Indian Social Forum’s Central Committee, Dammam has issued a press release condemning police atrocities and brutality at educational campuses over the last few days where the police has used force to stop protesters of CAA and NRC.
Condemning the use of force in Jamia Milia, Aligarh University and Darul Uloom, the forum added that the central government was compromising with secular principles of the country. It also added the central government using colonial laws such as NRC and CAA is discriminating between majority and minority communities.
“The forum condemns police atrocities at education campus such as Jamia Milia, Aligarh University & Darul-Uloom. Central government has passed colonial laws against its own citizens, legislation which are passed by the current government are against the basics principles of secularism which is the foundation of our great nation. By getting Citizenship Amendment Act union government is discriminating between the majority and minority communities in India, which is also the agenda of ruling party. The role of Delhi Police which is under Central government has also raised several doubts” the press release stated.
Waseem Udupi, President Indian Social Forum, said "In our democratic country every citizen has equal rights to protest against the unconstitutional laws passed by government, it has been noticed that government is misusing its agencies to crush the protesters who are against the Citizen Amendment Act CAA and branding the protesters as anti-national".
“We have witnessed many peaceful protest and rallies have been organized all over India against this black law. Here by Indian Social forum support the peace full protests which are against the people of India. Instead passing these black laws we argue government to take approximate step to resolve the economic crisis of the country instead implementing their saffron agenda” the press statement added.
The Forum expressed solidarity with all the education institution under attack by union government agency over the last week especially with the student of JNU, BHU, HCU, IIT Mumbai, TISS, Delhi University & Jadhavpur university campus and urged government to stop violence of agencies against the civilians protesting CAA.
Wasim Udupi chaired the meeting. Nameer Cheruvadi welcomed members and executive to the meeting while Ashraf Puttur presented vote of thanks.
Sharif Jokatte & Salahuddin from Karnataka, Mohammad Habib & Jahangir Arushi from Tamil Nadu, Nasir Koduvally & Mubarak Poyilthodi from Kerala, Mansoor Shah, Mohammad Tahir & Mohammad Azim from Delhi Zone were present during the meeting.
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Railways: FM Sitharaman allocates Rs 2.77 lakh crore for capital expenditure
New Delhi (PTI): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday allocated Rs 2,77,830 crore to the Ministry of Railways for capital expenditure in the financial year 2026–27.
The Budget allocation includes the construction of new lines and the purchase of locomotives, wagons, and coaches, among other works.
The ministry had received Rs 2,52,000 crore in FY 2025–26. The current allocation for the upcoming financial year is 10.25 per cent higher, making it the highest ever. Besides, the ministry will get Rs 15,000 crore from Extra Budgetary Resources, the document showed.
According to the Budget document, the railways’ total earnings are projected at Rs 3,85,733.33 crore, while expenditure is estimated at Rs 3,82,186.01 crore, resulting in a surplus of Rs 3,547.32 crore at the end of the financial year.
"Since the railways' earnings are too meagre to fund asset creation and support new works, it receives funds from the government. Accordingly, the ministry has been allocated Rs 2,77,830 crore to undertake activities such as laying new lines, converting narrow gauge to broad gauge, and constructing double lines on single-line routes," a railway official said.
The Budget document has earmarked funds from the Rs 2,77,830 crore allocation for various construction and asset creation projects. These include Rs 36,721.55 crore for new lines, Rs 4,600 crore for gauge conversion, Rs 37,750 crore for doubling, Rs 52,108.73 crore for rolling stock (locomotives, wagons, etc.), and Rs 7,500 crore for signalling and telecom, among others.
The allocation under the signalling and telecom head is significant as the automatic train protection system, Kavach, falls under this department. The ministry has laid strong emphasis on expanding Kavach coverage across the rail network.
The document also presents the actual earnings and expenditure of the railways in 2024–25. During the year, railways earned Rs 3,35,757.09 crore and spent Rs 3,32,440.64 crore, recording a surplus of Rs 3,316.45 crore. The budgetary allocation for the year stood at Rs 2,51,946.56 crore.
"As far as FY 2025–26 is concerned, the actual figures for earnings and expenditure will be available only after the financial year ends,” an official said, adding that largely earnings and expenses are on expected lines with minor changes.
Out of the total expenditures of the railways, the biggest share goes on paying pensions to its employees.
According to Budget documents, expenditure on pensions was Rs 58844.07 crore in 2024-25, which is expected to rise to Rs 74500 crore in 2026-27.
