Won’t allow House to function if suspension of 18 MLAs not revoked: Karnataka BJP
Bengaluru, Mar 24 (PTI): The BJP in Karnataka on Monday warned the ruling Congress that it would not allow the legislative session to proceed if the suspension of its 18 MLAs was not revoked.
The party alleged Congress intends to run the House without BJP legislators.
On the last day of the Karnataka Assembly session on March 21, 18 BJP MLAs were suspended for their unruly behaviour while protesting against the four per cent reservation granted to Muslims in government contracts under the 2B category of the Other Backward Castes (OBC).
The ruling Congress passed a bill on the quota.
During the protest, BJP MLAs climbed onto the podium where Speaker U T Khader was seated, tore copies of the bill, and threw the pieces at him.
Taking serious note of their actions, the Assembly passed a resolution moved by State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, suspending the 18 BJP MLAs for six months.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said that his party's MLAs were fighting to uphold the Constitution.
"I warn the Congress that our struggle will only intensify if the suspension is not revoked. Let’s see how you (Congress) run the legislative session in the future," the BJP leader said.
He accused the Congress, which frequently invokes the name of B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, of "disregarding" his views that religion-based reservations should not be granted.
"We fought in the Assembly to protect constitutional values. Did we fight for the BJP or individual MLAs? No. Our struggle was to uphold the Constitution," Ashoka stated.
He further alleged that Congress suspended the 18 MLAs simply because they "fought to protect constitutional values."
"I am proud of our 18 suspended MLAs. Their suspension is unlawful. Do you want to run the Assembly by keeping our MLAs out? I have spoken to the Speaker on this issue, and he has assured me that he will discuss it with me," Ashoka added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Climate Change crisis: IMD to change parameters to declare heatwaves
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The IMD, along with its technical partners, will soon revise the criteria for declaring heatwave conditions in the country, as the present parameters do not suit India’s geographical conditions, according to official sources here.
Kerala, in particular, has faced difficulties in issuing heatwave warnings because of the limitations of the existing parameters.
Sources in the India Meteorological Department said the state experienced severe heat and humidity this summer and, for the first time, weather forecasts were made based on the anti-cyclone system that formed near the Karnataka–Maharashtra coast.
"We have never had an anti-cyclone system form closer to the South before, and this time we had to predict the weather based on it," a senior IMD official told PTI.
Anti-cyclonic systems are common over north-western parts of India, but this year one formed near the southern region, leading to unusually hot nights.
The anti-cyclone caused downward air movement, which pushed warm air towards the surface and prevented it from dispersing at night, the official added. As a result, Kerala recorded night temperatures 3 to 4 degrees Celsius above normal.
Because Kerala has experienced a steady temperature increase during the summer months for the last few years, changing the parameters for declaring heat waves would benefit the state, enabling the authorities to issue warnings more efficiently, the official added.
The IMD currently issues hot and humid weather warnings, although the situation warrants a heatwave warning, as the existing parameters do not allow the department to issue one.
At present, the IMD issues a heat wave warning in coastal areas when the maximum temperature reaches 37 degree Celsius or more with a temperature departure of 4.5 degree Celsius over the recorded maximum temperature.
For plains, the threshold is 40 degrees Celsius with a departure of 4.5 degrees Celsius or more from normal, while for hilly regions it is 30 degrees Celsius with a departure of 4.5 degrees Celsius or more.
Officials said the current heatwave declaration parameters also require these conditions to be recorded at two stations in the state to issue the warnings.
"In Kerala, we hardly get to record these conditions in two areas; moreover, we have severe heat stress that can easily cause a heat stroke. So we have decided to rework the heatwave declaration parameters and the changes will be implemented shortly. There will be a consultation with the Disaster Management Authority also before finalising the parameters," the official said.
Throughout Kerala, temperatures recorded this summer were three to four degrees Celsius higher than usual. The state also reported multiple cases of heatstroke despite regular warnings issued by the IMD and the state disaster management authority.
According to experts, Kerala has become a climate change hotspot, with a steady increase in atmospheric temperatures and erratic monsoons.
The IMD has also predicted a below-normal monsoon this year, as this is the first time two consecutive El Nino years are being witnessed.
