PM Modi copying Karnataka's guarantee schemes, says Dy CM DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Feb 10: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was copying the state's 'Gruha Jyoti' scheme by giving 300 units of free power through the solar grid.
The 'Gruha Jyoti' scheme is among the five guarantees offering 200 units of free power to the residential electricity connections.
Speaking at the Congress Manifesto Committee meeting, Shivakumar said the BJP which was criticising the Congress government's five guarantees has now launched 'Modi Guarantee' campaign.
"The idea of Gruha Jyothi scheme took birth in a meeting between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala and myself. Now, Modi is trying to copy that by giving 300 units of free power through solar grid," the DCM was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office.
He also claimed the BJP which criticised the guarantee scheme as a burden on the state exchequer is now launching similar schemes in many states.
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"The 10 years of Manmohan Singh government was about improving the lives of people, but the 10 years of BJP rule hasn't launched even a single scheme which changes the lives of people. Schemes such as food security, MGNREGA, Right to Education and others were introduced during the UPA rule," he said.
Calling the new NEP(National Education Policy) as 'Nagpur Education Policy,' the DCM said the BJP tried to shove it down the throat.
"We are working on removing the Nagpur Education Policy. I have had discussions with my BJP friends who run educational institutions and they say it is impossible to implement the NEP. The BJP tried to push the NEP down the throat of Kannadigas in a hurried manner," he claimed.
The DCM said a committee led by state Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar has been formed to review the NEP.
He said the Congress manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be pro-people.
"The Congress government has always implemented any scheme which empowers the poor economically, socially and educationally. We will prepare a people-friendly manifesto which will help all sections of the society," he stressed.
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Air India suspends flights to Israel till May 31
Jerusalem (PTI): Amid the ongoing war in West Asia, Air India has suspended its flights to Israel till May 31.
An Air India executive confirmed to PTI that the airline has suspended flights on the New Delhi-Tel Aviv route till May 31.
Most of the leading airlines have suspended their operations on the Tel Aviv route with only Israeli carriers like El Al, IsraAir, Arkia and Air Haifa operating under severe restrictions.
The suspension of flights has caused major worries among more than 40,000 Indians living in Israel who wish to travel to India for personal or professional reasons, or even to escape the escalating tensions in the region.
Indians looking to leave Israel have to go through Jordan or Egypt by entering the two countries through the land crossings.
The Indian mission in Tel Aviv has been assisting those looking to travel through various means.
The embassy has also maintained regular contact with the community during the period, opening a 24x7 emergency line and also launching a massive registration drive.
Ambassador J P Singh and the embassy team on Saturday held virtual discussion with Indian workers and students across Israel to listen to their concerns, assuring them of “constant support during the ongoing crisis, and beyond”, the mission said on its social media handle.
The direct flight service between New Delhi and Tel Aviv was re-launched on January 1 with four weekly flights, utilising the advanced Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
However, flights have been disrupted ever since the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28.
The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region. The conflict has taken a major toll on energy supply chains, especially across the Strait of Hormuz.
