Hundred problems in hundred days from state govt.: Kota Srinivasa Poojary
Mangaluru, August 30: Accusing that the state government has caused hundred problems in its hundred days administration, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Kota Srinivasa Poojary said that the JDS-Congress coalition government which promised of giving stable administration, has done nothing to instill confidence among people.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Poojary said that the government has been claiming that it has waived off farmers loans. But it was not speaking anything about the loans of fishermen and women self help groups availed from nationalized banks and private money lenders. In 100 days, the coalition government has done nothing. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and former chief minister Siddaramaiah have no coordination. It was ridiculous that the century-old political party has kneeled down before the JDS to keep BJP away from power. The Congress leaders have thought that though they have lost their existence, they should not give up the power to the BJP, he ridiculed.
The state government has done nothing for the welfare of the farmers, poor and backward classes and it has failed to handle the natural disaster in Kodagu district properly. The Ministers have been visiting the ravaged places with escorts like tourist spots. Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar had promised of constructing the readymade houses within next ten days. But the process was not yet started. The government has failed to provide food, roads, and employment. Instead of celebrating the completion of 100 days, the government should work for the people, he said.
As the roads in Shiradi, Sampaje and Charmadi ghats, the coastal districts were disconnected completely. The government should have conducted the repair works on war-footing. Aranthodu and surrounding villages in Sullia taluk were submerged in the flood water. So, the district administration and the government should announce special package to the villages, he demanded.
MLA Vedavyas D Kamath, BJP leaders Ravishankar Mijaru, Sanjay Prabhu, Jithendra Kotian, Captain Brijesh Chouta, Joilas D’Souza, Vasanth Poojary and others were present.
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India, US trade team to start three-day talks from Dec 10: Sources
New Delhi (PTI): India and the United States will commence three-day talks on the first phase of their proposed bilateral trade agreement here from December 10, sources said.
The visit is crucial as India and the US are working to finalise the first tranche of the pact.
"The three-day talks will start on December 10. It will conclude on December 12, and it is not a formal round of talks," said one of the sources.
The US team will be led by Deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR) Rick Switzer.
This visit of the US officials marks their second trip since the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff and an additional 25 per cent penalty on Indian goods entering the American market due to the purchase of Russian crude oil.
On September 16, the US officials last visited India.
On September 22, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also led an official delegation to the US for trade talks. Goyal had also visited Washington in May.
While the USA's chief negotiator for the pact is Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch, the Indian side is led by Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce Darpan Jain.
The talks are also important as Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal has recently stated that India is hopeful of reaching a framework trade deal with the US this year itself, which should address the tariff issue to the benefit of Indian exporters.
While noting that the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) will take time, Agrawal has added that India is engaged in protracted negotiations with the US on a framework trade deal that will address the reciprocal tariff challenge faced by Indian exporters.
India and the US are having two parallel negotiations -- one on a framework trade deal to address tariffs and another on a comprehensive trade deal.
In February, leaders of the two countries directed officials to negotiate an agreement.
It was planned to conclude the first tranche of the pact by the fall of 2025. So far, six rounds of negotiations have been held. The agreement aims to more than double bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030, from the current USD 191 billion.
The US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at USD 131.84 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports).
The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent of its imports, and 10.73 per cent of its total merchandise trade.
According to exporters, the agreement is important as India's merchandise exports to the US declined for the second consecutive month in October, falling by 8.58 per cent to USD 6.3 billion due to the hefty tariffs imposed by Washington.
