Zameer Ahmed Khan denies claims of him seeking 5000 crores for renovation of Haj Bhawan
Bengaluru: Minister for Housing and Minorities, Zameer Ahmed, has strongly denied the viral claims suggesting that he sought a massive sum of five thousand crore rupees from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the construction of Haj Bhawan. In a statement addressing the matter on Thursday, Zameer categorically refuted these allegations, labeling them as pure lies.
Zameer clarified that his actual statement was regarding the allocation of Rs 5000 crores for the development of the minority community if the Congress government came to power. He had appealed for this allocation to be included in the Congress manifesto, assuring his commitment to providing it.
Expressing concerns over the possible reduction of funds, Zameer emphasized the need to avoid any deductions. He stated, "Our religious leaders are concerned as they have heard that the grant they were supposed to receive may be reduced due to the implementation of the five guarantee schemes. In 2018, during your tenure as Chief Minister, Rs 3150 crore was allocated for the development of minorities. However, subsequent governments gradually reduced this grant. Hence the request for five thousand crore rupees. Providing this grant would greatly benefit our community."
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Zameer also expressed gratitude for the allocation of five crore rupees for the renovation of Haj Bhavan. However, he expressed displeasure over individuals who have misinterpreted his statement and engaged in trolling. He firmly stated, "Such misrepresentations are far from the truth, and strict legal action will be taken against such individuals."
In addition to online trolls, Zameer Ahmed highlighted that mainstream media, specifically Public TV news channel, had also misrepresented his statement. The channel aired a segment falsely indicating an "Allocation of 5,000 crores for the renovation of Haj Bhavan," when in reality, the allocated amount was only 5 crore. Zameer Ahmed clarified this discrepancy, urging accurate reporting by the media.
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Authorities prepare 50 master trainers to dispel fears about disposal of Carbide waste in Dhar
Dhar (PTI): Authorities in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district on Monday started coaching 50 master trainers about 337 tonnes of Union Carbide factory waste brought to Pithampur for incineration before they set out to spread awareness that the waste is not hazardous.
The state government has gone on the backfoot after the public outcry against waste disposal and two self-immolation bids in the Pithampur industrial area, which witnessed protests earlier this month.
Talking to PTI, Dhar Collector Priyank Mishra said, "We are preparing 50-odd master trainers, including science teachers, professors and officials. They will be informed about the exact status of the waste before they reach out to people to dispel misinformation."
On January 6, the principal bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur granted the state government six weeks to act on the Union Carbide factory waste disposal as per the safety guidelines. The authorities had sought time to educate people and dispel their fear about waste disposal following protests in Pithampur.
Mishra said the master trainers will start their outreach on Tuesday, and 50 more master trainers will be roped in.
"We will give presentations via video with content and other mediums to master trainers," he said.
On January 2, the waste, packed in 12 sealed containers, was shifted from the now-defunct Union Carbide factory in Bhopal to the disposal site at Pithampur, located 250 km from the state capital.
It has 700 factories in three sectors.
Hours after it reached Pithampur, protests commenced in the industrial town, around 50 km from the Dhar district headquarters.
The agitators had claimed that the disposal would harm humans and the environment.
On the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, highly toxic methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal, killing at least 5,479 persons and leaving thousands with serious injuries and long-lasting health issues.
During a hearing on December 3, 2024, the high court pulled up the authorities for failing to dispose of the waste at the defunct Union Carbide factory.
The court had asked the government to remove and transport the waste from the site within four weeks and warned of contempt proceedings if it failed to act on the directive.
