Latest news with #ReorganisationAct
Hans India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Stung by govt's PPP, BRS MP walks out of all-party meeting
Hyderabad: BRS Parliamentary Party Deputy Leader Vaddiraju Ravichandra on Wednesday announced his boycott of the state government's power point presentation, alleging it was organised with 'political malice.' The BRS leader had initially attended the presentation delivered by Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy at the Secretariat. However, Vaddiraju Ravichandra walked out of the meeting in protest against what he termed the Congress government's 'political malfeasance' in organising a Public Private Partnership (PPP) on the Godavari-Banakacherla linkage project. MP Ravichandra unequivocally stated that undertaking this project is illegal and unjust, and that his party strongly opposes it. He urged the state government to strongly voice its case before the Centre on behalf of the people of Telangana, opposing this project proposal and calling for its immediate cancellation. Mr Ravichandra, who exited the meeting expressing strong objection to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's accusations against KCR without considering BRS's suggestions and recommendations, said that as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, if a state undertakes a new project, it must discuss the project details in the Apex Council and obtain approval. Ravichandra expressed regret that the Centre has taken steps to grant project approvals without convening an Apex Council meeting to discuss these actions taken by the Andhra Pradesh government in violation of the Reorganisation Act. 'We request the Chief Minister to write a letter to the Central Water Resources Department to immediately convene an Apex Council meeting. These issues that are hurting the interests of Telangana should be taken to Delhi soon,' said Ravichandra. He further urged the government to convene a special Assembly session where a unanimous resolution should be passed to stop the Polavaram Banakacherla project and sent to the Centre. BRS leaders K Kishore Goud, B Ramamurthy, J Jagan Mohan and others were also present.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
A.P. Congress leader urges CM to insist on Special Category Status for State
Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) vice-president Kolanukonda Shivaji on Saturday (May 10) said the State Cabinet, which passed a resolution in its recent meeting declaring Amaravati as the permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh and has urged the Centre to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, to reflect this, should also have insisted on the grant of Special Category Status (SCS) for the State. In a statement, Mr. Shivaji said when the Cabinet approved a proposal for an amendment to the law in the sub-section (2) of Section 5, determining the name of the capital of the divided State of Andhra Pradesh as Amaravati, what stopped the government from asking the Centre to include Special Category Status in the Act. 'The Congress has long been criticised for not drafting the Reorganisation Act properly, now that you have the opportunity, what is stopping you from amending it?' he asked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Referring to the probe initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into a multi-crore liquor scam during the YSRCP government, wherein top officials have been named, Mr. Shivaji said party supremo Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy owes an explanation to the people, as the scam involves public money.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
In Punjab, ruling AAP blames Oppn for ‘historical blunders' on river water sharing.
1 2 Chandigarh: The Punjab govt in Monday's special Vidhan Sabha session accused successive Congress and BJP-SAD dispensations of compromising Punjab's water rights through historical "blunders" in river-sharing agreements. This came even as opposition parties supported the Aam Aadmi Party's resolution to reject Haryana's demand for additional water via the contentious Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. Ministers and AAP MLAs took turns highlighting decisions made since Independence, including the construction of the SYL canal and clauses in the 1966 Reorganisation Act, which they claim burden Punjab unfairly while favouring non-riparian states such as Rajasthan. Water resources minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond cited former prime minister Indira Gandhi's 1982 inauguration of the SYL at Kapoori village as a turning point. "Congress leaders now pose as guardians of Punjab's rights, but they once bowed to the Centre's diktats," he said. "Punjab lost its capital and its river water under Congress rule." Sond also pointed to the role of the Shiromani Akali Dal, noting that Parkash Singh Badal's erstwhile SAD govt had issued the initial notification for the canal in 1978. He added that former CM Capt Amarinder Singh had attended the Kapoori event as a Congress MP. AAP members, including minister Aman Arora, also criticised clauses 78 and 79 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, which they claim were never imposed on any other state. "Even before that, in 1950, the Centre unilaterally awarded water to Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir," Arora said. Finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema urged opposition parties to apologise to the people for "selling out Punjab's water." "Those who brought Punjab to this stage must accept accountability," he said. AAP demands royalty, legal push AAP MLAs demanded a comprehensive legal challenge to what they call discriminatory laws and decisions, including the Dam Safety Act and section 5 of the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004. Party MLA Gurpreet Singh Banawali said Punjab deserved a share of Yamuna water if Rajasthan, a non-riparian state, could access Satluj waters. "The Congress and the SAD failed repeatedly to defend Punjab's interests. They owe the people an apology," he said. Minister Sond said Punjab should be paid for its water, much like states are compensated for mineral resources. "One cusec of water is worth more than ₹1 crore. If we were paid for our waters, Punjab wouldn't be in debt," he said. Oppn pushback muted but pointed Despite supporting the AAP govt's resolution, state's leader of opposition, Partap Singh Bajwa of the Congress, pushed back against the personal attacks. He said he would consider apologising if AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also apologised for his previous comments in support of Haryana's water claims. "When we are ready to support the govt in its legal and political strategy, what is the need for political grandstanding?" Bajwa asked the govt. MSID:: 120905101 413 |
News18
25-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
The Blood-Stained Silence: Targeted Killings And The Constitutional Conscience Of India
Last Updated: This was not a general act of terror. It was deliberate communal targeting धर्म एव हतो हन्ति धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः। तस्माद्धर्मो न हन्तव्यो मा नो धर्मो हतोऽवधीत्॥ Dharma: Our shared moral foundation translates not only into personal conduct but into public policy and law. It is visible in our Constitution, in our criminal codes, and above all, in the State's duty to protect life. But when citizens are targeted and killed purely for their religious identity, it becomes even more important to ask: who is upholding dharma? A MASSACRE WITH INTENT On April 22, 2025, Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley witnessed one of the worst civilian massacres in recent years. 26 people were gunned down by terrorists from The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot. According to survivors, the victims were asked their names and caste before being executed. This included Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, a 26-year-old Indian Navy officer on leave. This was not a general act of terror. It was deliberate communal targeting. What deepens the tragedy is the geopolitical context. The attack coincided with US Vice President JD Vance's visit to India and Prime Minister Modi's diplomatic trip to Saudi Arabia. In fact, the first quarter of 2025 had seen over half a million tourists visiting Kashmir, a sign of increasing stability in the region. This massacre was intended to disrupt that progress. Under India's Constitution, states handle 'public order" (State List, Seventh Schedule), but Jammu and Kashmir, as a Union Territory post the 2019 Reorganisation Act, is different. The Central government, through the Lieutenant Governor, calls the shots on law and order, including the J&K Police. Agencies like IB and R&AW answer only to the Union, not the elected National Conference-led UT government. Still, the UT administration isn't off the hook. It oversees tourism and local governance, which tie into security, like ensuring safe tourist spots or sharing community insights with central forces. The fingerprints of Pakistan's ISI were unmistakable. Just days before the attack, Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir delivered a venomous speech branding Kashmir as Pakistan's 'jugular vein" and invoking anti-Hindu bigotry. The attackers included two Pakistani nationals trained by SSG commandos, armed with M4 carbines, AK-47s, and body cameras to record their brutality. The ideological groundwork for such attacks is often laid domestically. Politicians like Srinagar MP Aga Ruhallah, who described J&K's tourism growth as a 'cultural invasion," provide ideological justification for terror groups who view India's developmental push as an existential threat to Kashmiri identity. But the greatest danger lies in what we refuse to acknowledge—the existence of Over-Ground Workers (OGWs) and White-Collar Terrorists (WCTs) within our own institutions. OGWs assist terrorists with logistics, safehouses, and surveillance, while WCTs, embedded in bureaucracies, media, or academia, enable radicalisation, funding, and the spread of separatist propaganda. This internal subversion is a constitutional threat. It erodes our right to life (Article 21), undermines equality before law (Article 14), and breeds institutional bias that violates Article 15's guarantee against discrimination. How did such an operation occur in a high-security tourist zone? How were terrorists able to reach Baisaran Valley with such firepower? The sophistication of this attack, the jungle warfare strategy, body camera propaganda, and choice of timing reflects a dramatic shift in terrorist tactics. The Union government's response, deployment of additional CRPF units, and establishment of Rashtriya Rifles camps in Pir Panjal is a necessary step. But reactive measures are not enough. India must invest in AI-driven surveillance, thermal imaging fencing across the LoC, and real-time counter-infiltration protocols. GLOBAL RESPONSE, DOMESTIC RESPONSIBILITY Prime Minister Modi cut short his Saudi visit to return and lead a high-level security review with the NSA, MEA, and intelligence chiefs. Home Minister Amit Shah visited the attack site personally. Nations including the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Belgium, UK, and Iran expressed solidarity. Yet condemnation is not justice. Like 26/11 and Pulwama, this attack proves that Pakistan continues to sponsor cross-border terrorism in violation of the UN Charter and Resolution 1373. India must leverage FATF and other international platforms to push for Pakistan's designation as a state sponsor of terror. Simultaneously, our doctrine of deterrence, as evidenced by the 2016 surgical strikes and 2019 Balakot airstrikes, must remain active, calibrated, and credible. The pursuit of truth, like Vidya, must expand through use. And here is the unvarnished truth: Hindus were killed for being Hindus. THE CONSEQUENCES OF EUPHEMISM This wasn't 'routine terrorism." It was a religious execution. And yet, statements from the UT government described it as a mere 'incident." Such framing isn't just misleading, it is morally vacant. We have seen how nations like Israel respond with clarity and decisiveness. In India, we too often dilute the truth to preserve fragile political optics. This hesitancy weakens public faith in constitutional justice. ' नन्दन्तु नीतिनिपुणा यदिवा स्तुवन्तु, लक्ष्मीः समाविशतु गच्छतु वा यथेष्टम्। Let the brave walk the path of justice undeterred by praise, criticism, or fear. This is the standard our Constitution sets. A NATIONAL SHAME These victims were not statistics. They were citizens, protected by Article 21 – the right to life. That right was denied. Article 14, the right to equality, was trampled. Article 15, the right against discrimination, was rendered hollow. A PLEA TO THE CONSCIENCE OF BHARAT This cannot be reduced to partisan rhetoric. This is about the soul of Bharat, a nation that pledges justice to all. Our Constitution does not discriminate. Why, then, do our reactions? To remain silent is to betray the very Republic we claim to defend. ' धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः" Dharma protects those who protect it. CONCLUSION: THE SYSTEM MUST SPEAK, OR IT FAILS Every institutional pillar, be it the Centre, the UT government, or the judiciary, owes an answer to the families of the victims, and to the rest of us who still believe in a rules-based order. The families are waiting. The country is watching. Will justice speak—or will silence reign again? top videos View all ॐ शांति! Yawar Khan is a research fellow at Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini; Ravi Gupta is a final-year BBA LLB Student from University of Mumbai Law Academy. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Indian Constitution Kashmir terrorism Pahalgam attack Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: April 25, 2025, 18:26 IST News opinion Opinion | The Blood-Stained Silence: Targeted Killings And The Constitutional Conscience Of India
