'I'm the real leader of opposition, allot me seat next to Deputy Speaker': Yatnal in Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Senior MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who has been expelled from the BJP, on Tuesday claimed in the Karnataka legislative Assembly that he was the "real leader of opposition", and requested the Speaker to allot him a seat next to the Deputy Speaker.
Yatnal said this as he was making a request to the Chair, to make an arrangement for him and two other MLAs -- who are now un-attached members after being expelled from the BJP -- to be seated on the front row, considering their seniority.
Yatnal, S T Somashekar and A Shivaram Hebbar were shifted to back benches, after they were expelled from the BJP earlier this year.
"Senior legislators have been insulted by making them sit on the back benches. It was done in the previous session too. We request you, we have been elected five to six times, arrangements should be made to make us sit in the front row," Yatnal said.
Appealing to the Speaker to reconsider their seating arrangements, he urged that by tomorrow a positive decision should be taken in this regard.
ALSO READ: Don't understand what Yathindra said on leadership, says Shivakumar
Intervening Speaker U T Khader told Yatnal that there were no seniors or juniors in politics. "One who is in power is senior and the one without power is a junior."
Seats are not allotted based on seniority, he said, those who have a majority will get treasury benches in the House, and those with lesser numbers in strength will get opposition benches.
Pointing out that Yatnal was given front seating while in BJP, the Speaker asked, what can be done if he is out of the party. "If you (Yatnal) are part of the ruling party or the opposition party, you will get the front seat on the respective sides," he said.
Responding to this Yatnal claimed that he was the "real opposition leader" in the Assembly, even as Leader of Opposition R Ashoka was present in the House.
"I'm not a person who indulges in any adjustment. I have not indulged in any understanding with anyone. I have not been to the CM's office, have not made any requests to any ministers. So I'm the real leader of opposition and you may allot me a seat next to the Deputy Speaker (which is the seat alloted for the leader of opposition in the Assembly)," he added.
Yatnal, both while in BJP and after being expelled from the party, have been accusing the saffron party leadership in the state of indulging in "adjustment politics" with the ruling Congress leaders.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
