No plan to restore special category status to states: Govt.
New Delhi: There is no plan to restore special category status -- which has been scrapped by think- tank Niti Aayog -- to any state in the country, the government informed the Rajya Sabha Thursday.
Minister of State for Statistics and Planning Rao Inderjit Singh replied in the negative when Congress leader Ripun Bora asked if the government has any plans to restore special category status to Assam or any other state.
Bora also sought to know if scrapping of special category status to Assam and north eastern states is a violation of cooperative federalism.
Many states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal are still demanding that the Centre grant them special category status despite it been scrapped.
Replying to a query on documenting better performing states to promote competitive federalism, the minister said, "We have not prepared any document...The suggestion is good and will think about it."
To another query on steps taken to improve states' relations after formation of Niti Aayog, the minister said the think-tank is promoting cooperative federalism and competitive federalism in the country.
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Gurupura: Bus-lorry collide near Bellibettu, drivers critically injured
6 Lakh in cash recovered during rescue operation
Bajpe: A private bus and a lorry collided head-on near Bellibettu bus stand on Wednesday, leaving both drivers seriously injured.
According to sources, the private bus was travelling from Mangaluru to Karkala and a lorry was heading towards Mangaluru.
The impact of the collision was severe, leaving the front portions of both the bus and the lorry completely crushed.
According to locals, the drivers of both vehicles were trapped inside the mangled vehicles and had to be rescued by cutting parts of the damaged vehicles using a gas cutter. Passengers travelling in the bus sustained minor injuries.
The injured drivers were shifted to a private hospital in the city for treatment. Personnel from the Bajpe police station visited the spot, conducted an inspection, and registered a case.
Meanwhile, it has been learnt that during the rescue operation, a local resident, Rafiq Gurupura, found around Rs 6 lakh in cash while cutting open parts of the bus.
The amount was subsequently handed over to the Bajpe police. The rescue operation was carried out by locals including Rafiq, Shivarama, Raoof, Fazil and others.
