Out of power, Rahul forced to remember soldiers: BJP
New Delhi, Oct 27: Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi after he attacked the government over the OROP issue, the BJP said Saturday the Congress chief has been forced to remember soldiers after being out of power for four and half years.
Bharatiya Janata Party media head and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni said Gandhi was seen "standing with the corrupt" when the Congress-led government was in power between 2004 and 2014, but he did nothing for soldiers.
"It is shameful that Gandhi is criticising the Modi government which implemented the 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP) scheme for soldiers while he himself did nothing for them. It is the new kind of low-level politics he has started," he said.
Baluni said though Gandhi was the most powerful man in the 10 years of the UPA rule, he had never uttered a word for soldiers.
The Gandhi family was in power for more than 40 years but executed no welfare measures for soldiers, he alleged.
Rahul Gandhi told a group of ex-servicemen Saturday that a Congress-led government would fulfil all the commitments the party had made on the 'one rank, one pension' issue.
Raking up the Rafale fighter jet deal, he told the group of retired defence personnel that the government handed out Rs 30,000 crore to industrialist Anil Ambani, but refused to meet the demands of the soldiers on OROP.
Taking a dig at the Congress chief, Baluni said,"After being our of power for four and half years and getting no closer to it, Gandhi has begun remembering soldiers."
By executing the OROP, the government has given soldiers their due respect, the BJP leader said.
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Sound effect: Farmers play music on solar-powered speakers to keep tigers at bay in Pilibhit
Pilibhit (UP) (PTI): Farmers living in villages adjoining the Mala range of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve have devised an unusual method to keep tigers away from their fields during sugarcane harvesting – playing loud music on solar-powered sound systems.
According to the farmers, the continuous noise helps deter wild animals from entering their fields.
As sugarcane fields are dense and the visibility is low, the risk of sudden encounters with tigers remains high during the harvesting season.
Forest officials described the initiative as a “desi jugaad” that not only enhances safety but also adds an element of entertainment, with loud music echoing across the fields during work hours.
The method has emerged as a unique way to check human-animal conflict.
Ramnagaria, Ajitpur, Jamunia, Mahua, Mala Ghera, Richhola and Basantapur are among the villages located close to the Mala range that frequently witness tiger movement, keeping the residents on edge. Recently, fresh tiger pugmarks were found in a field in Mahua.
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According to forest officials, Krishna Kumar and his associates in Jamunia village pioneered the “musical” method to deal with the threat.
“Working in the dense sugarcane fields is risky business. We believe wild animals move away due to noise, so playing songs loudly helps keep them at a distance,” Kumar said.
The method is proving effective, enabling farmers to carry out agricultural activities in groups without fear, the villagers said.
Several farmers, including Gaurishankar, Tinku, Ram Bahadur, Rakesh Kumar, Prabhu Dayal and Lalaram, have joined Kumar in implementing this innovative approach.
Deputy Ranger Sher Singh said the forest department is also making continuous efforts to spread awareness among the villagers.
“The department is organising meetings to educate farmers about safe and scientific methods to protect themselves from wildlife,” he told reporters.
