Deputy Inspector General of Police may take disciplinary action against any officer or staff of prison for misconduct.

The Bill has proposed power of arrest without warrant in the case of assaults and damage to the property and any attempts to commit a cognisable offence which involves or which is likely to involve imminent danger to the life of any person engaged in carrying on any work related to prisoners or officers and staff of prison or any other person or prison property.

The Director General of Police must ensure that all prisons are inspected by an officer of appropriate rank at periodic intervals.

The government must constitute a welfare fund for the welfare of all officers and staff and correctional services.

In a serious bid to avid unholy nexus between the prison staff and inmates, the Bill has proposed that the officers and staff and their relatives must not have any business dealings with prisoners and interest in prison contracts directly or indirectly.

They must not accept any gift from a prisoner or prisoners’ relatives or friends or a person having any dealings with the prisons.

Similarly, it will be mandatory for the prisoners to strictly follow rules with regard to discipline.

In the case of breach, the officer in-charge will have powers to impose punishments for committing prison offences, including unauthorised use or possession of wireless communication devices, mobile phones, electronic devices, trespassing or attempt to trespass, loitering in and around the prison premises where the entry is prohibited, unauthorised communication with any person outside prison, smuggling or attempt to smuggle of any prohibited article, participation or organisation of anti-social activities like gambling and betting and sexual harassment or sodomy.

According to the Bill, separate enclosures or wards for women and transgender prisoners, both transmen and transwomen may be provided and they must be provided access to healthcare and correctional programmes.

The Bill has proposed after care rehabilitation services to all needy prisoners released from a prison with a view to ensuring their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

–IANS

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Kozhikode, July 30 (IANS) Minister of State (MoS) for Minority Affairs and Fisheries George Kurian on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is monitoring the rescue and relief operations in the Wayanad.

“I would like to assure the people of Kerala that the Modi government is committed to provide all possible assistance to the state government for the rescue of the people affected by the landslide,” said Kurian, who has been deputed by the Centre to the Wayanad to overlook the rescue operation.

The district authorities said that around 125 people have died while 98 people are reportedly missing.

The worst affected areas include Churalpara, Velarimala, Mundakayil and Pothukalu.

Kurian said two teams of NDRF, two columns of the Army, and two IAF helicopters have been deployed for search and rescue operations.

“Three additional teams of NDRF, with search and rescue equipment, are on the way. A dog squad has also been deployed for search and rescue operations. Columns of the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) have been deployed for the construction of three Bailey bridges,” the MoS said.

He said that the two columns of the army with stores have also been airlifted from Thiruvananthapuram to Kozhikode.

“One 110-foot Bailey bridge and three search and rescue dogs have been airlifted from Delhi to Kozhikode,” the MoS said.

He added that helicopter reconnaissance of the Engineering Team to assess the damage is being done to work out further resources required to be inducted.

“Two columns from the DSC Center Kannur, Indian Navy’s ship INS Zamorin has been deployed to assist in establishing movement of rescue workers to the other side of the damaged bridge at the worst affected areas of Wayanad.” the MoS said.

He said that additional resources will be sent by the Central government, as per the situation demands.

“The situation is being monitored by the Central government at the highest level. Both control rooms of the Ministry of Home Affairs are monitoring the situation 24×7 and providing all possible assistance to the state,” the MoS said.

–IANS

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Shimla, July 30 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh’s former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur, in an exclusive interview with IANS, has hit out at Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Rahul Gandhi for his remarks during the discussion on Budget 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha.

Thakur also took aim at the Sukhvinder Sukhu government of Himachal Pradesh, saying that the Congress regime has failed to fulfil promises it made to people before the Assembly elections.

Following are excerpts from the interview.

IANS: What is your reaction to Rahul Gandhi’s speech during the discussion on the Budget in Lok Sabha?

Jairam Thakur: I heard the statement and was truly astonished at how the Leader of the Opposition could engage in such low-level discourse on a crucial issue like the Budget. It would have been understandable if he had offered suggestions on the Budget, but he did not address the Budget at all. Instead, he spoke from a political standpoint, referencing Shiva’s procession and the Chakravyuh. Gandhi’s speech lacked substance; anyone who heard it would feel disappointed. He discussed the Budget on a very low level, and I would say it’s a misfortune for the country. He should have provided suggestions, data, and facts. But he had nothing, and he continued to speak politically. Anyone who heard his speech would be disheartened by the way he presented himself in the house.

IANS: With your efforts and the Central government’s assistance, a medical device park was set to be established in Himachal. However, the state government returned the funds. What is your take on this?

Jairam Thakur: It was a significant achievement that, despite there being only three medical device parks across the country, Himachal Pradesh participated in an open bidding process when our government was in power. We successfully competed and secured one of these parks, which was expected to receive an additional investment of Rs 300 crore. The Central government had allocated approximately Rs 100 crore in aid for this project. I am astonished that, despite the budget being allocated and the work being assigned, the state government is now returning the funds. They claim they will set their own conditions, but once the project is allocated, there is no room for discussion. This has caused a significant loss for the state. The reality is that the entire issue seems to revolve around money, with some Congress leaders having vested interests. The cancellation of this project is a great misfortune for the state.

IANS: The Congress made several promises during the Assembly elections which they are now failing to fulfil. Do you think people might take to the streets?

Jairam Thakur: One thing is clear: while the state government claims to be facing financial difficulties, development work should still be ongoing. However, for the past 18 months, all projects have come to a standstill. Employees are demanding their salaries on time, but the state government has no funds. The false guarantees made by the Congress have led to a truly unfortunate situation. Congress promised ten guarantees, yet none have been fulfilled. This will likely lead to a major crisis for Congress in the future. People are protesting on the streets against Congress, and we have seen the impact in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. BJP won all the Lok Sabha seats in Himachal Pradesh. Congress’s future looks bleak, and this is a certainty.

IANS: Do you think the Himachal government will last long?

Jairam Thakur: I would say that if the state’s interests are not being served and development work is halted, it will certainly be difficult for the government to remain in power. The public will eventually drive them out.

IANS: The Uttar Pradesh government has taken a significant decision on ‘love jihad’, extending the sentence from 10 years to life imprisonment. What is your view?

Jairam Thakur: This is a good decision considering the increasing number of incidents, especially in Uttar Pradesh and other states, where false claims ruin someone’s future. To prevent such incidents, stringent laws are required. If Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has made this decision, I believe it is commendable.

IANS: The Congress alleges that you are trying to topple the state government and that several legislators are in contact with you. How do you respond?

Jairam Thakur: I want to repeatedly clarify that there has been no attempt from our side to topple the government. However, if such circumstances arise, we will certainly consider it. When we decide, Congress will face significant difficulties because it is divided into several factions internally. Congress is fragmented due to its own shortcomings. They blame us for the current situation, but we are not at fault. If they continue to blame us, it will only highlight Congress’s problematic future.

–IANS

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