INDIA bloc to have dinner meeting on Aug 7, march to EC on Aug 8
New Delhi, Aug 3 (PTI): Opposition INDIA bloc leaders are likely to have a dinner meeting on August 7 to discuss strategy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue, sources said on Sunday.
The opposition parties are also planning to take out a march to the office of the Election Commission of India on August 8 in protest against the SIR of electoral rolls exercise, they said.
This comes amid a standoff on the SIR issue in the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which has been a near washout as the Opposition's demand for a discussion has failed to draw a positive response from the ruling alliance.
According to the sources, the INDIA bloc party leaders will hold a dinner meeting on August 7 to discuss their strategy on the SIR issue. The meeting also comes as the election for the post of Vice President has been announced, and several opposition leaders have indicated that they may also field a joint candidate.
Opposition parties have expressed apprehension over the SIR exercise in Bihar, warning that it would lead to disenfranchisement of many, and have termed it as "vote-bandi" and "vote-chori". The INDIA bloc parties have been protesting inside and outside Parliament
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday cited a ruling by former Lok Sabha speaker Balram Jakhar that the House cannot debate the functioning of a constitutional body like the EC to suggest the government's disapproval of the Opposition's demand for discussion.
He, however, added that it was for the chairs of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to take a call on the issue.
Opposition parties have, meanwhile, said they will continue their protests to press for the debate, and if the government does not agree to a discussion on the issue in Parliament, the Monsoon Session may end up being a wash-out.
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien on Sunday said the Opposition will give "tutorials" to the "shaky Modi coalition" on Parliament procedure and how to discuss the issue.
The ruling BJP is "scared" of discussing the SIR underway in Bihar, he said and called the exercise "silent invisible rigging."
"The SIR (Silent Invisible Rigging) vote chori is a subject that can easily be discussed in both Houses. BJP scared & are disrupting," the TMC leader said on X.
"From Monday, August 4, we will give the shaky Modi coalition free tutorials in Parliament rules & procedure to teach them how it can be discussed," he added.
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India Post launches first ‘Gen Z’ post office in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: India Post has launched its first Gen Z Post Office in Bengaluru at the Acharya Institute of Technology, aiming to attract college students in an age dominated by emails, WhatsApp and social media.
According to a report published by The New Indian Express, Harsha MR, Assistant Superintendent, Bengaluru West Division Post Office, said the new post office, officially named Gen Z Post Office, Achit Nagar, Bengaluru (PIN 560107), will be inaugurated on Wednesday. It has been creatively designed and painted with graffiti by students of the institute to make it more appealing to young people.
He said “In the Gen Z post office, we have introduced two categories in one category, students can come and work with our staff and get good experience, know more about the schemes and services available under India Post”. “In another category, they can work with us part time and they will be provided with incentives but it is still in the pipeline and yet to be implemented.”
Harsha said the initiative is meant to bring postal services closer to students, researchers and the campus community. Similar Gen Z post offices are also planned at GITAM University and the National Law School of India University.
According to the report, they can also use the services to communicate with students across the campuses also. Unlike other post offices, it is a blend of physical and digital world giving students WIFI services, air-conditioned rooms and even coffee vending machines which Gen Z prefer to use.
Harsha said student representatives who will be in-charge of the campus work at post offices within the campus are yet to be decided.
“A roster will be prepared and different students will be given tasks to serve at various service counters. A senior post master will be in charge of Gen Z post offices and he will guide the students,” TNIE quoted Harsha as saying.
India Post officials allegedly said similar Gen Z post offices will soon be launched in Bengaluru North, South and East divisions as part of a broader effort to connect with younger generations.
