Many leaders from other parties to join BJP ahead of 2023 assembly elections: Minister R Ashoka
Hassan Apr 27 (PTI): Karnataka BJP leader and Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Wednesday said many leaders from other parties will be joining the saffron party ahead of assembly elections next year, in the wake of its victory in four states and the stand taken by the Congress on the hijab issue.
He said the BJP will win Karnataka assembly polls, like it did in Uttar Pradesh last month.
"Not one or two, many people (leaders) will come (to BJP), arrangements are on for the induction of many people, after BJP's victory in four states and the stand taken by the Congress on hijab and other issues," Ashoka told reporters here.
Pointing out that the Congress did not take up the hijab issue in the assembly session that went on for a month, but went on an overdrive over the issue outside the House, he said, "they were violent outside but silent in the assembly."
Both state Congress President D K Shivakumar and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah took a divergent stand on the issue, Ashoka said and claimed that the former CM wanted to speak on the hijab controversy but Shivakumar did not want the party to voice out on the issue.
"People are aware as to whom the Congress wants to appease," he added.
Expressing confidence about the BJP winning the 2023 assembly polls in Karnataka, the minister said the party leadership has prepared and given to the state unit a "blueprint" in this regard.
"As part of it, party leaders have travelled across the state in three teams and in the next step, rallies will be held across the state," he said, adding that the BJP will be going into the elections fully prepared to win.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during his visit to the state earlier this month, had set a target of 150 seats (in the 225 member assembly) to Karnataka BJP leaders for next year's assembly elections in the state, where the ruling party is eyeing a successive term.
Shah had attended the state BJP core committee meeting during the visit, which also discussed induction of leaders from other political parties ahead of elections, and strengthening the organisation.
"People from other parties are eager to join the BJP, the state president will form a team to look into this, and will take a decision," a senior BJP leader had then said.
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Govt to set up Bureau of Port Security to boost port, vessel security
New Delhi (PTI): To beef up the security infrastructure of ports, the government will set up a statutory body -- the Bureau of Port Security -- that will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information of ports and vessels, officials said on Friday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday convened a meeting for the constitution of the dedicated body, the Bureau of Port Security (BoPS), which was attended by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and the Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu, an official statement said.
Emphasising that there is a need to establish a country-wide robust port security framework, Shah directed that security measures should be implemented in a graded and risk-based manner, taking into account vulnerabilities, trade potential, location, and other relevant parameters.
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The meeting also noted that lessons learned from the maritime security framework shall be replicated in the aviation security domain, the statement said.
The new body, modelled on the lines of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), will be constituted as a statutory body under the new Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and will work under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), it said.
Headed by a senior IPS officer as its director general, the BoPS will be responsible for regulatory and oversight functions relating to the security of ships and port facilities.
"During the transition period of one year, the director general of shipping shall function as the director general of BoPS," the statement said.
"The BoPS will ensure timely analysis, collection and exchange of security-related information, with a special focus on cybersecurity, including a dedicated division to safeguard port IT infrastructure from digital threats," it said.
The government has designated the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) as a recognised security organisation (RSO), responsible for undertaking security assessments and preparation of security plans for port facilities.
The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) will train and build the capacities of private security agencies (PSAs) engaged in port security.
"These agencies shall be certified and appropriate regulatory measures shall be introduced to ensure that only the licensed PSAs operate in this sector," the statement said.
