What promises have you fulfilled, Sonia asks Modi
Vijayapura, May 8: Have you fulfilled any one of the promises made to the people of the country four years ago? What have you done for farmers, youth, women, children and aged people in these four years, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Addressing a rally at Babaleshwar in the district on Tuesday, Sonia Gandhi asked Modi about his works for the welfare of farmers, youth, middle class people, women, children, backward classes, dalits and minorities of the country. Why did you appoint Lok Pal even after four years for containing corruption? What model are you following to control corruption? Is it the model of those who sit beside you at the stage or the model of your close friend’s son, she questioned.
Making the country Congress-free is the main job for Modi as the Prime Minister. He is a good speaker and artiste. If he could feed the bellies of the poor through his good speeches, let him do such speeches more. He should understand that just speeches would not fill the bellies. People need have food, medicine in hospitals to be healthy, women should be empowered, youth should get jobs and farmers should get facilities. All these would not come from just speeches. The prices of essential commodities were sky rocketing. Poor and middle class people have been facing the problem. Unable to identify this, Modi government has been increasing the prices of petroleum products, she said.
Modi has cultivated a habit of lying. He has taken the history of the country lightly. He has been using the names of great personalities and soldiers of the country for his political gains. All such acts would not bring good to a Prime Minister. Have you seen such a Prime Minister who keeps silent when he confront major issues and speak when it is not necessary, she asked.
The steps taken by Siddaramaiah-led government for the welfare of all sections of the society are really commendable. This has placed the Karnataka in number one position in the country. Siddaramaiah government has implemented various pro-people programmes like Anna Bhagya, Krishi Bhagya, Krishi Yantra Dhare, Indira canteen and others. But the BJP leaders have been opposing such programmes. When the Congress introduced MNREGS to ensure jobs to the people, BJP had opposed it. When Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sought Prime Minister Modi’s appointment to apprise him of the drought situation and place a demand for compensation for farmers, Modi did not give time to meet Siddaramaiah and thus insulted the farmers and their families. But for BJP ruling states, the Modi government has granted thousands of crores. Is it the real ‘Sab ka saath, sab ka vikas’, Sonia asked.
Siddaramaiah has waived of loans of over 22 lakh farmers and implemented various programmes for farmers. Vijayapura is the land of great saints, personalities and the centre of Basava philosophy which advocated equality and brotherhood. But Narendra Modi has given new promises and sown the seeds of hatred. But the Congress would not allow the BJP to make it success, she added.
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Chhattisgarh Vedanta power plant blast: Death toll rises to 20; sixteen workers undergoing treatment
Sakti (Chhattisgarh) (PTI): The death toll in a blast at the Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh's Sakti district has mounted to 20 with seven more workers succumbing to injuries, while 16 others are undergoing treatment at different hospitals, officials said on Wednesday.
The deceased include six labourers from West Bengal, five from Chhattisgarh, three each from Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, two from Bihar, and one from Madhya Pradesh.
The opposition Congress has demanded registration of an FIR against the plant management and a judicial inquiry into the incident.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday afternoon in a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine at the Vedanta Ltd power plant located in Singhitarai village, leaving several workers with severe burn injuries.
According to officials, four workers died on the spot, while nine others succumbed to injuries soon after the incident.
Seven more workers have died in hospitals, raising the toll to 20, Sakti Collector Amrit Vikas Topno told PTI on Wednesday.
He said that a total of 36 workers were affected in the blast, and 20 of them died.
"Of the 16 injured workers, five are undergoing treatment in hospitals in Raipur, while 11 others are in hospitals of Raigarh, the neighbouring district of Sakti," he added.
Topno added that every possible effort was being made to provide the best medical treatment to the injured.
The deceased were identified, and their family members are being contacted. Arrangements have been made to transport the mortal remains to their native villages via ambulance following the postmortem examination and to provide immediate financial assistance, he said.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each deceased worker and Rs 50,000 for those injured.
Vedanta Power has also announced a Rs 35 lakh compensation for the family of each deceased worker, along with employment support.
The company will also provide Rs 15 lakh to each injured person, ensure salary continuation until recovery, and offer counselling support, a statement from the plant management said.
The chief minister has ordered an inquiry by the Commissioner of the Bilaspur division, assuring strict action against the guilty.
He directed officials to ensure free and proper medical treatment for all injured and emphasised that no negligence in their care would be tolerated.
The district administration has also ordered a separate magisterial probe, while the company has initiated its own internal investigation.
Collector Topno has appointed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Dabhra to conduct the magisterial inquiry.
The SDM has been asked to submit a report within 30 days covering key aspects, including the cause of the accident, whether it was due to technical or human error, and details of safety inspections carried out at the plant.
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has demanded registration of an FIR against the plant management and a judicial inquiry into the incident.
State Congress communication wing head Sushil Anand Shukla on Wednesday alleged negligence on the plant management's part and accused the government of attempting to shield those responsible.
He also demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of the deceased and Rs 50 lakh for the injured.
The construction of a 1,200 MW coal-based thermal power project (two units of 600 MW each) in Singhitarai, originally owned by Athena Chhattisgarh Power Ltd, started in 2009, but remained stalled between 2016 and 2022.
Vedanta acquired the plant in 2022, after which a 600 MW unit was completed and commissioned in August last year, while the second unit is still under construction.
The deceased have been identified as Amrit Lal Patel, Thanda Ram Lahre, Udhab Singh Yadav, Rameshwar Mahilange, and Nadeem Ansari (all from Chhattisgarh); Susanta Jana, Sheikh Saifuddin, Manas Giri, Kailash Mahto, Shibnath Murmu, and Dipankar Singh (West Bengal), Tarun Kumar Ojha, Abdul Karim and Ashok Parhiya (Jharkhand), Raju Ram, Pappu Kumar and Brijesh Kumar (Uttar Pradesh), Aakib Khan and Ritesh Kumar (Bihar), and Chitranjan Dhulai of Madhya Pradesh, officials said.
