Free ration scheme extended with Bihar polls in mind: Thorat
Mumbai: Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was made with an eye on Bihar elections.
Thorat, who is the state's revenue minister, also pointed out that the PM did not say anything about the standoff with China in eastern Ladakh in his address.
"The prime minister's speech was a let-down....he did not provide any relief to the poor nor did he show his `red eyes' (gave any stern message to) to China," the Congress leader said.
"After the coronavirus pandemic broke out, the free foodgrain scheme was launched to provide five kg of foodgrains to the poor. Congress president Sonia Gandhi had demanded that the scheme be extended till September. The decision to extend an existing scheme is administrative matter and there was no need to mention it through a national address," Thorat said.
"But he announced the extension of the scheme with an eye on Bihar polls in November. The poor have other needs besides food. Five kg of rice, wheat and chana dal is a meager help. This will not last even for a month," he said.
Rs 7,500 in cash must be deposited in bank accounts of the poor every month, Thorat demanded.
"The PM has indicated that the pandemic will stay till November," he quipped.
Prime minister Modi on Tuesday announced the extension of the PMGKAY, a programme to provide free ration to over 80 crore people, till November end.
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Man detained after police operation at Iranian consulate in Paris
Paris, Apr 19: Police said Friday they detained a man at the Iranian consulate in Paris after responding to a report of a suspicious man possibly carrying a grenade and explosives vest, but they did not immediately confirm finding any weapons.
A Paris police official told The Associated Press that officers were verifying the man's identity and trying to determine whether he had weapons. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to be publicly named under police policy.
The official said the man was spotted around 11 a.m. (0900 GMT) on Friday and that police launched a special operation as soon as they were alerted. The man's motives were not immediately clear. No explosions have been reported, the official said.
Images on French television and social media showed police surrounding the building.
The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East.
