CM urges Odisha people to avoid panic buying, hoarding amid West Asia crisis
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday urged the people of the state to refrain from panic buying to keep the supply chain functioning smoothly amid the West Asia conflict.
He also lauded the Central government's move to cut excise duty on petroleum, terming it a "timely" and a forward-looking step that prioritises citizens and upholds the 'nation first' principle.
The government has slashed excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per litre each, a move aimed at shielding domestic consumers from a surge in global oil prices triggered by the West Asia conflict, at an estimated revenue cost of Rs 1.75 lakh crore.
After attending a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with chief ministers and lieutenant governors to discuss the situation arising out of the West Asia conflict, Majhi said the Odisha government was following the national approach towards the crisis.
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"The state Government is ensuring that accurate information reaches every citizen, the availability of essential commodities remains uninterrupted, and any instances of hoarding or black marketing are strictly prevented," he said in a post on X.
The chief minister appealed to the people of Odisha to remain aware of the evolving situation, exercise patience, and avoid unnecessary purchasing so that the system functions smoothly.
He said the meeting focused on the 'Team India' spirit to overcome the challenges ahead, emphasising economic stability, proactive agricultural planning, and focused attention on border and coastal states for shipping and essential supplies.
Chairing the meeting on Friday night, Prime Minister Modi on Friday said the global situation arising out of the West Asia conflict remains dynamic, and asserted that maintaining economic and trade stability, ensuring energy security, strengthening industry and supply chains, and safeguarding citizens' interests remain the government's top priorities.
This was the first time that the prime minister held a meeting with the chief ministers on the West Asia conflict that started on February 28 with attacks by the US-Israel combine on Iran, prompting retaliatory action by Tehran on its Gulf neighbours and Israel.
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Defeat of Constitution Amendment Bill betrayal of nation's woman power: Adityanath
Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath termed the defeat of the Constitution Amendment Bill to implement reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of seats of the Lok Sabha "betrayal of the woman power" of the nation.
A Constitution Amendment Bill to implement 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures in 2029 and increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 was defeated on Friday.
In a post on X in Hindi, late on Friday night, Adityanath said, "Today, a dark chapter has been added to the history of India's great democracy. The Opposition's obstruction of the passage of the Constitutional Amendment Bill essential for the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam' is a blow to the honour of 'Bharat Mata' (Mother India). It is a betrayal of the entire woman power of the nation; it is an infringement upon their democratic rights.
"The Congress-led 'INDI' alliance has exposed its anti-women mindset. The women of the nation are watching and understanding everything. They will remember this deceit and injustice, and when the time comes, they will surely give a reply. Under the leadership of our Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, the NDA alliance will continue its unwavering efforts to protect the honour, dignity, and rights of women, and to ensure their empowerment."
While 298 members voted in support of the Bill in the Lok Sabha, 230 MPs voted against it. The Bill required 352 votes for a two-thirds majority.
According to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, Lok Sabha seats were to be increased to 816 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.
Seats were also to be increased in state and Union Territory assemblies to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women.
This was for the first time that a Bill under the Modi government was defeated in Parliament.
