AICC chief Kharge’s remarks against PM Modi reflect Congress’ declining political culture: Karnataka BJP

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Bengaluru, Oct 26 (IANS) Karnataka BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Monday criticised AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge for his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the comments reflected a decline in the Congress party’s political culture and showed its frustration.

Ashoka said in Bengaluru, making derogatory remarks about the family of a person holding the country’s highest constitutional office was inappropriate and alleged that the Congress, having lost the ability to challenge its opponents through political arguments, had resorted to personal attacks.

He said people would not accept what he termed uncivilised politics.

Turning to the ongoing agitation by sugarcane farmers in Karnataka, Ashoka accused Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of misleading growers and described the proposed meetings with farmers in Belagavi as an eyewash.

He demanded that the state government fix the sugarcane price at Rs 5,500 per tonne and take measures to prevent alleged irregularities in weighing and recovery calculations at sugar factories.

Ashoka alleged that the Congress government had earlier misled drought-hit farmers by announcing Rs 2,500 in relief during a special session but had failed to release the promised amount. He accused the government of now attempting to pacify sugarcane growers through meetings without addressing their demands.

Farmers are protesting for a remunerative price for sugarcane and measures to prevent alleged discrepancies in recovery calculations. Ashoka said the growers would not be misled by what he described as token discussions.

Defending the Centre’s role, Ashoka said the NDA government had constituted a joint committee headed by former NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand to find a lasting solution to the problems faced by sugarcane farmers.

He also cited the Centre’s decision to fix the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane at Rs 365 per quintal for the 2026-27 season. He said the Centre had introduced a minimum support price (MSP) for sugar in 2018.

Ashoka accused the state government of shifting responsibility to the Centre instead of fulfilling its own obligations.

Recalling an announcement made on November 7 last year, he said former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had declared a price of Rs 3,300 per tonne, including a Rs 50 subsidy to be contributed by sugar factories. However, Ashoka alleged that the state government had failed to ensure that farmers received the Rs 50 contribution, even after sugar factories approached the court.

He further alleged that the government had failed to prevent discrepancies in weighing and recovery calculations at sugar factories. According to him, different factories were reporting varying recovery rates for the same sugarcane, while inflated waste calculations were causing losses to farmers.

Ashoka also criticised the government for failing to introduce a State Advised Price (SAP) for sugarcane, similar to the system followed in other states.

Questioning the government’s policies affecting sugar factories, he alleged that private companies were being paid Rs 22 per unit for electricity purchases, while the rate for electricity supplied by sugar factories was fixed at Rs 2.80 per unit. He also claimed that water charges had been increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 crore, adding to the burden on sugar factories.

Ashoka said farmers had warned of a statewide bandh on Tuesday if their demands were not met. He urged Shivakumar to immediately address the demands of sugarcane growers and warned that continued delays could intensify the agitation.

–IANS

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Manipur: Three children missing since Monday rescued

Imphal, Aug 27 (IANS) In a joint operation, Assam Rifles, BSF, Manipur Police along with assistance of local residents rescued three children on Wednesday after they went missing from the Chakpikarong area in the state’s Chandel district.

A police officer said that the three children, aged 9 to 10 years old, were reported missing at around 5 p.m. on Monday (August 25) from the Oriental Children Home, Hringphe.

Upon receiving the report, Officer-in-Charge of Chakpikarong police station Joy Martin and his team immediately launched a search operation.

On the following day (August 26), search teams began their operation early in the Tuesday morning, covering bus and auto stands, nearby villages and adjoining routes but there were no traces of the children.

On Tuesday evening, under the supervision of Superintendent of Police, Chandel district, Dharmendra Tyagi and with the support of local youth, village authorities, Border Security Force (BSF) and Assam Rifles, a massive joint combing operation was launched.

On Tuesday night (at around 9.20 p.m.), two of the boys were found in the jungle near Hringphe village, while the third boy fled further inside the forest, the police officer said.

Despite searching late into the night, the third boy could not be located.

The joint operation resumed early on Wednesday morning at around 5 a.m., and the third child was safely rescued near the Chakpi riverbank, the police said.

All the three children are now in the custody of Chakpikarong Police station and have undergone medical check-ups at the Chakpikarong Primary Health Centre.

The police officer said that the children would be handed over to the concerned authorities after completing necessary formalities.

“We remain deeply grateful to the local youth, women volunteers, village authorities, BSF, Assam Rifles and all who stood by and extended their support throughout the search operation,” the Chandel Police said in a statement.

The reason behind the disappearance of the three children is yet to be disclosed by the police.

–IANS

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Rahul Gandhi lends support to protesting Noida workers, says pay hike not greed but their right

New Delhi, April 14 (IANS) The ongoing protests by the “underpaid” industrial workers in Noida have found support from the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, who termed the demands as “their right and not greed”.

The Congress leader, taking note of the unrest in Noida Phase 2, lent support to their demands and protests, stating that their remuneration was much less than standard levels — a pain which has only been aggravated by the raging conflict in West Asia.

Hundreds of industrial workers in Noida Phase 2 area took to the streets on Monday, protesting against ‘impractical’ working conditions and demanding a hike in the minimum wages, on the lines of the salary hike in Haryana approved by the respective government. The protests later turned violent, leading to long traffic snarls in the area, while at some places, some vehicles were torched by the protesting workers.

Taking note of violence on Noida streets, Rahul Gandhi said, “What happened yesterday was the final cry of this country’s workers – one whose every voice was ignored, who grew weary from endless pleading.”

He argued for commensuration between their salary structure and the “tough realities” of life in a metro city while stressing how their pay structure, purportedly in the range of Rs 12,000, remains grossly insufficient in meeting their monthly expenses.

“Until the salary catches up, this runaway inflation chokes life out of him, drowns him in the depths of debt – that’s the truth of “Developed India”?” he said in a post on X.

Drawing a link between the West Asia war and the subsequent impact on workers’ livelihood, he said that it’s the daily wagers who are the worst affected and therefore were ‘justified’ in voicing their demands.

Slamming the government for acting against them, he said, “The worker, who’s no part of any war, who didn’t craft any policy – he just worked. Quietly. Without complaint. And what does he get for demanding his due? Pressure and oppression.”

He further pledged to stand by every protesting worker, stating that they are the “backbone of the country” but unfortunately have been “reduced to a burden” by the ruling dispensation.

“Noida’s worker is demanding ₹20,000. This isn’t greed – it’s his right, the sole foundation of his life,” he asserted in a post on X.

The Congress leader was also critical of the four labour codes, recently notified by the Central government and claimed that this has only added burden to their lives.

He said the government acted hastily without consultation and implemented 4 Labour Codes starting in November 2025, extending their work hours to 12 hours a day.

–IANS

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‘Bring back our child’: Family of Ghaziabad student stuck in Tehran pleads with govt amid Israel-Iran conflict

Ghaziabad, June 16 (IANS) The family of a medical student from Ghaziabad, currently stranded in war-torn Iran, on Monday has appealed to the Indian government to ensure his safe return.

Rizwan Ansari, a resident of Behta Hajipur in Ghaziabad’s Loni, is pursuing an MBBS degree in Tehran and was living in a university hostel that was recently destroyed in a missile strike amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran.

According to his family, Rizwan narrowly escaped the attack. He had gone to a nearby hotel with friends for a meal when the missile hit the hostel building. Upon returning, he found the building reduced to rubble. He then called his family using someone else’s phone to inform them he was safe.

Speaking to IANS, Rizwan’s mother, Yaman Rani, made an emotional appeal to the Prime Minister.

“My son wanted to become a good doctor, which is why he went to Tehran to study. I request Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through your platform, to bring my son back to India. He told us his hostel building had collapsed and everything he owned was destroyed. From childhood, he dreamed of becoming either a scientist or a highly qualified doctor.”

His father, Mohammad Ali, added: “Rizwan went to Iran in November last year. He has been very disturbed since Sunday, as missiles have been landing near his area. He went out to eat at a hotel, and when he returned, the building was gone. He told me there were bodies lying around his building. He said, ‘I am alive only because I was outside.’ I urge the Indian government to bring my son and all Indian students in Iran back safely.”

Ghulam Abbas, Rizwan’s maternal uncle, said: “This is his first year in Iran. He told us Israel is continuously launching missiles. When he didn’t step out for 24 hours, we told him to go and get something to eat. His mobile phone, tablet – everything is gone in the collapse. We are requesting the government to rescue him and others stuck there.”

The situation in the region continues to deteriorate, with families like Ansari’s anxiously awaiting government intervention.

–IANS

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