Centre’s economic policies are anti-people: Dr Singh
Bengaluru, May 7: Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh alleged that the economic policies being introduced by Narendra Modi-led central government have been causing inconvenience to the people and thus become anti-people.
Addressing a press conference at the KPCC office here on Monday, Dr Singh said that the country is in a critical condition and farmers were facing severe problem. The youth were not getting suitable job opportunities and the economy has been recording less development compared to its capacity. Instead of facing these challenges efficiently, it has been trying to oppress the voices which disclose such lapses. Economic policies would have greater impact on the life of people and those who are at the helm of affairs should not take decisions without thinking about the pros and cons, he said.
Since India is a complex and diversified country, no person could become the treasure of all knowledge. Whenever the BJP government’s destructive decisions are questioned, they say such decisions have good intensions. But such intensions were incurring heavy loss to the country, he said.
Amidst all global turmoil and recession, the UPA government had registered 7.8 per cent growth. But now, there is a conducive atmosphere and crude oil prices were also come down. In spite of it, the growth rate in the NDA government is limping. Demonitisation and GST introduction were the two big mistakes that could have been avoided by Modi government. As a result, micro, small and medium scale industries were suffering and lakhs of youth lost their jobs, he said.
In the GDP, the share of export has come down to the lowest level in the last 14 years. Though the prices of crude oil have come down in the international market, prices of petrol and diesel are sky rocketing. After BJP came to power, the crude oil price in the international market has come down to over 67per cent. But the prices of petrol and diesel were increased by 110 per cent. As the tax is increased continuously without thinking about the common people, the government could pool in more than Rs 10 lakh crore, he said.
Though the centre has been waiving off the loan balance of corporate companies, it has not shown the same interest in waiving off the farmers loans. In the last three years, the public sector banks have written off Rs 2.41 lakh crore loan. The efforts of many years to create the Indian economy as the third largest economy in the world were being systematically squandered. The aim of the Modi government to double the income of farmers by 2022 is just castle in the air. The MSP growth which was on an average of 19.3 per cent has come down to 3.6 per cent in the NDA tenure. Even the agriculture GDP was also declined considerably. The export quantity which was increased five times during UPA time, has come by 21 per cent. But the import of agriculture produces was increased by 60 per cent, he said.
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8 children between ages of 1 and 14 dead after mass shooting in Louisiana, police say
Shreveport(US) (AP): A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children in shootings at two different homes early Sunday in the nation's deadliest mass shooting in more than two years, police in Shreveport said.
The victims ranged in age from one to about 14 years old, said Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon. A total of 10 were shot and some of the children were related to the suspect, Bordelon said.
The gunman later died after a chase with officers who fired at the suspect, Bordelon said. The suspect stole a car while leaving the scene of the shootings and was followed by police, according to Bordelon.
Police did not release the name of the suspect but did say he was an adult male. The shootings were the result of a “domestic disturbance,” Bordelon said.
Officials said they were still gathering details at the crime scenes south of downtown Shreveport — the two homes and a third location.
“This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” he said.
It was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.
“I just don't know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. “It's a terrible morning.”
Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to investigate. In a statement, state police say no officers were harmed in the shooting that involved an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.
State police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information to share it with state police detectives.
Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry said in a statement that he and his wife were heartbroken. “We're deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene,” he added.
