Manik Sarkar's security increased as he faces 'obstruction'

Vartha Bharati | 12-06-2018 | 17:14:00 IST

Agartala, June 12: Former Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar's security has been increased as the "BJP workers continued to obstruct" his tour to tribal dominated areas in Dhalai district since Monday, police said on Tuesday.

Sarkar, now the Leader of Opposition in Tripura, accompanied by the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Chief Whip in the assembly and former minister Tapan Chakraborty and party legislator Pravat Chowdhury, went to the tribal dominated areas in Dhalai district on Monday to see the crisis of food, rural jobs and other scarcities there.

"We have deployed huge additional security forces for Sarkar and other leaders' visit to Gandachara and nearby areas. Like Monday, some people were shouting slogans against Sarkar on Tuesday also," Dhalai district police chief Sudipta Das told IANS.

A CPI-M leader, accompanying Sarkar, said that the ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and IPFT (Indigenous People's Front of Tripura) workers continued the protest on Tuesday against the former Chief Minister's visit to the tribal inhabited areas.

"CPI-M Chief Whip in Lok Sabha on Monday talked to Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb over phone on the issue and after that yesterday's (Monday) obstruction by BJP-IPFT workers was withdrawn," a CPI-M statement said here on Monday night.

It said: "BJP-IPFT workers undemocratically creating blockade against the opposition leader and other CPI-M legislators' visit to the interior areas to prevent the exposure of huge crisis of food and other basics in the tribal populated areas."

"Already, two tribals died due to starvation related diseases in Dhalai district. Hundreds of people are going to neighbouring Bangladesh for their survival. Rural jobs under the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) are almost stopped. The BJP government remained mute spectator," the CPI-M statement said.

The BJP, however, denied that any of its workers was involved in blockading Sarkar's tour.

"During the regime of CPI-M-led Left Front, people did not see the faces of Left leaders in the interior areas. Now the common people are agitating against their politics. No BJP worker is involved in the obstruction to Sarkar's visit to different areas of Dhalai district," BJP spokesman Mrinal Kanti Deb told the media.

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Karnataka issues nutrition advisory for govt events; recommends millets, healthier options

13-04-2026 ¦ 13-04-2026 IST

Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Monday issued a nutrition advisory recommending healthier food and beverage options at meetings, functions, and other official gatherings held in the state.

The advisory has been issued by the Department of Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Services to promote healthy dietary and nutritional habits among officials and staff, noting that food, refreshments and beverages served in government offices and official programmes are "often not aligned with nutrition standards."

The advisory recommends serving snacks such as millet-based, low-fat and low-sugar foods, fresh fruits, vegetable salads, sprouts, roasted nuts and seeds during in-house office meetings and breaks.

Beverages such as green tea, low-fat buttermilk, and locally filtered or boiled water served in glass bottles or steel flasks have also been suggested.

According to the advisory, for larger government events, conferences and exhibitions, departments have been advised to include at least one millet-based item during snacks and a minimum of two millet dishes in meals, along with local cuisine and at least one regional recipe.

It also recommends the use of brown rice instead of white rice, freshly prepared vegetable salads, and fresh fruits or low-sugar fruit juices.

If non-vegetarian food is served, it should consist of well-cooked lean or white meat, the advisory stated.

In eateries operating within government office campuses, the department has recommended millet-based foods, fresh vegetable salads, boiled pulses such as horse gram or chickpeas, and low-fat beverages.

It suggests serving food using reusable metal plates and glasses.

The advisory also recommends avoiding microwave-heated food, industrially processed food, fried snacks, high-fat or heavily spiced dishes, carbonated drinks, high-sugar fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages.

It further discourages serving milk-based tea or coffee and plastic-bottled water during official events.

“Overall, hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained while serving food and water. Local cottage industries, self-help groups, prison kitchens, nutri-gardens and others should be preferred for placing food and beverage orders,” the advisory added.