Minister quotes lines from 'Madhushala', speaks on liquor's power to unite at de-addiction event
Balrampur, Sep 1: Chhattisgarh School Education Minister Premsai Singh Tekam courted controversy by reciting lines of Harivansh Rai Bachchan's legendary book 'Madhushala' at a de-addiction programme, and going on to say that liquor unites people but must be consumed in a controlled manner.
Post the programme here on Tuesday, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party said there was no shortage of "cartoons" in the state's Congress government led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
A one-minute video of Tekam's speech at the programme, organized by the police under its 'Nasha Mukti Abhiyan' and attended by school children in Wadrafnagar, went viral on social media on Thursday.
"Harivansh Rai Bachchan ji had written 'mandir masjid jhagda karate, lekin ek karati madhushala'. But there should be control (in consumption of liquor). You should have control on your own," the minister said in his speech.
"I attended a meeting where one section opposed the consumption of liquor citing its ill effects, while another section favoured it citing its benefits. Liquor unites everyone. We also use it sometimes in celebrations and elections," Tekam said.
He went on explain that "daaru (liquor) meant 'D', which also stood for dilution with water as well as duration, as all of it must not be had at once.
He advised the gathering about the ill-effects of alcohol and said one must not get addicted.
Hitting out, BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar said, "Bhupesh Baghel ji's government and party are full of cartoons. None of them have understanding of subjects. This is not a functioning government but a puppet show being controlled by Delhi (referring to the Congress high command)."
Tekam could not be contacted for his comments despite repeated attempts.
His statements on liquor come soon after state BJP MLA Krishnamurti Bandhi had recently suggested that "bhang and cannabis" be encouraged as alternatives to liquor, claiming persons hooked on these substances hardly commit offences like rape, murder and dacoity.
#WATCH | At a de-addiction drive, Chhattisgarh Min Premsai Singh Tekam says, "There should be self-control. I once went to a meeting where they spoke for & against liquor. One side spoke of its benefits. Liquor should be diluted, there should be a duration (to consume it)"(31.8) pic.twitter.com/FE8HJd3ktD
— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) September 1, 2022
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
