Fuel rate cut grossly insufficient: Shiv Sena
Mumbai, Oct 4: The Shiv Sena Thursday joined the Opposition to condemn the "meagre" reduction in prices of petrol and diesel by the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale said the decision was taken by the government fearing the "wrath" of common people.
The Maharashtra government announced the decision to reduce price of petrol by Rs 2.50 per litre, soon after the Centre announced cut in the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 2.50 per litre.
As per the state government, the reduction will give consumers in the state a relief of Rs 5 a litre.
"The decision to cut down prices of petrol and diesel by the Centre and Maharashtra governments has been taken fearing the wrath of people. This reduction is meagre," Shewale said in a statement.
Shewale said prices of petrol should be minimal in Mumbai given that crude oil is processed in the financial capital which is home to a number of refineries.
Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said the fuel price cut should have been at least one-third of the total increase in prices under the present BJP-led government.
"Prices of fuel have increased with the speed of a bullet train. However, they are being reduced at a snail's pace. This is a very meagre price cut. They should have reduced it by at least one-third of its total appreciation," she said.
The Shiv Sena is a constituent of the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra.
Speaking in Panaji, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said the price cut would not give any relief to common people. "I cannot term the decision as respite for the people.
"First they sucked the blood of the common man by hiking fuel prices and when people are on ventilator, now they are providing some oxygen," Raut said.
"If the Centre wants, it can maintain the prices between Rs 50-60 per litre," he said.
The Sena welcomes today's price cut but expects that the Centre shows the courage to slash fuel prices by Rs 15-20 per litre in the coming days, he said.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
