Karnataka wants oil companies to release additional LPG connections
New Delhi, Sep 10: Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday demanded that Oil Marketing Companies (OMC) release additional LPG connections for the state's Mukhyamantri Anila Bhagya Yojana (MMABY), an official statement said.
Kumaraswamy met Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan here on Monday to seek his directions, saying that MMABY was "complementary" to the Central government's Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY).
Pradhan assured Kumaraswamy that he would examine the matter and consider it favourably.
The MMABY -- in which the beneficiary family is provided with gas connection, gas stove and two refills free of cost -- aims at universalising the LPG usage and cover families which cannot be covered under the PMUY.
As per the statement, the OMCs had agreed to release 1 lakh connections each in September and October 2018 and treat the beneficiaries similar to any other applicant.
"OMCs had informed that they need to ramp up their resources in terms of availability of gas cylinders, regulators, and suraksha tube to release more than 50,000 MMABY connections every month," said the statement.
"In order to realise the goal of kerosene-free Karnataka, the connection release capacity for MMABY should be increased to 1.5-2 lakh connections per month along with the provision to pay the security deposit on behalf of the beneficiaries to the distributors.
"Hence, the Chief Minister appealed to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to give necessary directions to the Oil Marketing Companies in this regard," the statement said.
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Bengal: On way to PM's rally, 3 mowed down by train amid dense fog
Kolkata (PTI): Three persons died and three others were injured after being hit by a train amid dense fog on Saturday, while travelling to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally at Taherpur in West Bengal's Nadia district, a senior official said.
The incident occurred between Taherpur and Badkulla railway stations under the Sealdah-Krishnanagar section of Eastern Railway, he said.
Modi, whose helicopter could not land at Taherpur due to dense fog and low visibility, condoled the death of the “BJP workers” in his virtual address from Kolkata airport.
“I have come to know that some BJP workers, while travelling to the rally, lost their lives in a rail accident. My condolences are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Modi said.
The Eastern Railway official told PTI that the incident occurred in the morning when these people, who were travelling by a bus, had stopped the vehicle and walked to the railway tracks to answer nature's call.
"While three persons died on the spot, two others with injuries were admitted to a local hospital," he said.
Another person with minor injuries was released after having been administered first aid, the official said.
The deceased have been identified as Ramprasad Ghosh (74), Shaktipada Sutradhar (55) and Gopinath Das (38).
Meanwhile, Mahua Moitra, Trinamool Congress MP from Krishnanagar constituency in Nadia district, alleged that the BJP ignored the incident and went ahead with the rally.
"Terrible tragedy hushed up at altar of @narendramodi ego. @BJP4India supporters brought from far Murshidabad for PM rally in Ranaghat today," she said in a post on X.
"4 went to answer nature's call and were killed by 31814 down local train near Taherpur. BJP ignored, blacked out & went ahead with rally," Moitra claimed.
Reacting to her remarks, the West Bengal BJP, in a post on X, asserted that the TMC "has always been adept at milking tragedies", and was being "disrespectful to the unfortunate victims of this tragedy".
The TMC alleged that BJP leaders have not shown "neither concern nor compassion" over the mishap.
"The loss of three lives in Taherpur should have united everyone in grief. But @BJP4India leaders showed neither concern nor compassion," it said in another post on X.
"At this painful moment, Smt @MamataOfficial and Shri @abhishekaitc put humanity above party lines and stood beside the families of the deceased," the party said.
TMC’s on-ground leaders promptly reached out to the grieving family members, ensuring them of help and assistance, it said.
"While Delhi’s rulers chase Bengal with arrogance, our leadership chose empathy. This is the difference between politics of power and politics of people!" the TMC added.
