TMC's Abhishek hits back at PM, says oppn seeking accountability on SIR isn’t 'drama'
Diamond Harbour (PTI): TMC Lok Sabha leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charge that the opposition was turning Parliament into a stage for "drama", asserting that demanding accountability on the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise and other governance issues cannot be dismissed as theatrics.
Banerjee's remarks came hours after the Prime Minister, speaking to reporters outside Parliament ahead of the winter session, said the House was "not a place for drama but for delivery", describing the opposition's conduct as a "warm-up arena" for elections, and even offering to give them "tips to bring positivity in politics".
Responding sharply, the TMC MP said the opposition had only sought a formal debate on the SIR exercise, which he claimed had already led to "around 40 deaths, including BLOs", because of alleged procedural lapses.
He asserted that the opposition was working well within the legal framework in choosing to ask questions to the government.
"What the opposition is asking for is a debate on SIR. Is that drama? If raising people's voice is drama, then the people will give them a befitting reply in the next election," the TMC national general secretary said at the launch of the second phase of free health camps – Sebaashray – at his Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency.
Blaming the Election Commission for what he called an "unplanned and glitch-ridden" voter list revision process, Banerjee said BLOs were neither trained nor equipped to handle the workload.
"The EC didn't train BLOs. It didn't fix the glitches. The voter roll isn't updated. Forty people have died due to an unplanned SIR. Where is the accountability from the government?" he asked.
Banerjee accused the BJP of evading responsibility in various sectors. He also questioned demonetisation and alleged border breaches by foreign saboteurs in the past to stress on the opposition’s need to raise questions in Parliament.
"People stood in queues during demonetisation 10 years back. The black money flow has increased. Where is the accountability? Blasts are happening, and terrorists are entering the country. Again, where is the accountability?" he said.
Banerjee insisted that the opposition was functioning "within the legal framework" by questioning the government and the poll panel.
"Just because they have won a few states doesn't mean they are not answerable to the people. The same people will remove them from power if they continue on this path of non-accountability,” the Diamond Harbour MP said.
"We are raising questions on Pahalgam, on the 40 deaths linked to SIR, and the BJP thinks this is drama? We are not against SIR, but against the method and the way it is being executed," Banerjee said.
Questioning the EC’s decision to not hold SIR in the northeastern states, he alleged that the poll panel’s “intentions” behind conducting the exercise were contrary to its claims.
“If the idea is to identify illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators in this country and deport them, then why is SIR only being conducted in Bengal and not in Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya, which also share borders with Bangladesh?” he asked.
“The BJP claims that the SIR will identify one crore Rohingyas living in Bengal. But it doesn’t share borders with Myanmar. The states which do – Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur – are not having SIR. Had the EC been serious about identifying foreigners, it would have started the SIR exercise from these states as they provide the entry points to outsiders. And when we seek discussion on these matters, the PM says the opposition is doing drama!” Banerjee said.
The TMC MP also provided year-on-year figures from 2017-18 to 2023-24 fiscals to claim that the Centre collected over Rs 6.5 lakh crore from Bengal in the last seven years through direct and indirect taxes.
“Despite collecting the sum, it has withheld Bengal's financial entitlements of Rs 2 lakh crore. The EC has recently enhanced the remuneration of BLOs from Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000 and passed on the expenditure burden to the shoulders of the state.
“As my party’s general secretary, I urge the EC to write to the Centre to release the money it has deprived the state’s poor people of. I promise that the government will enhance the BLO remuneration to Rs 60,000 if the commission even writes that letter, irrespective of its outcome,” Banerjee declared.
Stressing that accountability "cannot be optional in a democracy", the senior TMC leader said the opposition would continue pressing for answers inside and outside Parliament.
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Trekking without nature guide won't be allowed; Karnataka forest minister releases SOP
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Friday said that trekking will no longer be permitted on any approved trekking routes under the forest department, without a certified nature guide equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies.
Speaking after releasing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) formulated for the safety of trekkers, he said that there will be one local nature guide for every 10 trekkers. A maximum of 150 trekkers will be allowed per batch on any trekking route.
According to him, online registration for trekking is mandatory. Even if a single individual registers for a particular day, a guide will still be provided, and trekking without a guide will not be allowed.
He said the SOP was introduced following recent incidents, including a woman from Kerala who went missing for three days in the forests during a trek at Tadiandamol hill in Kodagu, and a minor girl who went missing and was later found dead near Manikyadhara in Chikkamagaluru, which is outside forest jurisdiction.
In a statement, the Khandre's office said that nature guides will be mandatorily equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies on all trekking routes. "Additionally, a mobile app containing trekking route maps will be installed on trekkers' phones. This will help locate trekkers if they lose their way", it said.
As per the SOP, before the trek begins, trekkers will be briefed about the distance, duration, and local conditions.
"Instructions on how to respond if wildlife is encountered will also be provided. Loud devices, sharp metal objects, weapons, and campfires are strictly prohibited on trekking routes," it said.
The SOP further stated that separate toilets for men and women and drinking water facilities will be provided at base camps.
Directional arrow markings will guide trekkers along the route, and rest points will be created along the way, it said.
Citing the SOP, the statement said that nature guides must ensure that no trekker moves ahead of them or is left behind. Headcounts must be conducted at base camps and rest points.
"Guides must communicate with the base camp via walkie-talkie every 30 minutes. If there is no communication within an hour of the trek starting, base camp staff will contact the guide to confirm safety," it said.
The SOP states that minors must carry a consent letter from their parents or guardians, and senior citizens must provide a fitness certificate confirming their physical capability to undertake trekking. To be able to respond to unexpected health issues, trekkers and guides must carry a first aid kit.
However, flash photography, single-use plastics, and carry bags are prohibited and trekkers must bring back their waste and dispose of it only at base camps, as per SOP.
It further said that all trekking routes under the forest department will be integrated into the official website (https://aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in/) to enable advance booking of tickets.
