NIA agrees to let Engineer Rashid take oath as MP, court to give order tomorrow
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday gave its consent for jailed Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, to take oath as MP on July 25. Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh will pass an order on the plea on Tuesday.
Rashid, an Independent MP from Baramulla who has been arrested in a 2017 Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case, had moved the court seeking interim bail, or custody parole in the alternative, to take oath and perform his parliamentary functions. On June 22, a special court here had adjourned the matter and asked the NIA to file its response.
On Monday, the NIA's counsel said Rashid's oath taking be subject to some conditions like not speaking to the media. He also said Rashid, who is in Tihar Jail, must complete everything within a day.
Rashid has been in jail since 2019 after he was charged by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in a terror funding case.
The former MLA's name cropped up during the investigation of Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali, arrested by the NIA had arrested for allegedly funding terrorist groups and separatists in the Kashmir valley.
The NIA had filed a chargesheet against several individuals, including Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin in the case. Malik was awarded life imprisonment by a trial court in 2022 after he pleaded guilty to the charges.
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.
Siddaramaiah requests PM to implement price deficiency payment scheme for red chillies in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan requesting for implementation of price deficiency payment scheme under Market Intervention Scheme for red chillies in Karnataka.
In the letter, he expressed deep concern for the lakhs of red chilli farmers in Karnataka, particularly in the Kalyana Karnataka region, who are facing an "unprecedented crisis" due to the drastic fall in market prices.
The Chief Minister noted that the Government of India has approved the Price Deficiency Payment (PDP) scheme under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for Red Chillies (Guntur Variety) in Andhra Pradesh, fixing the Minimum Intervention Price (MIP) at Rs 11,781 per quintal with coverage for up to 25 percent of production.
"While this is a welcome step, the distress faced by Karnataka's red chilli farmers remains unaddressed," he stated in the letter dated March 10.
Siddaramaiah highlighted that in Karnataka, the cost of production for Guntur variety of red chillies (Rain fed) has been assessed at Rs 12,675 per quintal by the Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission.
"However, farmers are forced to sell their produce at distress prices as low as Rs 8,300 per quintal in markets like Sindhanur. This not only results in massive financial losses but also threatens their very survival," he said.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the Kalyana Karnataka region, one of the most backward and drought-prone areas in the country, is home to thousands of small and marginal farmers dependent on red chilli cultivation.
"The continued neglect of their plight will only deepen the economic distress and push many farmers into a debt crisis. It is therefore imperative that the Union Government extends the Price Deficiency Payment scheme under the Market Intervention Scheme to Karnataka, ensuring parity with Andhra Pradesh," he said.
In addition, Siddaramaiah strongly urged certain modification to the existing scheme to better serve farmers.
The CM urged the Centre to increase MIP to Rs 13,500 per quintal.
"The current MIP of Rs 11,781 per quintal is inadequate considering the rising input costs and the significantly higher cost of production in Karnataka," he said.
"Expand coverage to at least 75 percent of production. Restricting the coverage to just 25 percent of production will leave a large number of farmers unprotected. A minimum of 75 percent coverage is necessary to provide meaningful relief," he said.
Siddaramaiah urged the Union Government to bear the full burden of the price deficiency payment.
According to him, as per the existing scheme, the financial burden is shared between the Centre and State in a 50:50 ratio. The prices of red chillies are largely dependent on the Union Government's domestic and export policies which directly influence market stability and farmer earnings.
"Therefore, we request the Union Government to bear the full amount of the price deficiency payment to ensure fair compensation for farmers," he said.
Siddaramaiah said the red chilli farmers of Karnataka deserve the same level of support that their counterparts in Andhra Pradesh are receiving.
"A fair and just intervention by the Union Government at this crucial moment will not only provide immediate relief but will also reaffirm the Centre's commitment to the welfare of farmers across the country, irrespective of the state they belong to," he added.
