Funny but as expected: Sena on Anna Hazare's fast U-turn
Mumbai, Jan 30: The Shiv Sena on Saturday slammed activist Anna Hazare for first announcing a hunger strike over farmers' issues and then calling it off within hours, saying this was "on expected lines".
Hazare on Friday announced an indefinite fast in support of farmers who are agitating on Delhi borders against the new farm laws, but later changed the decision after discussions with BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister of State for Agriculture KailashChaudhary.
"The developments were funny but on expected lines," the editorial in the Sena mouthpiece `Saamana' said, adding it was unclear what was Hazare's stand on the controversial farm laws of the Union government.
"Protesting farmers are being targeted and the way they are being treated is shocking," it said.
During the UPA regime led by Manmohan Singh, Hazare went to Delhi twice and staged massive agitations (against corruption) and the BJP had supported those agitations, the Sena said.
"But in the last few years, he has not taken a stand on demonetization,lockdown (for coronavirus)," it said.
The party also alleged that the Union government is doing everything tocrush the farmers' agitation, and `look- out notices' have been issued against their leaders at airports as if they were international fugitives.
When asked by reporters about the Saamana editorial, Hazare said at Ralegan Siddhi, his village in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, that society and the country's interest mattered to him and not the party in power.
"When I see anything wrong happening, something which is against the country and society, I take a stand. I have protestedagainst the land acquisition bill during the Narendra Modigovernment's tenure," he said.
On Friday, Hazare, 84, had said he won't be proceeding with the indefinite fast as the Central government has agreed to some of his demands and set up a high-level committee.
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Heavy rain, hailstorms likely to lash Uttarakhand on Tuesday; IMD issues warning
Dehradun/Pithoragarh (PTI): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for heavy rain and hailstorms across several districts of Uttarakhand on Tuesday, as temperatures remained markedly below normal in the region.
Heavy rainfall is likely at isolated places in Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Pauri, Nainital, Champawat, and Udham Singh Nagar districts. Most places across all districts are expected to receive light to moderate rain or thunderstorms, while higher reaches are likely to witness snowfall, officials said on Monday.
The weather department warned of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, hail and intense spells of rain in six districts, including Dehradun and Nainital. Gusty winds with speeds reaching 40-50 kmph are also expected at isolated locations in these areas and other hilly districts.
In the state capital, Dehradun, the sky is forecast to remain partly cloudy with light rain and thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds of 30-40 kmph.
The maximum and minimum temperatures in the city are expected to hover around 31 degrees Celsius and 19 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Maximum temperatures during the past 24 hours remained markedly below normal in the hills and appreciably below normal in the plains. While no significant change in temperature is expected over the next 2-3 days, the IMD predicts a rise of 3-5 degrees Celsius during the subsequent 3-4 days.
Rainfall was recorded in several areas after 8.30 am today, with Ramnagar receiving 31.5 mm and Nainital recording 26.5 mm. Other areas, including Pithoragarh, Khatima and Champawat, also reported moderate precipitation.
Authorities have stopped a batch of 36 Adi Kailash pilgrims at the Dharchula base camp and placed the high-altitude yatra route on high alert following heavy rains and hailstorms in the district on Monday.
Dharchula SDM Ashish Joshi said the pilgrimage was halted due to adverse weather conditions. The issuance of new inner-line passes has been suspended until the weather normalises.
With 1,700 passes issued so far, pilgrims already at higher camps are being monitored for safety, the official added.
