Gujarat BJP MLA, Pro Tem Speaker, others sentenced to 1-year-jail
Morbi (Gujarat): The Gujarat Assembly's newly appointed Pro Tem Speaker and veteran BJP MLA Nimaben Acharya and two others were on Monday sentenced to one-year in jail in a 2009 case pertaining to violation of the election code of conduct.
Acharya, a legislator from Bhuj in Kutch district, former BJP MLA Kanti Amrutia and Manoj Panara, convenor of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, were also fined Rs 2,000 each.
A Morbi Magistrate’s court pronounced the order while granting the convicts -- including a former legislator and another person -- an opportunity to challenge the order within 30 days.
The case refers to the 2009 Lok Sabha polls in Morbi constituency of Saurashtra region when Nimaben, Amrutia and Panara were campaigning. Amrutia is a former MLA from Morbi.
"No evidence of our involvement has been put before the court. We are not happy with the judgment... We will approach a higher court against the ruling," Acharya told reporters.
He said "all the requisite permissions had been obtained during campaigning and that the case was politically motivated".
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Karnataka approves railway barricades in Madikeri, Nagarhole to curb human-elephant conflict
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Tuesday said a 7-km railway barricade has been approved for the Madikeri division and 20 km for the Nagarhole division in 2025–26 to curb human-elephant conflict in the regions.
Responding to a proposal raised by BJP MLC Suja Kushalappa during Zero Hour in the Legislative Council, he assured that work on the proposed railway barricades would begin soon.
Citing the death of a 17-year-old girl in an elephant attack on February 28 and that of a tribal woman on March 9 in the state, the minister said these deaths caused by elephant attacks were "extremely painful".
"Human life is very precious and cannot be valued in monetary terms. The Forest Department is taking all measures to prevent human-wildlife conflict."
The minister further said steps such as maintenance of elephant-proof trenches and solar-powered fencing were being undertaken, while two elephant task forces were currently in operation.
Orders have also been issued by the Chief Wildlife Warden to capture two rogue elephants.
In both cases, Rs 5 lakh compensation has already been disbursed to the families of the deceased, and the remaining Rs 15 lakh each will be provided within a week, he added.
Khandre said the government was making sincere efforts to find a permanent solution to the human–elephant conflict.
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