Cong leaders need not be afraid of ED if they are clean: BJP Rajasthan president Joshi
Jaipur (PTI): BJP Rajasthan president C P Joshi on Thursday took a swipe at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot over his claim that central agencies were being misused, saying Congress leaders need not be afraid of the Enforcement Directorate if they are clean.
Earlier in the day, the ED raided the premises of state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra and Omprakash Hudla, the party's candidate from the Mahua seat, as part of a money laundering probe into the exam paper leak case. It also summoned Vaibhav Gehlot for questioning in a case related to alleged contravention of the foreign exchange law.
Slamming the ED action, Gehlot accused the BJP of unleashing "terror" in the country and said the misuse of probe agencies was not justified.
Responding to the chief minister's allegation, Joshi asked, "Why are they afraid if they are not in the wrong?"
He said Congress leader Gopal Kesawat was arrested by the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau but the agency later removed the sections pertaining to corruption from the case.
Joshi said papers were leaked during the Congress rule and youths were betrayed.
"They (Congress leaders) have committed the sin of leaking papers and destroying the dreams of lakhs of youths. The youths are not getting justice," the BJP leader alleged.
He was speaking at a press conference at the party office here on the completion of a public outreach programme to gather suggestions from people regarding the party manifesto.
Joshi said that people have expressed confidence in the BJP and have given 1.03 crore suggestions.
He added that the campaign was launched earlier this month by party president J P Nadda, who flagged off 51 'raths' having suggestion boxes attached to them.
The BJP's convener of the manifesto committee Arjun Ram Meghwal said suggestion boxes have returned and the party's manifesto for the November 25 Rajasthan assembly polls will be prepared on the basis of the suggestions.
He said the party's office bearers and leaders have also given their suggestions for the manifesto.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
