Karnataka Minister NS Boseraju charges Centre with delay in establishing AIIMS in Raichur
Raichur (Karnataka), Oct 29: Karnataka Minor Irrigation, Science, and Technology Minister NS Boseraju on Tuesday questioned the central government's alleged delay in establishing an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here.
He claimed that despite multiple appeals and a "continuous satyagraha," the central government has not responded to the longstanding demand.
"The Karnataka government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, is unwavering in its commitment to bring AIIMS to Raichur. We have worked tirelessly, submitting numerous requests," Boseraju said in a statement.
According to him, Siddaramaiah has sent repeated letters to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and a dedicated team of AIIMS 'Horata Samiti' members, local MP G Kumara Naik, and district representatives had also met with the Union Health Minister in Delhi, advocating for Raichur’s case.
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Additionally, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has raised the issue in Delhi, strengthening the state’s stance on establishing AIIMS in Raichur.
"Yet, despite these efforts, the central government has shown little interest towards addressing the urgent need in Kalyana Karnataka (region). The Raichur District AIIMS 'Horata Samiti' (a committee fighting for the cause) has now completed 900 days of indefinite strike, with a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasising the region’s collective appeal," he said.
The Minister urged the central government to immediately approve AIIMS for Raichur.
"The central government must immediately approve AIIMS for Raichur, a district that has aspired and waited patiently. Our struggle remains peaceful, but we are steadfast and committed – we will persist in this fight until AIIMS is sanctioned for Raichur," he added.
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Shashi Tharoor calls for regulation and taxation instead of banning online gaming
New Delhi(PTI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday criticised the government’s move to ban online money gaming, warning that such a step would only push the industry underground and strengthen criminal networks.
He also said he had not studied the three Constitution amendment bills seeking to provide a framework for the removal of prime ministers, Union ministers, chief ministers and state ministers detained on serious criminal charges in any detail.
“On the face of it, it is difficult to say it has any problem, but obviously if anyone does something wrong they should not be a minister anyway. I don’t know if there is any other motive,” he remarked.
Discussing the bill seeking to prohibit and regulate online gaming introduced in the Lok Sabha, he said, "I had written a very long article on the argument that by banning online gaming we are simply driving it underground, whereas it could be a useful source of revenue for the government if we legalise it, regulate it and tax it."
He added that many countries have studied the issue in detail and concluded that regulation and taxation can generate funds for social causes, while bans merely enrich “criminal mafias”.
In a post on X, Tharoor recalled that he had “gone on record in 2018 urging the government to legalise, regulate and tax online gaming, rather than drive it underground by banning it, which will merely enhance the profits of the mafia”.
“It’s a pity that the government seems to have derived no lessons from the experience of other countries that have considered this issue,” he wrote.
He added that the bill should at least have been referred to a parliamentary committee “to consider all the pros and cons before rushing it into law”.
The proposed bill prohibits online money gaming and its advertisements, prescribing imprisonment or fines, or both, for violators. It differentiates such games from eSports and online social games, while calling for their promotion.
1/2 I went on record in 2018 urging the government to legalise, regulate and tax online gaming, rather than drive it underground by banning it, which will merely enhance the profits of the mafia. https://t.co/KYi2aTxDQQ
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 20, 2025
