Goa dentists wear black bands at interaction with Nadda to protest biomedical waste handling charges
Panaji, Nov 25: A group of private dentists in Goa wore black arm bands during an interaction with BJP president J P Nadda here to register their protest against the recent hike in biomedical waste handling charges by the state government.
The dentists registered the protest during the interaction that Nadda held with medical professionals from different streams late Wednesday evening, which was organised by the BJP's state medical cell. The group of dentists, which protested, was affiliated to the Indian Dental Association (IDA).
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who was also present there, later said the protesting dentists, who "created a scene" before the BJP president, were "politically motivated".
Eyewitnesses said the doctors, during the question-answer session with Nadda, objected to the increase in the biomedical waste handling charges by the Goa government
Talking to reporters after the protest, Dr Anil D'Silva, member of the IDA, said that dentists have been "illogically placed in the category of doctors who produce heavy biomedical waste".
He pointed out that a new private contractor from Delhi has been hired to collect the biomedical waste, and the firm has placed dentists in the category of those producing higher quantity of such waste, due to which the charges have gone up.
Talking to reporters over the protest, CM Sawant said the dentists had met him in the past and their demand was under consideration.
"There was no need to protest during such a function as it is a state subject and I had answered properly to their questions," he said.
Sawant said that some doctors who were "politically motivated" were creating a scene at the function, where the BJP chief was present.
Issuing a statement over the incident, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) last night said, "With respect to today's incident during the doctors interaction at Hotel Fidalgo, the CM assures to positively resolve the issues raised by the aggrieved, unfortunately for reasons unknown, the protest began after the assurance was given."
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Rahul Gandhi does not have courage to contest from Amethi: Rajnath Singh
Pathanamthitta (Kerala) (PTI): Senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh on Thursday took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that after his defeat from Amethi Lok Sabha seat in 2019, he does not have the courage to stand from there this time.
Singh said Gandhi, following his defeat, migrated to Kerala from Uttar Pradesh.
"However, I have heard that the people of Wayanad have decided not to make him their MP," he claimed while speaking at an election meeting in the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency to garner support for BJP candidate Anil K Antony.
Singh also said that while various space programmes and projects were being launched in the country, "the launching of Congress' young leader has not happened for the last 20 years".
"The Congress party's 'Rahulyaan' has neither been launched nor has it landed anywhere," he said, taking a dig at the Congress MP from Wayanad.
During his speech, Singh praised Congress stalwart A K Antony and called him a disciplined and principled person whose honesty and integrity cannot be questioned.
He said he was surprised on reading Antony's statement that Anil Antony should lose in the Lok Sabha polls.
"I know he (A K Antony) is a principled person and I understand his compulsions. It is difficult for him to support Anil Antony. However, I would like to tell him that Anil is your son.
"You (A K Antony) may not vote for him (Anil) or canvass votes for him, but you are his father so I would like to request that your blessings should be with him," Singh said.
During his speech, the BJP leader also accused the Congress and the LDF of being untrustworthy, alleging that they pretend to fight each other in Kerala, while outside it they are campaigning together against the BJP.
He also alleged that Kerala was in a bad shape due to the successive governments of the Congress-led UDF and the CPI(M)-led LDF in the state and urged people to empower the BJP so that they "check" these two political fronts.
Singh also attacked the LDF on the issue of Kerala's financial problems, saying that they were caused by the Left administration's mismanagement and claimed that this was acknowledged by the Supreme Court as well.
On Wednesday, during his poll rallies at Kasaragod, Vatakara and Kannur LS seats, he pointed out above allegations.
Singh also reiterated, what he said a day ago, that the BJP has delivered on its past poll promises, like implementing the CAA and abrogating Article 370, and therefore, it was the most credible and trustworthy party in the country.
He said that both the Left and the Congress were trying to create confusion in the minds of the people about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The senior BJP leader assured that no one's citizenship would be affected by the contentious legislation.
He also referred to the country's achievements in the space sector and the various upcoming projects like Ganganyaan -- India's first human spaceflight programme.
Singh also lavished praise on Anil Antony and urged people to vote for him.
The Lok Sabha elections in Kerala will be held on April 26 and the results will be declared on June 4.
#WATCH | Kerala: Addressing a public rally in Kottayam, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, "BJP is going to launch Gaganyaan in 5 years but the launch of a young leader of the Congress Party has not happened in the last 20 years. Congress Party's 'Rahulyaan' is neither getting… pic.twitter.com/KPtCW0m0GN
— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2024
