Have told Mangaluru Police Commissioner to make city drug-free in a month: Karnataka Home Minister
Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara has said that the government has taken stringent measures to control drug trafficking in the state, adding that not merely Karnataka but the entire country was facing narcotic-related problems.
Addressing the Karnataka Assembly during Zero Hour on Wednesday, Parameshwara said that police superintendents of all districts in Karnataka too have been instructed to pay attention to the matter and prevent drug rackets from developing in their respective districts.
The Home Minister added, “Drug trafficking is a grave issue in Karnataka but the state should not let the sustenance of drug trafficking, especially in Bengaluru. The government is, therefore, working to put a halt on the racketeers in the state. After collecting information on drug trade going on in Mangaluru during the review meeting, I have instructed the Mangaluru City Police Commissioner to work at ensuring Mangaluru becomes drug-free within a month’s time.”
Parameshwara pointed out, “In the three weeks that we have been in power, our government has succeeded in getting drugs worth Rs 112 crore destroyed in the state, but the efforts should continue in the direction. After all, ‘narcotics’ does not refer to ganja alone. MDMA tablets, heroin and several other sorts of drugs are also in the same category of addictives.”
He also recollected that barely four to five years ago, Bengaluru was compared to Punjab, where narcotic use is rampant. “Punjab is being supplied huge quantities of drugs from other state and also other countries. Drug addiction has been a problem with not just adults but even school and college students in Punjab, earning the title ‘Udta Punjab’ for the state,” he said.
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India & Israel elevate ties to special strategic partnership, vow to soon conclude free trade deal
Jerusalem (PTI): India and Israel on Thursday elevated their "time-tested" relationship to a special strategic partnership and agreed to soon firm up a "mutually beneficial" free trade deal even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly backed the Gaza peace initiative, asserting that humanity must never become a victim of conflict.
Following talks between Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, the two sides inked a plethora of agreements to expand cooperation in areas of trade, agriculture, energy, cyberspace and digital payment.
India and Israel also vowed to expand their already close defence partnership by working towards joint development and joint production of military hardware under the framework of the transfer of technologies.
In his media statement, Modi said India's security interest is linked to peace and stability in the Middle East, adding that New Delhi fully supports the Gaza Peace Initiative.
"India's stance is clear: humanity must never become a victim of conflict. A path to peace has been created through the Gaza Peace Plan. India has fully supported these efforts," he said.
"In the future as well, we will continue dialogue and cooperation with all countries," he said.
PM Modi landed in Israel on Wednesday on a two-day visit. It is his second visit to Israel in nine years.
In his remarks, the prime minister said India and Israel have a united view that there is no place for terrorism in the world and both sides stand shoulder-to-shoulder in countering terrorism and its supporters.
"Our relationship is founded on the strong bedrock of deep trust, shared democratic values, and human sensitivities. Our bond has stood the test of every trial of time," he said.
"Today, we have taken the historic decision to elevate our time-tested partnership to the status of a 'Special Strategic Partnership'," he said.
The prime minister also announced the establishment of an India-Israel critical and emerging technologies partnership to impart a new momentum for cooperation in areas of artificial intelligence, quantum, and critical minerals. "I am pleased that an agreement has been reached for the use of UPI in Israel," he said.
The prime minister, referring to the threat of terrorism, said India and Israel will continue to confront the menace unitedly.
"India and Israel are completely clear that there is no place for terrorism in the world. In any form, in any expression, terrorism cannot be accepted," he said.
"We have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in opposing terrorism and its supporters, and we will continue to do so," he added.
India and Israel also discussed the implementation of the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and cooperation under the framework of I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-USA).
