Akhilesh accuses UP govt of 'fake encounters', caste-based bias in police postings
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday alleged that the BJP government in the state was resorting to “fake encounters” without achieving any improvement in law and order, and accused it of making caste-based postings in the police department.
“Law and order does not improve by doing fake encounters. It improves by appointing good officers in the field. When the government makes appointments only on caste basis to favour its own people, how will the law and order situation improve?” Yadav, according to a party statement, said while addressing party workers and leaders from various districts at the SP headquarters here.
The SP chief alleged that under the BJP rule, “women and daughters are not safe”, and criminal incidents such as “rape, murder and loot” occur every day.
He recalled that the Samajwadi government had launched the ‘1090 Women Power Line’ for the safety of women, which was appreciated by the Supreme Court, but had been “ruined” by the BJP government.
“The BJP spreads hatred in society and creates division. People must remain alert to the BJP. In Uttar Pradesh, criminals have a nexus with the administration. Law and order, health and education are all ruined in this government. Caste-based persecution and discrimination are at their peak. The BJP is a highly casteist party,” Yadav said.
Holding Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath responsible for the condition of rivers in the state, Yadav said, “The CM is bent on destroying Uttar Pradesh. For the deplorable state of the Gomti river and other rivers, the CM himself is responsible. The BJP government has done no work to clean rivers.
"In the Samajwadi government, we created the most beautiful riverfront on the Gomti and arranged for its cleaning, but the BJP government spoiled everything. Now when their time is over, they are pretending to clean it."
He claimed incidents of crimes against women and atrocities on Dalits are highest under the present regime.
“As long as the BJP is in power, no one can get justice. For the future of Uttar Pradesh, it is essential to remove the BJP government. Without removing it, there will be no welfare of the people,” he said.
Accusing the government of failing to provide healthcare to the poor, Yadav said, “There is a massive shortage of hospitals and doctors. In government hospitals, quality treatment and medicines are not available. Patients are forced to go to private hospitals.
"In the Samajwadi government, treatment and medicines were free for the poor. In the SP government, treatment will be free and electric wheelchairs will be given to persons with disabilities,” he added.
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Climate Change crisis: IMD to change parameters to declare heatwaves
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The IMD, along with its technical partners, will soon revise the criteria for declaring heatwave conditions in the country, as the present parameters do not suit India’s geographical conditions, according to official sources here.
Kerala, in particular, has faced difficulties in issuing heatwave warnings because of the limitations of the existing parameters.
Sources in the India Meteorological Department said the state experienced severe heat and humidity this summer and, for the first time, weather forecasts were made based on the anti-cyclone system that formed near the Karnataka–Maharashtra coast.
"We have never had an anti-cyclone system form closer to the South before, and this time we had to predict the weather based on it," a senior IMD official told PTI.
Anti-cyclonic systems are common over north-western parts of India, but this year one formed near the southern region, leading to unusually hot nights.
The anti-cyclone caused downward air movement, which pushed warm air towards the surface and prevented it from dispersing at night, the official added. As a result, Kerala recorded night temperatures 3 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal.
Because Kerala has experienced a steady temperature increase during the summer months for the last few years, changing the parameters for declaring heat waves would benefit the state, enabling the authorities to issue warnings more efficiently, the official added.
The IMD currently issues hot and humid weather warnings, although the situation warrants a heatwave warning, as the existing parameters do not allow the department to issue one.
At present, the IMD issues a heat wave warning in coastal areas when the maximum temperature reaches 37 degree Celsius or more with a temperature departure of 4.5 degree Celsius over the recorded maximum temperature.
For plains, the threshold is 40 degrees Celsius with a departure of 4.5 degrees Celsius or more from normal, while for hilly regions it is 30 degrees Celsius with a departure of 4.5 degrees Celsius or more.
Officials said the current heatwave declaration parameters also require these conditions to be recorded at two stations in the state to issue the warnings.
"In Kerala, we hardly get to record these conditions in two areas; moreover, we have severe heat stress that can easily cause a heat stroke. So we have decided to rework the heatwave declaration parameters and the changes will be implemented shortly. There will be a consultation with the Disaster Management Authority also before finalising the parameters," the official said.
Throughout Kerala, temperatures recorded this summer were three to four degrees Celsius higher than usual. The state also reported multiple cases of heatstroke despite regular warnings issued by the IMD and the state disaster management authority.
According to experts, Kerala has become a climate change hotspot, with a steady increase in atmospheric temperatures and erratic monsoons.
The IMD has also predicted a below-normal monsoon this year, as this is the first time two consecutive El Nino years are being witnessed.
