Indian Social Forum Saudi Arabia condemns police atrocities at University campuses
Indian Social Forum on Tuesday issued a press release condemning the police atrocities at the Jamia Millia, Aligarh Muslim University and Darul-Uloom campuses. The press statement asserted that the central government has been legislating and enacting laws that are disregarding the dignity of the constitution of the country and has been setting up wrong image of the country in front of the world.
“Indian Social Forum, Saudi national executive committee vehemently condemned the police atrocities at Jamila Millia, Aligarh Muslim University & Darul-Uloom campuses. Since the central govt. has been legislating and enacting laws disregarding the dignity tradition and due process of the constitution of the country, the whole world is witnessing a paradigm shift from the principles of secularism and democracy to an authoritarian rule by curtailing the freedom of expression and the right to protest peacefully and democratically” the press release stated.
The forum also added that the government was distracting itself from giving hopes and aspirations to the youth by creating employment and is involved in dividing the people of the country on religious line with legislatures like Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC)
“Rather than giving hopes and aspirations to the youth by creating employment opportunities and paving the way for development of country, the government of the country is dividing its people on religious grounds under the pretext of implementing the Citizenship Amendment Bill and National Register of Citizens” it added.
“The entire people of country are fed up with the hollow rhetoric of the govt. and are compelled to register their protest against this divisive law, CAB. But the police stormed the Jamia Millia University campuses instead of addressing the issue the prime minister has played a communal card and his party leaders spread fake news to defame the peaceful protestors, which is quite shameful and does not have any place in a democratic set up. The futile exercise of the govt. to suppress public opinion by force will only put the country to shame before the world and we request all, including political party leaders to strongly but peacefully oppose this unconstitutional act meant to divide the country on the basis of religion” the press statement further stated.
The press statement was released during a meeting that was chaired by Ashraf Morayur (President) and was attended by Abdul Ghani, EM Abdullah, Haris Mangalore, Basheer Karanthoor, Waseem Udupi, Ashraf Puthoor, Mujahid Pasha Bangalore.
Haris Mangalore welcomed the executive members and EM Abdulla proposed the vote of thanks at 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.
