Bill Clinton criticizes Trump, endorses Kamala Harris at Democratic National Convention
Chicago: Former US President Bill Clinton delivered a sharp critique of Donald Trump at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, urging Americans to choose Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, over Trump in the upcoming election.
Clinton accused Trump of "creating and curating chaos" during his presidency, saying that the 2024 election presents a "clear choice" between Harris and her Republican opponent, whom he referred to as "the other guy." He praised Harris for her commitment to ensuring every American can "chase their dreams."
However, Clinton cautioned Democrats against overconfidence, stressing the importance of not underestimating their opponents. He urged them to be resilient in the face of any challenges during the campaign.
In his address, Clinton also acknowledged the decision of President Joe Biden not to seek re-election, comparing Biden's legacy to that of George Washington.
The DNC, which began on August 19 in Chicago, features several prominent speakers, including Kamala Harris, the Obamas, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The convention will conclude on August 22.
The US presidential election is scheduled for November 5, 2024.
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Karnataka government employees demand return of Old Pension Scheme
Bengaluru: Government employees in Karnataka have urged the state government to scrap the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and bring back the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), The New Indian Express reported.
The demand was made by the Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association, whose leaders met senior IAS officer Uma Mahadevan on Monday and submitted a memorandum. The association asked the NPS Review Committee, headed by senior IAS officer Anjum Parvez, to recommend the reintroduction of OPS in the state.
Association president C.S. Shadakshari reportedly said the review committee has already visited Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where NPS was revoked and OPS re-implemented. The committee is yet to submit its report, but has told the government it will do so soon.
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Shadakshari allegedly said NPS has been in force in Karnataka since 2006. He pointed out that West Bengal never adopted the scheme, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana replaced NPS with a contributory pension model.
States including Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jharkhand have already scrapped NPS through cabinet decisions or budget announcements.
“Under NPS, 10% of the employees’ basic salary and DA, and 14% contribution from the state is credited to the employees’ fund. It constitutes 24% of the total which is non-withdrawable. This is invested in the share market and the final amount depends on the ups and downs of the market,” TNIE quoted Shadakshar as saying.
As per the report, he said that by limiting its contribution to 14%, the government could save up to ₹1.87 lakh crore annually if all vacancies are filled, strengthening the case for bringing back the old pension system.
