Cong demands fact-finding team to probe Mangaluru teacher's dismissal over 'anti-Hindu' remarks
Mangaluru: Congress leaders on Tuesday asked the Karnataka Education department to set up a fact-finding team to probe the expulsion of a teacher from a private school here for her alleged anti-Hindu remarks made inside the classroom.
Addressing reporters after visiting the St Gerosa English school, former state minister B Ramanath Rai and Vinay Kumar Sorake said an impartial probe should be conducted into the incident that threatens to affect communal harmony.
Rai said the provocative statements of BJP leaders who use children for the protest should be investigated to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
ALSO READ: Mangaluru: Gerosa School teacher suspended over alleged derogatory remarks on Hindu Gods
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) spokesperson Farzana, who was part of the Congress delegation that visited the school, said the incident has led to a situation where the police are required to provide protection to the school.
She also condemned the statements of local BJP MLAs who allegedly instigated the students to raise ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans. Congress leaders J R Lobo, Mamatha Gatti, Shashidhar Hegde, Shahul Hameed and Shalet Pinto were part of the delegation.
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Maharashtra government considers tweaks to Ladki Bahin scheme amid fiscal strain: Reports
Mumbai: A day after the Mahayuti coalition secured a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, attention has turned to the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a flagship welfare scheme that played a pivotal role in attracting women voters.
The scheme, launched in July 2024, offers ₹1,500 per month to economically disadvantaged women aged 18 to 65. The Mahayuti, in its election manifesto, pledged to increase the amount to ₹2,100 per month, a promise now under scrutiny due to fiscal concerns. With the scheme projected to cost the exchequer ₹33,300 crore from July 2024 to March 2025, bureaucrats are exploring ways to revise its provisions to prevent a financial imbalance.
Finance Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar hinted at the challenges, stressing the need for "financial discipline." A senior bureaucrat confirmed that plans are underway to prune the list of beneficiaries, citing the inclusion of ineligible individuals due to incomplete Aadhaar seeding and lack of required ration cards. According to the finance department, nearly one crore women out of the 2.43 crore registered beneficiaries may not qualify for the scheme.
The state’s debt burden is already projected to reach ₹7.82 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2024-25. Officials warn that continuing the scheme in its current form could impact the government’s ability to pay salaries by January. Despite these concerns, the ruling coalition is hesitant to reduce the beneficiary list, likely due to the upcoming civic elections.
Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik is expected to present renegotiation proposals to the new chief minister soon. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde credited the scheme for increasing the number of women voters and boosting the coalition’s vote share. NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar also acknowledged the scheme’s role in mobilising women voters.
Other welfare measures introduced by the government include an electricity bill waiver for farmers and three free LPG cylinders annually for six million households. However, the financial viability of such initiatives remains a pressing concern.
