Now is the time to move forward and re-open the economy: Karnataka chief secretary
Bengaluru, June 2:: Time has come for Karnataka to move forward and "re-open" the economy as the State has reached a stage where it can resume industrial operations in a staggered phase, Chief Secretary P Ravi Kumar said on Wednesday, as he took note of the impact of COVID lockdown on industries.
The state government today held a meeting with industry representatives and office-bearers from industry bodies to discuss issues concerning business impact due to Covid lockdown, during which they also sought for waiver of tariff, taxes, and to boost vaccination drive.
The meeting touched upon the issues impacting their businesses due to Covid lockdown, suggestions for solutions, and relief from the government and measures for restarting the economy post the lockdown, an official release said.
We had reached the peak of the covid-19 second wave in May and had taken strict measures. To bring the second wave under control, the government had to resort to stringent measures and impose a lockdown. However, we have now reached a stage and can resume industries operations in a staggered phase. Now is the time to move forward and re-open the economy, Kumar was quoted as saying in a release.
Many issues raised by the industry bodies are reasonable.
Few are financial and non-financial, and the government would take a look into these demands.
On the opening of essential and non-essential industries, he said, "We will think about it in the coming days."
The Chief Secretary also thanked the industry bodies and associations that helped the government fight the second wave for the last 45 days.
On tackling the third wave, the government is working round the clock, and an SOP shall be in place to handle the pandemic, he said.
The Covid-19 second wave has seen a decline in the revenues across sectors now poses an existential crisis for many businesses, impacting their viability for the next 6-12 months with the shortage of capital flow as the main challenge, the release said.
A decline in economic activities during lockdowns has threatened business continuity for many small businesses, making MSMEs one of the worst-hit sectors, it said.
Suggestions made by industry bodies during the meeting include: To consider MSME workers as frontline workers and get them vaccinated, waiver of the monthly excise licence for the next six months (Rs 75,000 is the monthly licence fee), waiver of BESCOM (power) bills and fixed charges for the lockdown period, among others.
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BJP can't remain with those who commit atrocities against women: Amit Shah on Prajwal Revanna
Hubballi (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the BJP cannot remain with those who commit atrocities against women, referring to the sexual abuse allegations against JDS Lok Sabha poll candidate Prajwal Revanna.
He also blamed the Congress government in Karnataka for not acting against the Hassan MP till the Lok Sabha elections in the Vokkaliga belt were over.
Prajwal is the grandson of former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and son of former minister H D Revanna. He is seeking a re-election from Hassan on the JD(S) ticket.
Just before the elections, a huge cache of explicit videos and photographs, allegedly involving him have gone viral in the social media, following which the Karnataka government constituted the SIT on the request of Karnataka State Commission for Women chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary.
A case has been registered against Revanna and Prajwal at Holenarasipura on a complaint by their former cook and relative for allegedly sexually harassing her. She alleged that Prajwal made video calls to her daughter and spoke in an objectionable manner, which forced her to block him.
“We (BJP) have an alliance with the JD(S). Now (Prajwal) Revanna’s CD has come. They (Congress) thought they can corner the BJP. I am making it clear here BJP cannot remain with those who commit atrocities against women,” the Home Minister said at a public meeting.
He said Congress is in power in the state and it should have taken action.
“You did not initiate any action till the elections in the Vokkaliga belt were over. You did politics and allowed him (Prajwal Revanna) to escape. If you have guts tell the truth. Because of you, a heinous criminal fled the country,” Shah said.
Vokkaliga is the dominant community in the southern part of Karnataka, to which the JD(S)' first family belongs. They wield influence in the 14 Lok Sabha seats which went to polls on April 26. Polling in the remaining 14 seats will take place on May 7.
The BJP’s stand was clear that stringent punishment should be given to those who commit such crimes, Shah added.
He also accused Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of politicising the drought relief issue.
Responding to Congress' charge that the Centre intentionally delayed disbursal of funds to mitigate the drought in Karnataka till the state government approached the Supreme Court, Amit Shah said there was a delay from Karnataka in making the request.
“I want to tell you why there was delay in releasing drought relief funds. The Chief Minister and his Deputy D K Shivakumar fight with each other. The Deputy CM tries to pull down the CM... They caused the delay in submitting the request,” the Union Minister claimed.
He pointed out that the Karnataka government has written three memoranda.
By the time the third memorandum came, the model code of conduct came into effect, which led to the delay in releasing the central aid, Shah said claiming that the Congress government was levelling false accusations against the BJP.
The Karnataka government had sought Rs 18,171 crore from the Centre from the National Disaster Response Fund to overcome drought prevailing in 226 out of 236 Taluks of the state but it got Rs 3,454 crore after it moved the apex court in the middle of the election.
Referring to the Rameswaram Cafe blast, Shah alleged that soon after the Congress came to power, a blast took place in Bengaluru city, which the Siddaramaiah government initially called as cylinder explosion.
Referring to the Neha Hiremath murder case, Shah said if the Congress was unable to protect the people of the state, it should step down and allow the BJP to run it in a better way.
He also took strong exception to the alleged Pakistan Zindabad slogans raised in the Vidhana Soudha corridors on February 27.
Noting that the 2024 Lok Sabha election was a historic one between two camps, Shah said, “On the one hand there is a brother and a sister who go abroad on vacation and there is a person (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) who did not take any leave in the last 23 years and celebrates Deepavali with soldiers.”
Lashing out at the Congress, the Union Minister said while the Centre banned the Popular Front of India (PFI), the grand old party took the support of its political arm, SDPI.
The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) had proclaimed support for Congress-led UDF in Kerala in 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Shah declared that a third term for Modi would mean the end of terrorism and naxalism, and making India the third major economy in the world.
