MP Saket Gokhale demands disaster relief for Kerala, West Bengal in Union Budget 2024
New Delhi: In a recent letter, MP Saket Gokhale has called on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to include provisions for disaster relief for the states of Kerala and West Bengal in the Union Budget 2024. This demand comes in the wake of devastating landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, and severe flooding in North Bengal.
Gokhale, along with fellow MP Sushmita Dev, visited the affected areas in Wayanad on Friday and Saturday. They were sent by their party leader, Mamata Banerjee, to assess the situation and show support for the victims. Gokhale described the scene as a "carnage," with hundreds of lives lost and numerous families left without homes. The Kerala administration is reportedly working diligently to manage the crisis, but the task of rebuilding over 500 destroyed homes remains a significant challenge. According to Gokhale, the media coverage does not fully capture the extent of the disaster.
In West Bengal, the flooding has similarly displaced many people who now require rehabilitation. Gokhale criticized the central government for withholding relief funds, alleging that the Modi administration is neglecting these states because they are governed by opposition parties.
He further said that Union Government revenues are derived from taxes paid by citizens across all states, including Kerala and Bengal, and should be used for the welfare of all Indians, especially in times of disaster.
Gokhale urged the Finance Minister to set aside political differences and provide the necessary flood and disaster relief in the budget, stating that it is the government's duty to assist affected citizens.
Important:
— Saket Gokhale MP (@SaketGokhale) August 5, 2024
I've written to Finance Minister @nsitharaman demanding that the states of Kerala & West Bengal be included in the Union Budget 2024 for providing disaster relief to people affected by the landslide in Wayanad & the floods in North Bengal.
Along with my colleague… pic.twitter.com/HIlKa4KvMb
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Row over election rules: SC seeks response of Centre, EC on plea of Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and the poll panel on a plea by Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh challenging recent amendments to the 1961 Conduct of Election Rules which restricts public access to CCTV and other election-related documents.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar took note of the submissions of senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Congress leader, and issued the notices on the plea.
The bench said it would hear the plea in the week commencing March 17.
