"How does PM travel?": CM Siddaramaiah asks BJP, on being criticized for using luxury jet
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah snapped back at the BJP for its criticism following the sharing of a video of him and two of his Cabinet ministers journeying in a chartered flight to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning the Opposition party how the PM travels.
The CM had met Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi on December 19 to ask the Central government to release drought relief funds for Karnataka. He was accompanied by Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan and Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda during the visit.
With the video that shows Siddaramaiah, Khan and Gowda traveling in the private jet going viral on social media, the Karnataka Congress is being severely criticized by the BJP for using such luxury facilities although the state was struggling to cope with drought.
ALSO READ: Video of Karnataka CM in luxury jet goes viral, draws sharp reaction from BJP
As he returned from New Delhi, Siddaramaiah was thronged by reporters, who also questioned him about his mode of transport.
Calling the BJP comment and criticism silly, the CM retorted, "Ask the BJP how Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels? Why does he travel alone?"
VIDEO | "How does Narendra Modi travel? You tell me first. Please ask this question to the BJP people – which plane Narendra Modi travels in? He travels alone. Why does he travel alone? BJP leaders will keep saying something silly," says Karnataka CM @siddaramaiah when asked… pic.twitter.com/VPxBqZqNxk
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 22, 2023
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Coast Guard seizes vessel carrying 6,000 kg methamphetamine
Port Blair (PTI): In a major anti-narcotics operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) seized a vessel with six Myanmarese crew carrying 6,000 kg of contraband Methamphetamine near Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an official said on Monday.
The drugs were found packed in around 3,000 packets of 2 kg each, which are worth several crores of rupees in the international market.
On November 23, the pilot of a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft while on routine patrolling noticed a suspicious movement of a fishing trawler near Barren Island which is nearly 150 km from Port Blair, the Defence official said.
"The trawler was warned and asked to lower its speed and in the meantime, the pilot alerted the Andaman and Nicobar Command. Immediately, our nearby fast patrolling vessels rushed towards Barren Island and towed the fishing trawler to Port Blair on November 24 for further investigation," the official said.
"We have arrested six Myanmarese nationals from the fishing trawler and it is believed that the Methamphetamine was meant for India and its neighbouring countries. We have informed the Andaman and Nicobar Police for joint interrogation," the defence official said.
This is not the first time that such banned contraband was seized on Indian waters in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In 2019 and 2022, similar drugs were seized from foreign vessels while they tried to enter Indian waters.
Methamphetamine is mainly used as a recreational or performance-enhancing drug.
