SKM demands strict punishment for those who threw ink on Tikait in Bengaluru
New Delhi, May 30: The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has demanded strict punishment for those who threw ink on Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait in Bengaluru on Monday.
The umbrella organisation of over 40 farm unions has also demanded that the police officers "guilty for this negligence" be suspended and a judicial inquiry ordered in the matter.
Alleging that the Karnataka government had not made any security arrangements for Tikait, the SKM said, "The photo of the prime accused along with former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa, BJP's state vice-president Vijayendra, current Home Minister Araga Jnanendra and Irrigation Minister Govind Karjol has now made it clear that the attack was sponsored by the BJP."
Miscreants threw ink on Tikait during an event organised by a farmers' organisation at Bengaluru's Gandhi Bhavan on Monday, following which three people were arrested.
Soon after the incident, clashes broke out between the organisers of the event and the miscreants, leading to both sides attacking each other with plastic chairs. The miscreants then allegedly shouted "Modi, Modi".
"It is also clear that the BJP government had not made any security arrangements, despite the tense atmosphere due to a television channel's propaganda campaign against the farmers' movement for the past few days," the SKM said in a statement.
It said it would not be appropriate to ignore the attack as a small incident since Tikait was "attacked" on earlier occasions as well.
"Rakesh Tikait should be provided security. This incident has once again exposed the anti-farmer face of the BJP. Farmers know how to teach a lesson through peaceful and democratic means to this government, which has repeatedly sponsored attacks on them," the statement said.
Jnanendra dismissed the allegation that those who targeted Tikait were BJP leaders.
"We are in touch with the officers. Three people have been arrested and are being interrogated. I denounce this act. Everyone has got the right to freedom of expression under the Constitution," the Karnataka home minister said.
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After fake ID crackdown, IRCTC daily new accounts down to 5000 from one lakh: Railways
New Delhi (PTI): With a new, stringent system to establish user identity, the number of new user IDs being added daily on the IRCTC website has declined to about 5,000 from nearly one lakh, officials said on Saturday.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw noted that the crackdown by Indian Railways on train ticket booking through fake identities is yielding positive results, according to a press note.
Before the latest reforms, this number had touched nearly one lakh new user IDs per day, it said.
"Following the introduction of a stringent system to establish user identity and detect fake IDs, about 5,000 new user IDs are now being added daily on the IRCTC website," the note said.
The officials stated that these steps have already helped Indian Railways deactivate 3.03 crore fake accounts.
"Another 2.7 crore user IDs have either been temporarily suspended or identified for suspension based on the suspicious activities they are indulging in," they said.
The Union minister directed officials to ensure that the ticketing system is reformed to a level where all travellers are able to book tickets easily through a real and genuine user ID, the press note added.
Additionally, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has directed officials to provide local cuisine of the region in Vande Bharat trains.
Introducing local cuisine that reflects the culture and tastes of the regions being traversed will significantly enhance the passenger experience, officials said.
This facility will be expanded to all the trains progressively in future, they added.
