AAP slams BJP over Asia Cup, demands match revenues for Pahalgam victims
New Delhi (PTI): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) raised questions on Monday over the political messaging surrounding India's Asia Cup final against Pakistan and suggested that the revenue generated from the cricket match could be used to support the families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims.
No official response was available from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
AAP's Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj shared video footage showing the Indian cricket team captain shaking hands with his Pakistani counterpart after stepping down from the stage after the Asia Cup final, in contrast to claims circulating online that no such interaction took place.
In a statement issued by the AAP, Bharadwaj claimed that the broadcasting and advertisement revenue from the India-Pakistan Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday was estimated at around Rs 690 crore.
He said if this amount is allocated to the families of the 26 victims of the Pahalgam attack, each family could potentially receive anywhere between Rs 19 and Rs 25 crore.
During an interaction with the media, Bharadwaj said the videos allow the public to see the sequence of events before and after the post-match press-conference, adding that such transparency helps in understanding what actually happened.
Opposition parties have targeted the BJP-led Centre over India's participation in the Asia Cup and playing cricket with Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
While the AAP has focussed on potential support for the victims' families, the Congress has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for comparing a cricket match to a military operation.
India secured its ninth Asia Cup title, defeating Pakistan by five wickets, in a thrilling final in Dubai on Sunday.
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Karnataka tanks hold strong water storage: Minister Boseraju
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister N S Boseraju on Tuesday said that minor irrigation tanks across the state are holding good water storage levels, with the 3,788 tanks under the department’s jurisdiction providing life-sustaining water to a large agricultural command area of approximately 4,45,009 hectares.
In a statement, the Minister for Minor Irrigation, Boseraju, said that according to the latest data released by the department, a vast majority of the 3,788 minor irrigation tanks in the state have maintained good water levels.
Detailing the storage status, the report said that even in peak summer, 165 tanks are full.
Additionally, 1,355 tanks have retained more than 51 per cent capacity, 1,143 tanks have water levels up to 50 per cent, and 959 tanks are at roughly 30 per cent storage capacity.
District-wise, Davanagere leads the state in water storage, with 27 tanks remaining full even during summer. Chikkamagaluru follows closely with 46 full tanks, indicating strong water retention.
Other top-performing districts include Hassan, Tumakuru, and Kolar.
Boseraju, who also holds the portfolio of Science and Technology, said 1,184 tanks are being actively filled through 145 tank-filling lift irrigation projects under the Minor Irrigation Department.
He attributed the strong water retention to good monsoon rainfall and effective water management strategies of the government.
“It is encouraging to see such a substantial volume of water stored across our minor irrigation tanks by the end of March, remaining largely intact even as summer progresses. The fact that 1,355 tanks are nearly full and 165 tanks are brimming is a testament to the success of our tank-filling programmes and rejuvenation initiatives,” he said.
“By ensuring a continuous flow of water to these tanks through lift irrigation projects across departments, as well as supplying treated and surface water to the Bayaluseeme districts, we have taken proactive measures to prevent them from drying out during the summer,” the minister said.
According to him, these data points confirm that efforts to build a water-secure Karnataka are yielding strong results at the grassroots level.
“This water wealth preserved in our tanks will bring direct benefits to lakhs of farmers across the 4,45,009-hectare command area,” he added.
