Minister Priyank Kharge refutes Amit Shah's claim on drought relief report
Kalaburagi 2024: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has dismissed Union Home Minister Amit Shah's claim that the state government delayed submitting the drought relief report by three months, calling it false.
Speaking at a press conference at the Congress office in the city, Kharge stated, "The state government declared 223 taluks out of 236 taluks as drought-prone and 196 taluks out of 223 taluks as severely drought-prone, submitting a report to the Centre on September 22, 2023. A 10-member central team visited the drought-prone areas on October 5 and 9. Following their study, 21 more taluks were declared drought-prone, with an additional request submitted to the Centre on October 9."
Kharge further stated that the state adhered to the Drought Manual regulations, submitting the monsoon drought report by October 31 and the post-monsoon drought report by March 31. He expressed disappointment over Shah's statement, stating it was misleading as the request was submitted within the prescribed date.
He highlighted efforts made by the state government, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's requests to Union ministers for drought relief release. Despite these efforts, Kharge criticized Shah for not convening a high-level meeting to address the severe drought situation in the state.
Kharge concluded by accusing Shah of lying about the state's efforts and urged him to take decisive action to release the much-needed drought relief.
The total crop damage in the state is estimated at 18,171.44 crores across 48 lakh hectares. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has requested Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a letter dated November 15, 2023, to release drought relief funds.
Additionally, on November 23, 2023, the Agriculture Minister and the Revenue Minister personally met the Union Finance Minister to submit a request for drought relief.
Subsequently, on December 20, 2023, the Chief Minister and the Revenue Minister met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Finally, on January 19, 2024, the Chief Minister wrote to the Prime Minister requesting drought relief assistance. Despite these efforts, state ministers had to stage a protest in Delhi on February 7, 2024, to protest against the Centre's neglect.
The state is facing a severe drought situation, and despite the state government's efforts to secure relief by writing letters and meeting ministers, Home Minister Amit Shah has not called a high-level meeting or made a decision. Minister Priyank Kharge criticized Amit Shah, accusing him of lying when he visited the state.
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Unnao rape case: SC defers hearing on CBI's plea against suspension of Sengar's life term
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday deferred to the first week of May the hearing on a petition filed by the CBI challenging the suspension of life imprisonment of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sura Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that the matter will be taken up after a nine-judge bench completes hearing on the Sabarimala review proceedings.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Sengar, raised the issue of non-hearing of the pleas in another case related to the alleged custodial death of the victim's father in the Delhi High Court and said that a 10-year jail term was handed down to Sengar in that case.
"Ten years is likely to be completed soon and yet no substantial hearing has taken place in the high court. I should get bail in this matter," he said.
It was alleged by him that even the victim's lawyer is taking adjournments in the high court.
Lawyer Mehmood Pracha, counsel for the victim, said that only one adjournment has been sought in the high court.
The CJI noted the consent of both sides that no adjournment will be sought in the Delhi High Court in another case involving Sengar as one of the accused.
"The lawyers will extend full cooperation (in the HC)," the CJI said.
On December 29, last year, the top court stayed the Delhi High Court order suspending the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case and said he shall not be released from custody.
The bench, hearing the CBI's plea challenging the high court order, said that substantial questions of law have arisen in the matter that require consideration.
The apex court had also issued notice to Sengar seeking his response on the CBI's plea.
The bench said it was conscious of the fact that ordinarily, when a convict or an undertrial was released on bail pursuant to an order passed by a trial court or the high court, such an order should not be stayed by it without hearing such a person.
It noted that Sengar was also convicted and sentenced in a separate case and was still in custody in that matter.
"In the peculiar circumstances of the case, we stay the operation of the impugned order dated December 23, 2025, passed by the high court. Consequently, the respondent (Sengar) shall not be released from custody pursuant to the said order," the bench had said.
The top court said various substantial questions of law have arisen for its consideration in the matter.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, urged the bench to stay the high court order, saying it was a "horrific rape" of a minor child.
The Delhi High Court had, in its December 23, 2025, order, said that Sengar has been convicted under Section 5 (C) (aggravated penetrative sexual assault by a public servant) of the POCSO Act but an elected representative does not fit the definition of a "public servant" under Section 21 of the IPC.
The high court had suspended the jail term of Sengar, who was serving life imprisonment in the Unnao rape case, till the pendency of his appeal, saying he had already served seven years and five months in prison.
The high court order has sparked criticism from a section and there have been protests by the victim, her family and activists.
Sengar had challenged a December 2019 trial court verdict in the case. He had, however, remained in jail since he was also serving 10 years' imprisonment in the custodial death case of the victim's father and has not been granted bail in that case.
The rape case and other connected cases were transferred to Delhi from a trial court in Uttar Pradesh on the directions of the Supreme Court on August 1, 2019.
Sengar's appeal against his conviction in the case of the custodial death of the survivor's father is also pending, where he has sought suspension of sentence on the ground that he has already spent a substantial time in jail.
In its plea filed in the apex court, the CBI referred to its verdict in the L K Advani case in which it held that anyone who holds public office, like MPs or MLAs, would be deemed a "public servant".
It contended that the high court erred by declaring that Sengar, an MLA when the offence was committed, was not a "public servant" to be prosecuted under POCSO and granted him bail.
