Akbar's decision to step down is right: Ramdas Athawale
New Delhi, Oct 17 : Union Minister Ramdas Athawale Wednesday termed the resignation of Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar as the "right decision" and said allegations against him should be "properly investigated".
The 67-year-old journalist-turned-politician had stepped down earlier in the day due to mounting pressure following a spate of allegations of sexual harassment against him by several women scribes, who welcomed his resignation as a "vindication".
Athawale, who is the minister of state for social justice and empowerment in the Narendra Modi government, said the opposition was also demanding Akbar's resignation.
"Opposition was demanding his resignation. The decision M J Akbar has taken is right," Athawale, whose Republican Party of India is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government said.
"The allegations levelled against him should be properly investigated," he added.
Akbar's sudden announcement to quit came a day before the court hearing of a criminal defamation complaint filed by him against Priya Ramani, a journalist who has accused him of sexual misconduct around 20 years ago.
In a brief statement, Akbar said he has decided to seek justice in a court of law in his personal capacity.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
