Maharashtra deprived of jobs as key projects shifted to Gujarat: Priyanka Gandhi
Mumbai (PTI): Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday criticised the ruling BJP for its policies and claimed Maharashtra has been deprived of jobs due to the shifting of some big projects to Gujarat.
Speaking at a rally in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district ahead of the November 20 state assembly polls, she claimed the ruling alliance leaders were trying to divert the attention from real issues and making attempts to polarise the society.
Targeting the Mahayuti government in the state over its flagship Ladki Bahin scheme, Vadra said women should vote for a better life and not because they are getting Rs 1,500 a month.
The Congress leader also said if the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comes to power, it will give Rs 7,000 per quintal MSP to farmers for soybean crop.
Vadra claimed there were more than 2.5 lakh vacant posts in Maharashtra. The state has been deprived of jobs due to the shifting of Foxconn, Airbus projects to Gujarat, she added.
"People are making efforts, learning new skills, but they still can't find jobs. This should have been the government's primary focus, but it has failed to fill these posts," she said.
She also sought to link suicides by youth in Maharashtra to lack of job opportunities.
"Maximum number of youth suicides in the country are happening in Maharashtra. This is the result of the BJP's failure to address unemployment," the Congress leader claimed.
On the slogan "ek hain to safe hain" (if we are united, we are safe) raised by BJP leaders during the poll campaign, Gandhi said the word 'safe' has two meanings - security and coffer.
"But in this country, the only one who is truly safe is Adani. The entire country knows that Adani is the only one who has access to the government coffers, while ordinary citizens struggle," she alleged.
The Congress leader also claimed that key sectors like airports, ports and some of the major companies were under Adani's control, and alleged that government policies favoured one individual.
"The government should be focused on creating jobs, not allocating national assets to one person," she said.
Vadra also criticised the BJP for the alleged lack of accountability in governance.
"During the Congress rule, our leaders were accountable to the people. However, under the BJP, this accountability is gone. Ministers, chief ministers, and the prime minister have become unanswerable to the people," she said.
"Their behaviour is different...they divert attention from real issues and focus on polarising the society," she alleged.
Vadra also raised the issue of tribal lands being allocated to Adani's companies, specifically in states like Chhattisgarh.
"Ask the people of Chhattisgarh how much tribal land has been given to Adani?" she said.
Vadra promised that if the MVA comes to power, it would focus on accountability, job creation and providing support to the people.
"The direction of politics has changed over the last ten years. We will bring it back to where it belongs- with the people," she said.
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Bengaluru jail introduces biometric tracking system for prisoners
Bengaluru: In a bid to curb misconduct and illegal activities inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, prison authorities have introduced a new ‘Prisoners Tracking Movement System’ under which inmates will have to undergo biometric verification while entering every barrack.
According to jail officials, biometric systems have been installed across all major sections of the prison, including barracks, visitor rooms, hospital, canteen, kitchen, library, playground, handicraft units and bakery sections. Staff members have also been deployed at these locations.
Officials said inmates visiting the visitors’ room must now obtain a digital token after biometric verification. Details such as the prisoner’s name, identification number and entry time will be updated in the prison software system. This will help authorities maintain a complete digital record of inmates visiting and returning from meeting rooms.
Similar systems have also been introduced at entry points of the hospital, library and other barracks accessed for work-related purposes. Officials said the system will help identify prisoners involved in suspicious or illegal activities with other inmates and enable authorities to track how much time a prisoner spends at different locations inside the prison.
Authorities stated that AI-powered cameras were already being used inside the prison to monitor inmates as well as prison staff. Along with this, digital tracking of prisoner phone calls and a digital token system for visitor meetings have now been added to strengthen surveillance over inmate movement. Officials said the project has been implemented at a cost of around Rs 2.25 crore.
The prison department has also introduced a canteen usage tracking system to monitor prisoners’ spending patterns. Instead of direct cash payments, inmates can purchase bakery items and snacks using wallets or coupons issued within the prison system.
Officials said the digital system will record details including the buyer’s name, items purchased, quantity, date, time and remaining wallet balance. This will allow prison authorities to maintain complete expenditure records of inmates.
