Bus tragedy: High-level delegation to visit Saudi Arabia tomorrow, says MEA
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New Delhi (PTI): A high-level delegation from the government of India will visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to provide assistance and oversee relief measures in coordination with Saudi authorities following the tragic accident involving Indian pilgrims near Madina, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
The delegation is also expected to participate in the last rites of the deceased, the MEA said on Tuesday.
Several Indian Umrah pilgrims, most of them from Telangana, were killed in the horrific bus accident near Saudi Arabia's holy city of Madina early Monday.
More than 40 Indians were travelling on the bus that reportedly collided with an oil tanker around 1.30 am (IST), and most of the deceased appeared to be Indians, officials said a day earlier. The bus was learnt to be on its way from Mecca to Madina.
The Indian mission in Jeddah had rushed officials to the site of the accident to assess the situation.
The government of India "expresses its profound sorrow at the tragic accident" involving Indian pilgrims near Madina, the MEA said in a statement.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish for the speedy recovery of the injured," it said.
To render fullest assistance and oversee relief measures in coordination with Saudi authorities, including the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, a "high-level delegation from the Government of India led by Hon'ble Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Justice S Abdul Nazeer, will be visiting Saudi Arabia tomorrow," the statement said.
He will be accompanied by secretary (Consular, Passport, and Visa Division and Overseas Indian Affairs), MEA, Arun Kumar Chatterjee.
The Embassy of India, Riyadh and the Consulate General of India, Jeddah, are working closely with the local authorities to expedite the identification of mortal remains, the MEA said.
The Indian government is also facilitating the travel of the families of the deceased to Saudi Arabia. The government of India remains fully committed to supporting Indian nationals affected by this tragedy and is working to ensure swift and effective assistance, it said.
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Women's quota bill would have ensured defeat of democracy, Constitution: Aaditya Thackeray
Mumbai (PTI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday said that the passage of the women's quota bill would have ensured a "total defeat of democracy", alleging that the legislation, linked with a delimitation exercise, was a political tool designed to reduce the voice of states.
Thackeray, in a post on X, claimed that the Bill would have amended the Constitution for the political means of the ruling regime to increase seats, reduce the voice of many states and enable the gerrymandering of constituencies to ensure unfair victories.
"The very amendment that would have ensured the total defeat of democracy and the Constitution in India stands rejected by the unity of the Opposition MPs," he wrote.
The legislation should have been called "Delimitation to ensure unfair victory Bill", the former minister said, adding that there was a genuine need to enable 33 per cent reservation for women in the current number of seats.
"Now, it is up to the government to ensure that it is implemented in the 543 seats of the Lok Sabha for the 2029 elections and all elections across India, if that is the real intent of the government," he wrote.
A Constitution Amendment Bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats was defeated on Friday in the Lower House.
While 298 members voted in support of the Bill, 230 MPs voted against it. Out of 528 members who voted, the Bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.
According to the Constitution Amendment Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to a maximum of 850 from the current 543 to "operationalise" the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls, following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census.
